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Women in Business: Celestina Nkechi Eke

Women in Business: Celestina Nkechi Eke

Celestina Nkechi Eke was born in Oguta, Imo State to the family of Alphonsus Ukachukwu from Oguta Ameshi in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. She started her educational pursuit at Oguta Primary School, Imo State. Thereafter, she proceeded to Federal Government Girls’ College Gusau, Zamfara State where she wrote her SSSC. Subsequently, she enrolled into Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, to study Quantity Surveying and obtained Ordinary National Diploma (OND)

In addition, she obtained a certificate in Computer Science from Business Solution International, Kano. She was admitted into Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, to study Quantity Surveying and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree. She had her mandatory National Youths Service Corps in Abuja, where she served as a Quantity Surveyor in the Maintenance Unit at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.  

Celestina gained admission into the University of Calabar, where she obtained Masters in Business Administration. Furthermore, she proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she obtained another Master’s degree in Facility Management and later went to the Glasgow Caledonian University for her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Construction Management with specialisation in Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Celestina has worked in different capacities. Her career spanned through the Banking Industry, Project Management, Facilities Management and Administration and all aspects of construction/infrastructure business and practice. She served twice as a Council Member of the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors, first as a co-opted member of the Institute and later as a Secretary Marketing and Corporate Affairs. She was the pioneer Treasurer of the National Executive of Women Association of Quantity Surveyors of Nigeria.

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She also served in various capacities with the First Bank of Nigeria Limited. Some of her duties with the Bank include: Quantity Surveyor/Project Officer at the Head Office and General Services Manager at Abuja. Others are: Relationship Manager in Public Sector Group at Maitama and Central Business District, Abuja respectively. She rose to become the General Services Manager of the Bank. She served in the Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria. She worked at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, where she was seconded to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation as the Head, Technical Division.

Celestina has written articles in professional journals. Some of these are: “Quantity Surveying: A Reforming Cost Control Profession” (The Quantity Surveyor, 55(2),3-8 (2007) and “Overview of Quantity Surveyors Role in Engineering Infrastructure Projects” (NIQS 2006 Biennial Conference Calabar Nigeria 22-25 November, 2006).

She has attended numerous workshops, conferences and seminars both within and outside Nigeria. Some of these include: Contemporary issues in the City and the Built Environment, Kenya; International Congress for Quantity Surveyors, South Africa; 3rd Triennial General Assembly (Africa Association of Quantity Surveyors (AAQS), to mention a few

Celestina is a Member of the working committee of Women in Management, Business and Public Service, Abuja. She is a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Quantity Surveyors and equally has certifications from other professional bodies, including: Fellow of Society of Construction Industry Arbitrators (FSCIarb); Certified Facility Management Professional (FMP); Professional Member, Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM); Associate Member, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN); and Member, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). Others are: Member, Project Management Institute (PMI); Associate member, Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ); and Member, National Association of Home Builders of United States (NAHB).

She is presently undergoing a ten months training at the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies Kuru, Jos for the award of Member National Institute (MNI).

She is happily married to Prince Ifeanyi Anthony Eke, a Realtor from Lokpanta in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State and blessed with two children. Her hobbies are traveling, reading and meeting people.