Chris Nkwonta

Nkwonta, often referred to as Chief Sir Chris Nkwonta (Oke Oji Abia), was born on November 3, 1960, in Akwete, Ukwa East Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia State, Nigeria, to the family of Late Chief Chibor Nkwonta and Mrs. Mercy Opunne Nkwonta.^[3][4][5]

He had his secondary education at Community Secondary School, Akwete, where he often missed school to engage in farming and fishing, in order to fund his studies because he came from a very humble background. Despite these challenges, he completed his secondary education and pursued higher learning abroad.^[3] He had his undergraduate studies in Maritime Studies in the 1981 at the Center for Business Studies, London (now part of the University of Greenwich), graduating successfully. He returned to Nigeria in 1985 to complete his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) assignment, after which he joined the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), beginning his professional career in the maritime sector. He also holds Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) with Specialization in Leadership and Sustainability from University of Cumbria, United Kingdom (2012 – 2014).^[6]

He has spent over thirty years professionally in maritime, shipping, logistics, oil and gas, and hospitality. After his NYSC, he first worked at the Nigeria Ports Authority, and also other establishments, including

• True Venture Nigeria Limited: 1986 – 1992
• Floor Mills of Nigeria PLC: March – May 1992
• Exon Mobil Limited: 1992 – 1995.
• Fymak Nigeria Limited: 1996 – 1997.
• Shell Petroleum Development Company: 1997 – 2001.

Through all these, he gained expertise in transport and administration, becoming a Professional Member of both the Chartered Institute of Transport and the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration, London, UK. From there, he established BlueSeas Maritime Services in 2003.