At long last, the curtain has been drawn on the 2021 Anambra governorship election and Charles Chukwuma Soludo, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria has been elected the fifth democratic governor of the state.
TheNewsGuru reports that Soludo’s path to becoming Anambra governor began over a decade ago when he announced his desire to govern the state, but lost at the polls. Coming back in 2021, he fought with other party bigwigs to become the flag bearer, survived the nozzles of guns and proceeded to the length and breadth of the state to sell his manifesto.
In no particular order, TheNewsGuru takes a look at five things you should know about the Governor elect
Lost his mother at a tender age
Soludo hails from Isuanioma which is within the Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Born on July 28, 1960, Soludo lost his mother at a tender age. However, the loss did not stop the young lad from doing excellently well in his studies and his flair for academics would eventually see him do his mother’s memory proud a few years after her death.
Erudite scholar
Staying true to his brilliance, Soludo graduated with First Class Honours in 1984, obtained an MSc Economics in 1987, and a PhD in 1989, winning prizes for the best student at all three levels. A prolific macroeconomist, he obtained his three degrees and then a professorship at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, Enugu State.
Transformational CBN Governor
Professor Soludo was invited to serve his country in 2003 as the Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Planning Commission of Nigeria. On May 2004, he was made governor and chairman of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
As CBN Governor, Professor Soludo is credited with refocusing the Central Bank as an effective monetary authority, successfully implementing a fundamental restructuring which is said to have led to unprecedented consolidation of the Nigerian banking system.
Father of Six
Not so much attention has been paid to Soludo’s private life in recent times, however, the professor is married to Mrs Nonye Soludo and they have been blessed with six children.
Visionary
In 2008, Soludo made his mark as an economist with great vision during a speech to the Nigerian Economic Society, he predicted a consolidation in the private banking industry.
“By the end of 2008, there will be fewer banks than there are today. The restructuring of the banking industry has been attracting funds from local and foreign investors, which have increased banks’ ability to lend to customers,” the professor declared.
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