Profile of Hon. Barr. Kingsley Ononuju

Hon. Barr. Kingsley Ononuju is a Nigerian lawyer, politician, farmer, governance expert, seasoned administrator, event specialist, and international human rights commissioner. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Imo State Road Maintenance Agency (IROMA), where he introduced the strategic roadmap “Zero Potholes in Imo State” to complement Governor Hope Uzodinma’s road revolution.

Before this, he was appointed as the Commissioner for Special Projects in Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, and earlier as the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Imo State, where he worked to strengthen trade, investment, and industrial growth. He also serves as Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Screening Committee for Local Government Elections and has held other high-profile roles in party structures, governance, law, and international development.

A political strategist and grassroots mobilizer, Ononuju has earned recognition for his versatility, his leadership in governance, and his contributions to socio-economic development in Nigeria.

Early Life and Education
Kingsley Ononuju hails from Mbaitoli Local Government Area in Imo State, Nigeria. He pursued his tertiary education in law, earning his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from a Nigerian university. Following his undergraduate studies, he attended the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to the Bar as a Barrister-at-Law (B.L.).
Ononuju later undertook further professional development in governance, policy, and leadership, participating in advanced seminars and conferences on public administration, development policy, and strategic leadership. These academic and professional experiences equipped him with a strong foundation for his subsequent career in law, politics, and governance.
Legal and Professional Career
Ononuju began his career as a senior lawyer and legal practitioner, building years of experience in courtroom advocacy, consultancy, and advisory services. His legal expertise allowed him to advise on governance-related policies and represent individuals and institutions in high-profile legal matters. His ability to bridge legal knowledge with governance issues quickly brought him into the sphere of public service.
Political Career and Public Service
State Appointments
Commissioner for Special Projects, Imo State
Appointed by Governor Hope Uzodinma, Ononuju managed strategic projects requiring inter-ministerial coordination, overseeing initiatives of long-term value to the state.
Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Imo State
In this role, he championed policies to improve trade, investment, and industrial growth, while working to create an enabling environment for business and entrepreneurship.
Special Adviser on NEPAD, Imo State
He aligned state policies with broader continental and national development agendas during his tenure as Special Adviser on NEPAD. (NEPAD — the New Partnership for Africa’s Development — is an African Union programme focused on governance, accountability, and sustainable development across the continent.)
Secretary, Trade and Investment Committee of Imo State Government
Ononuju enhanced economic planning and worked to attract both local and international investors as secretary of the committee.
National and Federal Roles
Legal Adviser to the Head of NEPAD / Head of Department for Infrastructure in the Presidency
He provided legal guidance, policy interpretation, and development framework design at the federal level.
Member, National Working Group of NEPAD
As a member, he also served as Arrowhead/Coordinator of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in the South East Zone of Nigeria (2008), promoting accountability, governance, and sustainable development.
Leadership in Political Party Structures
Chairman, APC Disciplinary Committee (Imo State) – Oversees conflict resolution, internal discipline, and party ethics.
Chairman, APC Screening Committee for Local Government Elections – Guides candidate selection and ensured compliance with party rules.
Infrastructure and Road Management
As Chairman of the Imo Road Maintenance Agency (IROMA), Ononuju spearheads the “Zero Potholes in Imo State” policy to support Governor Uzodinma’s infrastructure development agenda. His leadership emphasizes sustainable road maintenance and modern management practices.

International Engagements
Ononuju serves as Commissioner for the International Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland, representing Nigeria on issues relating to human rights, governance, and development. This role reflects his influence that extends beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Agricultural Involvement
Ononuju is also an active farmer with a focus on cassava cultivation and value chain development. His agricultural involvement underscores his commitment to economic diversification, food security, and rural empowerment.
Reputation and Leadership Style
Hon. Kingsley Ononuju is widely respected as a political strategist, legal expert, seasoned administrator, and governance professional. He is known for his versatility, having navigated roles in law, politics, commerce, infrastructure, event management, and international affairs with remarkable skill.
His leadership style is pragmatic and inclusive, emphasizing grassroots engagement, accountability, and results-driven governance. Colleagues and political observers describe him as a man of resilience, integrity, and vision, whose career reflects both legal expertise and political dexterity.
His strategic leadership in Imo State and contributions to national and international governance continue to solidify his reputation as a public figure of notable influence.

