- Born in 1958 to the family of late Mr. and Mrs. Godwill Ezuike Nwaka of Amokwe-Amiye, Emmanuel Chiedoziem Nwaka who hails from Ogunduasa in Isuikwuato LGA, Abia state.
- He started his primary school education at Municipal Council School, Orogbum in Port Harcourt but had his education halted for a couple of years due to the civil war and it’s hostilities within the Biafran enclave. He later continued his schooling at the Local Authority Primary School, Amokwe-Amiyi partly, and concluded it at the Methodist Primary School Emene, Enugu state in 1972.
- As he climbed the academic ladder, Emma Nwaka gained admission at St. Theresa’s Secondary School Nwukka in 1973 but could not attend it as his parents were financially incapacitated to maintain his stay in the boarding house. Having other options, Emma Nwaka decided to proceed to Boys High School Isuikwuato for his secondary education as a day student, while living with his maternal uncle but later left for the boarding house in his senior years.
- In 1977, he sat and passed the West African School Certificate Council exams; same year his family relocated to Lagos state.
- Though faced with financial struggles, Emma Nwaka was determined to save money and further his education. This drive landed him a job as a Key Boy for one of the companies that handled the construction of Festac Town, Lagos. While working, he was also studying Journalism by correspondence and finally gained admission at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), using his savings to pay his fees.
- While studying at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), his passion for higher education heightened which birthed his need for a university degree. This according to him was needed to make life easier for him and his family.
Emma Nwaka was among the first set that sat for JAMB in 1978 as a student still at NIJ. His academic prowess paved a way for him to study Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
- Again, Emma was faced with financial constraints and in his bid to raise money for his fees, he visited Mr. Ajayi, the Registrar of NIJ and informed him of his predicament and also requesting for a partial refund of his fees. After being informed of how impossible his request was, Emma Nwaka broke down in tears which caused the Registrar to take pity on him and gave him some money.
- 30 years later, Emma Nwaka learnt the money received from the Registrar was not a part of his fees but Mr. Ajayi’s personal money.
- After concluding his legal studies in 1982, Emma Nwaka was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1983 and later passed through the National Youth Service Corps scheme in Kano state where he served at the Ministry of Justice.
- In 1984, he joined the Law Firm of the Late Chief James Uba in Aba and decided to go solo under the rubric of Okaome Law Firm. Okaome simply means one who’s word is his bond.
- General Babangida who was then the Nigerian Military President sounded the clarion call for the new breed to show interest in politics and Emma Nwaka quickly answered it when he joined the National Republican Convention and became the first elected State Legal Adviser of the party in old Imo state.
- In 1991 when Abia state was carved out of Imo state, Emma Nwaka disengaged himself as Legal Adviser and successfully ran for the senatorial seat at the age of 34 which makes him one of the youngest members of the red chamber. His tenure in the Senate was cut short in 1993 by General Abacha’s coup which made him return to his legal practice.
- Having a sound political experience and knowledge in the 1990’s, Sen. Emma Nwaka joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and has been a loyal member since then. His mantra “if something is wrong with the party you belong to, fix it” is something he lives by. Little wonder he was invited to fix the Abia state chapter of PDP and also led the party to many electoral victories from 2011 to 2015.
- Sen. Emma Nwaka served for five years having a clean record without an iota of scandal as he distanced himself from every form of crime. This commendable and emulating trait gained him recognition so much at the National level which led to him being given the responsibility to handle knotty party issues across the federation.
- Senator Emmanuel Nwaka selflessly served the people of Abia state in various political positions including being a Commissioner and Special Adviser and he was quick to voluntarily resign when the became disillusioned with the selfish manner government business was conducted.
- Sen. Emmanuel Nwaka has also served on various boards either as a member of Chairman both at state and federal levels. Some of his achievements outside political include being a non-executive Director of the defunct African Continental Bank at a very young age, him currently being a member of the Governing Council of Abia state University and also the Registrar of the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.
- He is happily married to Beatrice and the union is blessed with five grown up children.
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