Dr. Chris Chigoziri Asoluka is Chairman/CEO, Nipal Consulting Network, a multidisciplinary consulting firm, that offers a diverse bouquet of professional services to corporations, public sector, and development organisations including Federal and State Governments/Agencies, National Assemblies/States’ legislative Assemblies and multilateral/non-governmental institutions within and outside Africa.
With two Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Law (University of Ibadan and University of London), multiple Master’s degrees – International Economic Relations (University of Lagos), Shipping Economics and Finance (City University Business School, City University London), and a Ph.D. in Policy Design and Implementation (University of Ibadan), Dr. Asoluka is a revered management, development and strategy consultant, and a distinguished fellow of several bodies including Chartered Institute of Transport Administrators, Management Consultants and Logistics and Chain Management.
He has played integral roles across the Nigerian economy spanning across corporate leadership roles, elected public positions, and political appointments:
- Elected Honourable Member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and Deputy Chairman of Committee on Appropriations, National Assembly (NASS) 1992 and leader of the Bipartisan Caucus of NASS;
- He also served as Hon. Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Imo State (Nigeria), Chairman, Committee of Finance Commissioners in Nigeria, 1994 – 1996;
- Chairman, Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), and elected Ambassador (Africa), World Free Zones Convention (WFZC), 2013-2015;
- Vice Chairman, Justice Oputa-led Imo State Transition Committee and Chairman Technical Committee on the New Face of Imo State, 2007;
- Senior Public Policy Advisor/Consultant, Imo State Government, Nigeria, 2007- 2011;
- Chairman, Imo State Government Projects Review Committee, Imo State Transition Committee, 2019
- Served as Policy Senior Advisor/Consultant on Finance, Appropriation and Transport to the Senate and House of Representatives Committees, 1999 – 2003;
- Member, Presidential Committee of Petroleum Affreightment, 2003;
- Policy Advisor/Consultant on Finance and Appropriation to Lagos State Assembly, 2004 – 2012;
She has written and delivered papers on Environmental Law and sustainable development at various international law foras, Including the International Bar Association, and the Terralex Association of Lawyers. Her firm has been consistently selected as the leading Environment Law firm since 2009 and she was show cased as a leading Environment and safety counsel in the field in the 2014 edition.
She holds a masters Degree in law from the University of Lagos Nigeria, Special Masters in Trade policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, (Executive Education), Harvard University Cambridge USA. She is a Special member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators U.K. - Senior Legislative Advisor to National Democratic Institute (NDI) on NASS, 2005 – 2007, DFID, USAID and PAK 2005 – 2007;
- Consultant/Facilitator, United Cities and Local Governments, Africa (UCLGA), Morocco, 2019-2021
- Expert/Consultant, European Commission on the European Cooperation Programming Process, 2021-2027
- Consultant on West African Chamber of Shipping Project.
- Member, Nigeria Chamber of Shipping Governing Board, 2012 till date; and
- Member University of Ibadan Alumni Trust Fund.
He has conceived and implemented numerous public sector assignments including: - Lead, Consortium of Maritime experts to restructure and reform the then National Maritime Authority, NMA, 2001/2002
- Advisor/Lead technical consultant in the formulation and passage of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003;
- Legislative Adviser in the passage of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act, 2007;
- Consultants/Facilitator in the passage of Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Bill 2006, Fiscal Responsibility Bill (FRB) 2007 and the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) Bill (2007);
- Lagos State for amendment to the Local Government Administration Act;
- Capacity building programmes for various National/State Assemblies, National/State Governments/Agencies and Local Government Councils;
- Conducted and developed Imo State Local Economic Empowerment Development Strategy (LEEDS) Studies for the entire 27 local government councils;
- Overall Compliance Consultant to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on CVFF Implementation, 2023 till date.
Dr. Asoluka has written, edited, and published a large body of work including Compilation of Nigerian Maritime Laws in two volumes (2003), Nigerian Maritime Resources Development: Issues and Challenges in two volumes (2003); and three volumes of Ndigbo: A Matter of Identity (2010). The later is a collection of seminal papers delivered by esteemed scholars of Igbo extraction at the Ahiajoku Lecture Series, 1979 to 2010. He has delivered several lead papers at global conferences, seminars, workshops and keynote speeches locally, regionally, and internationally. Chris is a seasoned administrator, ambassador, public speaker, public sector/policy strategist, policy expert and advocate of people’s rights and welfare, whose public image resonates on integrity and character themes. He has continued to serve God and humanity in different roles.
A former highly respected student leader with committed followership and University decorated debater, he has continued to be influenced in his choices by those values of servant-leadership till today. He has received multiple youth awards, including Exemplary Role Model Award, by University of Ibadan Students’ Union Government (SUG) 2006, Grand Patron and Distinguished Role Model Award Council of Students’ Union Governments (SUGs) South East of Nigeria 2011, the second Best-Graduating student in the history of Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, as at 1979, a “Knight of Mellanby”, a lifetime achievement award of Mellanby Hall, the premier hall of the premier university, in recognition of most outstanding, innovative and selfless services, particularly during his tenure as Hall Chairman with humane leadership style; a Fellow of Faculty of The Social Sciences (UI) and University of Ibadan Alumni Association (Worldwide) Most Distinguished Alumni Award on UI @ 75 years Anniversary.
Dr. Chris Asoluka has received numerous religious recognitions (Knight of St. Christopher) and traditional titles including the revered traditional title of Okwuruoha Owere and Ogbuhuru Uzo Ochie. He is married to Nneka Asoluka (Nee Mgbojikwe), LL.B., B.L., MBA, Foundation Chairperson, Soroptimist Africa Federation and President Emeritus, Soroptimist International, (Nigeria). They are blessed with extremely resourceful children.