Stakeholders confirm Ifako-Ijaiye becoming most educated LG in Lagos

…As lawmaker distributes educational materials to students

Ifako-Ijaiye has been named one of the most educated local government area of Lagos state by stakeholders in the education sector of Lagos state.

This was as the lawmaker representing Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Temitope Adedeji, distributed thousands of school materials to students of the local government as part of his ‘Back To School Support Initiative’.

The event, which took place at Fagba Junior Grammar School, Ifako-Ijaiye, attracted hundreds of schoolchildren, parents, teachers, community leaders, and stakeholders.

Items distributed by the lawmaker included 500 school bags, 6,000 exercise books, 10,000 writing materials, 500 mathematical sets, 1,000 pairs of socks, and 500 water bottles.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Adewale said the gesture, which is the 5th, was aimed at easing the financial burden of parents while motivating pupils to excel in their studies.

Adewale, who distributed GCE and JAMB forms to candidates earlier in the year, said his effort was to complement the unwavering commitment of President Bola Tinubu in the education sector.

“Many people do not understand that service and leadership start from the grassroots. This is one thing that has kept Asiwaju Tinubu formidable over the years. His passion to bring education to children while as governor of Lagos state remains the most effective education strategy in recent times.

“Today, we recognize him as the best President Nigeria has had. This is why I also encourage people to do the little that they can. The education of our children cannot be left to the government and parents alone,” he said.

Adewale said education remains one of his top priorities as a legislator, describing it as the “bedrock of human and societal development.”

He assured the students that as they excel, they would benefit from the free GCE and JAMB forms initiative as well as the scholarship scheme of the Adewale Temitope Adedeji Educational Initiative (ATA-EI).

In his remarks, the Lagos Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Ali-Balogun, said Ifako-Ijaiye has been projected to become one of the most educated local government area in the state.

Commending the lawmaker for his investment in education and support for the government, in he urged the beneficiaries to be focused on their studies as a way to encourage the lawmaker to do more.

On his part, Dr. Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen, Special Adviser on Political, Legislative and Civic Engagement to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, tasked the students to focus on their studies so they could enjoy a brighter future.

The Tutor-General and Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Dr Oyetola Olufunke Idowu, further confirmed that the lawmaker’s support for the government’s education stride saying this had started yielding results in the area looking at examination results of 2023 and 2024.

Some of the beneficiaries promised to use the materials judiciously.

Dr. Sonnia Agu Honored in MIPAD 100 Under 40 – Activism & Humanitarian Category

Dr. Sonnia Agu, Social Entrepreneur, Development Strategist, and CEO of Sapio Group, has been named among the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) Class of 2025, in the Activism & Humanitarian Category, in support of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, the glamorous events took place at New York, USA

This recognition spotlights Dr. Agu’s dual role as both an activist for social change and a humanitarian leader. Her ventures, including SapioWorks, which provides verified employment opportunities for artisans and workers, and SapioWater, which ensures access to clean water while reinvesting in community development, are designed to address the root causes of poverty, unemployment, and insecurity in Africa.

Over the years, Dr. Agu has consistently used her platform to advocate for women, youth, and marginalized communities, proving that activism and humanitarianism are not separate paths but a single journey of impact.

“This award is a call to keep building systems that restore dignity, confront injustice, and create opportunity. My activism is rooted in love for Africa, and my humanitarian work is about ensuring that no one is left behind,” she stated at the recognition ceremony.

By merging activism with humanitarian innovation, Dr. Agu has positioned herself as a Legacy Architect for Africa, leaving a mark not only on communities across Nigeria and the continent, but also on the global stage.

She is honored to be named among the Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD 100, Under 40 – Humanitarian Category).

“This recognition is deeply personal—humanitarian work has always been at the heart of my mission: building systems that restore dignity, creating jobs through SapioWorks, delivering clean water through SapioWater, and empowering women and youth to rise into their full potential.

Standing alongside global leaders, including Harvard Professor Albert and the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts & Nevis, I am reminded that true influence is measured not by titles, but by how many lives are touched and transformed.

I dedicate this to Africa, to women, to youth, and to every dreamer who chooses service as their legacy. May this recognition push us all to keep building bridges of hope and solutions that last.
To God be the glory, in Jesus’ name.”

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