Dr. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe, is a transportant, seasoned officer, successful publisher, ambassador and astute politician, and defender of women’s right. An Arts graduate, Chikwe started off her educational pursuit by enrolling for a Certificate in Education (National Certificate in Education) equivalent, where she graduated in English/Frensh in 1971 from the City University of New York, Flushing, NY. Between 1971-1977, she bagged her Bachelor and Masters degree in Arts/French and French/Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She proceeded to the City University of New York, Flushing to further her studies in 1995, with a Doctoral thesis in Curriculum Education.

She has had a distinguished career in both the public and private service. Chikwe pioneered a strong national political activism and advocacy trying to correct the stiff disenfranchisement of women and youth in nation building. Because of her pivotal roles in the endeavours, she was appointed to serve first as Minister of Transport and later as Minister of Aviation during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, where she is believed to have impacted positively on both sectors, through sterling leadership qualities. Her tenure as ministers was categorized by crucial sectoral challenges, and her ability to secure and promote a level competition provided the government some stability that also translated into newer frontiers.

A woman leader, educator, counselor, adviser and mentor, Chikwe was assigned two ambassadorial appointments, one to Ireland and the other, Iceland. Respected and loved, she has since relaxed into nation building, often operating from the background, and have continually enriched the political process with her wealth of experiences. She’s a national figure and an icon.