David Nweze Umahi CON popularly known as Dave Umahi is the former senator and governor of Ebonyi State.
He is the CEO of Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd and currently serving as the Minister of Works as appointed by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This article coined by ENigeria Newspapers explores a brief profile of Engr. Dave Umahi
Profile Summary
Name: David Nweze Umahi CON
Date of birth: 25th July, 1963
State of origin: Uburu, Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi, Nigeria
Education: Anambra State University
Marital status: Married
Religion: Christianity
Political party: All Progressives Congress (APC)
Career: Civil Engineer, Politician
Early Life
Dave Umahi was born on 25th July,1963 at Umunaga, Uburu in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State.
Education
He completed his early education at Umunaga primary school, Uburu between 1971 and 1977 before enrolling at Ishiagu High School and the Government Secondary School Afikpo where he obtained his West African Senior School Certificate.
He was admitted into the Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 1982 and in 1987, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.
Family
His parents are Elder Joseph Umahi Nwaze and Margaret Umahi. His siblings includes, Major-General Obi Abel Umahi (Rtd.), the former chairman of the South-East Security Committee, Ebubeagu but resigned in May 2021, Roy Umahi Nwaeze, a legal practitioner, Austin Umahi Nweze who was the former south east vice chairman of the People’s Democratic Party alongside other siblings.
Engr Dave is a devote Christian and member of the Christ Embassy church.
He is married to Chief (Mrs.) Rachel Umahi and together they have seven children.
David Umahi is a philanthropist and lover of table tennis and football.
Career
He started his career immediately after his Youth Service as an Engineer with SCC Nig. Ltd; an Israeli Company (Water Engineering Giant) and was promoted to the position of Project Engineer. Some of the projects under his supervision at the time include the historic Umuahia Water Project and the Ndiegoro Aba Flood Control measures between 1988-1990.
He worked as a co-founder of Norman Engineering and Construction Nig. Ltd. with Ombo Isokarari and served as its general manager between 1990 and 1993.
In 2011, Dave Umahi established his own firms, Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd., Focus Investment Nig. Ltd., and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd.
Political career
Engr. Umahi entered public service in 2007 as the acting chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party.
Between 2009 and 2011, he served as state chairman of the party after which he served as chairman of the board of directors of the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba.
He was the deputy governor of Ebonyi state with Martin Elechi as governor in 2011.
In May 2015, Engr. Dave Umahi Nweze contested for the Ebonyi state gubernatorial seat under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and emerged winner, hence, he was sworn in as governor of the state.
He also won re-election in 2019 which qualified him for a second term in office.
In 2020, Dave Umahi defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) for reasons of unfairness of the People’s Democratic party (PDP) to the Southeast Geopolitical Zone.
In 2022 Umahi declared his intention to run the presidential race in the 2023 general elections just after Bola Tinubu had been declared leader of the party and this brought about crisis in the APC.
Later that same year, Dave Umahi alongside his deputy, Eric Kelechi were sacked as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State respectively by the Federal High Court in Abuja for defecting to the All Progressives Congress while in office being that they were voted in by the PDP,therefore,defecting from the party reaps them off the votes which they had while in the previous party.
Awards
In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander Of The Order Of The Niger (CON) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.
In August 2023, Engr. Dave Umahi was appointed the Minister of Works by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
