E-360 PERSONALITY PROFILE: Chief Dr Smart O. Nwokorie

Edna Ezinneamaka
Edna Ezinneamaka

 

Recently around the world, a people of Igbo descent, South East Nigeria, brought to the limelight, once again, THE NEW YAM FESTIVAL, a cultural celebration of the king of crops, YAM. The festival is celebrated towards the end of every year and its significance is seen in the prominence given to it and to those who have ensured its continuity. One of such persons is no other, but the erudite Chief Dr Smart O Nwokorie.

Chief Nwokorie was one of the several persons honoured with traditional title of  “Onyinye Chukwu Nyere Dim na Opara” in the last Nollywood New Yam Festival celebrated in Abuja. One then would wonder why he was singled out by the Entertainment Industry in Nigeria for being a gift to the people, the meaning of the title. For the records, this was not the first time of being honoured. HRH EZE (HONS) AMB. ARUNSI N. UKA (JP), the traditional ruler of Agbo-Oha Autonomous Community Okwoko Nkporo Ohiafia L.G.A. had earlier in 2020, conferred on Chief Nwokorie the title of “Eziokwu Bu Ndu”, meaning Truth is Life.

In living to the truth behind the title of “Eziokwu Bu Ndu”, Chief Nwokorie embarked on a N25M Fundraising for 50 farmers on the 15th October, 2022, while celebrating the New Yam Festival in his Homeland, that attracted crème de la crème in Abia State and beyond. As usual, Chief Nwokorie seized the opportunity to portray the rich cultural heritage of New Yam Festival. He has this to say:

“The New Yam Festival showcases Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. It is the Africanisation of our lifestyle. It’s all about who we are, where we are coming from and where we’re going. There’s a place we come from and a way we do our things. This is why we come here to tell the whole world that the thing they know us for is still alive.”

Born in Umuahia, Abia State on 2nd August,1971, Chief Dr Smart O Nwokorie had his Primary Education at Ogbodi Ukwu Community Primary School, Umuopara, Umuahia. He proceeded to Umuopara Secondary School, Umuahia from 1984 to 1990 and further earned his multi-faceted degrees from several universities across Nigeria, including Unizik, B.Sc. Applied Microbiology and Brewing 1996; MOUAU, B.Sc Food Science & Technology 2000; M.Sc Food Processing & Preservation 2019; IMSU M.Sc. Chemistry Education, 2009; Ph.D Chemistry Education 2017; and ABSU M.Sc. Science Education 2020.

Chief Dr Smart O. Nwokorie is the C.E.O and founder of Standard Academy, Standard International Schools, Standard Scholarship Foundation and Estandar Resources LTD, all in Umuahia, Abia State. As a philanthropist, he has contributed his finance, experience, time, talent and skills to helping others create a better world. As a politician and educationist, he has touched and is still touching many lives positively. After the lifting of the lockdown policy by the Federal Government in August 2020 and students were asked to return to school for their third term academic session across Nigeria, school authorities insisted that parents must pay school fees for their wards to resume for the term. At Standard international schools, Umuahia, the story was different. Chief Dr Nwokorie declared a tuition-free academic term for all and sundry in his citadel of learning. This unprecedented gesture was the first of Its kind in the history of private school business in recent times.

In the course of life, Chief Nwokorie realised that the best way to serve his community is to be a light bearer, upholding all there is of his origin. This is what led to his commitment to further promote his culture, knowing that if he depicts who he truly is by way of living it out, he would truly achieve his purpose in life. Hence, he embarked on empowering indigent students, widows, widowers, business men and women, farmers in his community by establishing businesses for them, providing farm inputs, awarding of scholarships and delivering health care in his community, Ogbodiukwu Umuopara, Umuahia South L.G.A where he attracted Junior secondary School, Ogbodi Ukwu with his political contacts.

More recently, Chief Nwokorie extended his magnanimity to the Methodist Church Community where he worships by his philanthropism that earned him several awards with the most recent being the “Golden Father of the Year 2022” by the Diocese of Umuahia West, Ebenezer Methodist Church, Ogbodi ukwu, an “Ambassador for Christ” award by the Diocese of Umuahia (Anglican Communion), the advent family of St. Stephen’s Cathedral all in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the growth and development of the church.

Chief Nwokorie is a fellow of the Science Educator Association of Nigeria (FSEAN) and a fellow of the Institute of Professional Industrialists and Management Development (FIMD). He had attended more than fourteen workshops and seminars within and outside Nigeria and has published many research papers in both local and international journals.
He is a man of great accomplishments, a science educator par excellence, food scientist, brewer, chattered scientist, visionary and light bearer, an epitome of good leadership whose landmark achievements speak volumes. He is a self-made achiever who has been able to weather the storms of life through hardwork and commitment to his desired objectives. Evidently, he is by all standard not just an icon but one with great commitment toward the upliftment of the younger  generation.

Currently, Chief Dr Smart O Nwokorie is a classroom teacher at BCA Television, Abia State. He is a financial member and patron of eight National and International professional bodies and societies. A community leader par excellence, he is patron of many age grades in his community and a member of many councils of chiefs with prestigious positions. Chief Nwokorie is a strong believer in African culture and he uses it to educate the younger generation, hence he celebrates the New Yam Festival every year and uses the festivity to bring his people together to the glory of God.

Loved by all, especially the younger generation, Chief Dr Smart O. Nwokorie is blessed with a quintessential and beautiful wife,

Lolo Mrs. Nwokorie Amarachi Princess, four children; three boys, namely Clinton Smart, Benitez Smart and Xavi Smart, and a girl, Christabel Smart.

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(This is a paid exclusive feature of Dr. Smart Nwokorie, written and packaged by Edna Ezinneamaka Onunaku for the NwafoLive E-360. At NwafoLive we invite you to take advantage of this service to promote and advertise your personal brand, products and services. Email us today;  [email protected] or [email protected])

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