BY Fidelis Egugbo
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15
That was the Biblical verse that came to mind when I was searching for how to start writing about a man who has seen the ups and downs of life before emerging as the number two citizen of one of the richest states in Nigeria, Delta. He is Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, the Deputy Governor of Delta State.
Sir Onyeme will, on Sunday, March 30th 2025, clock six decades on Earth and this calls for celebration. If he had remained as a civil servant, Sunday would have marked his day of retirement from the service, but his case is unique because he served for several years as a civil servant before joining active politics in 2015.
Clocking 60 Gregorian signifies a new dawn in the life of every human; for him, it calls for reflection not only by him but for all of us who have personally come across him physically and for those who have been studying his life of resilience and undying belief in the Supreme Being. His has been a life of service to God by putting smiles on the faces of people.
Does he have to celebrate? The answer is categorically yes! Even if he is not interested in celebrating (as he most times prefers to have very quiet time on a day like this) but his relatives, his political associates, friends and well-wishers will not allow such a day to go by without rolling out the drums to celebrate a man whose sojourn in politics has broken several bounds.
Typical of him, he has said that the celebration would be marked with a thanksgiving at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, A.G.G.S., Compound, Asaba. That the birthday coincidentally is on a Sunday shows that, as usual, there is God’s hand working in the life of the Deputy Governor.
Born on 30th March, 1965 at Ibabu, Onicha- Ukwuani in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Sir Onyeme spent some of his life in the northern parts of Nigeria where he obtained his First Primary School Leaving Certificate at Army Children School, Sokoto, Sokoto State. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Gummi, Kebbi State (1977-1982).
Due to his excellent grades in his GCE O’ Level, he was admitted to study Accounting at Federal Polytechnic, Kaura-Namoda, Zamfara State, where he came out with a Distinction grade in his National Diploma (ND)before proceeding to University of Calabar.
So, it is not unusual for the Deputy Governor to speak the Hausa language fluently.
At the University of Calabar, he bagged a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) Degree in Accounting in 1990 with a Second Class Upper Division.
He later enrolled for a part-time programme with Safe Associates Accountancy Tutors, Surulere, Lagos.
The icing on the cake in his professional pursuit was when he became a Chartered Accountant in 1993. He then proceeded to the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba where he received a Diploma in Computer Science in 2002.
His wealth of knowledge subsequently prospered beyond the shores of this country.
He was at the Northumbria University in the United Kingdom (UK), where he bagged a certificate in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The Northumbria University later awarded him a Masters Degree (MA) in Business Management; and, it was not just an MA Degree as this came with a well-deserved commendation from the Newcastle-based university.
Sir Onyeme, a Chartered Accountant par excellence, has made a difference in all the organizations he has worked, consistently bringing his wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on the realization of organizational goals and targets.
He was the Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), a position and responsibility he discharged faithfully when he was appointed in September 2006.
Before then, he was the Bursar of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba between November 2005 and September 2006. While at the institution, the handling of its finances was in safe hands under his watch as Chief Accountant.
Before higher positions came his way, he had climbed the ropes in professional practice as an Assistant Chief Accountant (Head, Finance and Supplies) at the National Agriculture Land Development Authority, Asaba, between July 1996 and October 2000, and was Chief Accountant at Octopus Continental Enterprises, Lagos, between July 1995 and June 1996.
Indeed, a rich working experience is an attribute that Sir Onyeme has in large stock as he kept garnering it over the years, including in the banking industry.
Between September 1993 and June 1995, he was the Senior Executive Assistant (Audit) at Commercial Trust Bank, Lagos, just as he worked in the audit department of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), in its Lagos Office between February 1992 and August 1993.
He also had a feel of the academic world as an Assistant Lecturer, Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, from October 1991 to January 1992.
Moreover, he rubbed minds with national and global counterparts through regular attendance at trainings, seminars and workshops locally and offshore. These took him to foreign climes as Dubai, Sudan, America (Florida, Texas), United Kingdom (London, Oxford), Mauritius, France( Paris), South Africa, India and many other places.
Sir Onyeme has various publications to his credit, including one in which he displayed his research prowess, titled “Corporate Environmental Accounting and Reporting in the United Kingdom: A Survey of Selected Companies in Cumbria (2004).”
His professional linkages include membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria.
A fraud buster, he is also a member of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Sir Onyeme, a Knight of Saint Christopher (KSC) of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as well as a noble Knight, was appointed the Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) on September 30th, 2015 and held the post till September 30th, 2019.
As a result of his outstanding contributions to the optimal increase in the Internally -Generated Revenue Service of the State and his missionary commitment to efficient service delivery, he was reappointed by the then Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, as Chairman, Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DSIRS).
Sir Onyeme is a philanthropist, a humanitarian who is a committed member of the International Association of Lions Club where he was the District Governor 404A1, International Association of Lions Clubs Nigeria between July 2018 and July, 2019 where his contributions towards the betterment of humanity and his legacy projects for the good of the society still speak volume and continue to attract various awards.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on June 2, 2022, named Sir Onyeme, as its deputy governorship candidate and running mate to the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, in Delta State, and on March 18, 2023, Rt. Hon. Oborevwori, polled 360, 234 votes in the governorship election to emerge victorious, thus making Sir Onyeme the Deputy Governor-elect of Delta State.
On May 29, 2023, Sir Onyeme subscribed to relevant Oaths of Office as the Deputy Governor of Delta State. He has since, assumed duty as the Deputy Governor.
Sir Onyeme, who is happily married to Ezinne Catherine, and the marriage is blessed with five children, speaks English, Ibo, Ukwuani and Hausa languages fluently. For these rare qualities, which he possesses in quantum, and for his level-headedness and determination in the pursuit of success, his trajectory has been lined with lofty achievements.
As he celebrates his 60th birthday anniversary, a lot of kingdoms will also roll out drums to celebrate him as he holds several traditional chieftaincy titles, prominent among them is the Odoziani of Ibabu, Onicha-Ukwuani.
Many persons have also benefitted from his annual scholarship scheme for undergraduates, using the instrumentality of the the Monday Onyeme Foundation, and they ( beneficiaries) will also be celebrating him in their own ways.
To celebrate his birthday, the Monday Onyeme Foundation embarked on a free medical outreach from Monday, March 24 at Obiaruku to cater for Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, then on Tuesday, the medical team was at Ika Federal Constituency and moved to Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency on Wednesday, and on Thursday, his friends organised a party in his honour at Ibabu which many of his political groups and friends attended.
The 60th birthday anniversary celebration is eliciting a lot of positive vibrations across the country and from his ethnic nationality, they describe him as a trail blazer, being the first person from the area to hold such a position. Indigenes of the area have been contesting for the governorship seat for several years and Sir Monday Onyeme’s entry into politics brought some succour as, in no time, he clinched the Deputy Governor’s seat having found favour in the eyes of the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevworii and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
No doubt, at 60, Sir Onyeme, a very thorough and calculative man, will reflect on the journey so far, look at his success stories, the area that he has also erred and improve on his life as he starts a new cycle.
Our prayer is for God to continue to direct his steps, grant him good health of mind and body through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Happy 60th birthday anniversary Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA.
Fidelis Egugbo is the Senior Special Assistant, Media, to the Governor of Delta State, and Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme.
