Draft:Ben Etiaba

CHIEF SIR BEN ETIABA FCA, FELUN, KSC

Chartered Accountant & Management Consultant

Fellow of Ethical Leadership of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN)

Past Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria United Kingdom District

Early Life and Education

Ben Etiaba
Born	Bennet Chukwuogo Etiaba September 20, 1963
Education	West London College Accountancy Tutors (Emile Woolf College of Accountancy), London South Bank University, London
Alma mater	institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu National Grammar School Nike, Enugu
Occupations	Chartered Accountant & Management Consultant Fellow of Ethical Leadership of University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Past Chairman of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria United Kingdom District Former Chairman, The London Group of Nigerian Professionals, United Kingdom Former Executive Chairman, Enugu Sports Club Former Chairman of Aquila Capital Ltd Board Member, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Board of Trustees *Chairman, Breast Without Spots, Cancer Trust Fund.
Organization	Ben Etiaba & Co.
Title	Ifennia Nnewi and Ezechikwadolu 1 of Ukpo Ancient Kingdom
Spouse	Enyinnaya Etiaba
Children	Chinemelum, Chukwudifu, and Tobenna
Parents	Bennet Madubugwu Chukwudifu Etiaba (Esq.) (father) Virgy Dame Etiaba (mother)

Bennet Chukwuogo Etiaba, known by his chieftaincy titles "Ifennia Nnewi" and "Ezechikwadolu 1 of Ukpo Ancient Kingdom," was born on September 20, 1963, at St Mary’s Missionary Hospital, Anua, Uyo, in what is now Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. He is the eldest of six children of Dame Virgy Etiaba, Nigeria's first female Governor, and Bennet Madubugwu Chukwudifu Etiaba, a legal professional.

Etiaba began his primary education at Inyaba Central School, Umudim, during the Nigerian Civil War. He attended several secondary schools, including Okongwu Memorial Grammar School, Nnewi, and National Grammar School, Nike Enugu, where he completed his secondary education in 1979. He then studied at the School of Basic Studies, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, before continuing his education at the School of Arts and Science in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

In 1982, he moved to London to study accountancy, following in his father’s academic footsteps. He attended West London College and later Accountancy Tutors (Emile Woolf College of Accountancy), successfully qualifying as a Chartered Accountant after passing the final Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) examination in 1995.

Career

Career in the UK

Etiaba's professional career in the UK began in 1985 at Sloane Services UK Limited, where he rose from bookkeeper to Finance Director over a span of nine years. In 1999, he founded his own accountancy firm, Ben Etiaba & Co, which became a consultant for major financial institutions, including Barclays Private Bank and HSBC Private Bank, providing services to Nigerian clients.

Return to Nigeria

After 25 years in the UK, Etiaba returned to Nigeria in 2008, establishing a branch of his firm, Ben Etiaba & Co, with offices in several Nigerian cities. He has since held various board positions, including Chairman of Gallery Publishers Limited and Aquila Leasing Limited.

Public Service and Leadership

Etiaba has been active in community service and professional organizations. He served as the Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) United Kingdom District and the Executive Chairman of Enugu Sports Club. During his tenure at the Sports Club, he initiated several programs, including the "Nkata Umu Ibe" distinguished speaker series, which brought notable intellectuals to the stage.

Furthermore, along with H.E Gov. Sullivan Chime CON, Prof. Ifeoma Ulasi, Prof. Chinedu Nebo CON, Prof. Bart Nnaji CON, Prof Uche Nwagha, Prof. Bond Anyaehie, Chief Loretta Aniagolu, Mgr. Prof Obiora Ike amongst others, Chief Ben Etiaba currently serves as a member of the University of Nigeria UNTH Foundation Board of Trustees.

Public Speaking

Ben Etiaba is a renowned public speaker who has delivered over 20 public lectures to youths and students mostly, and has taken to the stage in fulfillment of many public speaking engagements including the world-class TEDx platform on two separate occasions; firstly to speak on the topic ‘Why transformational leaders play the game of golf’ (in November 2019), and secondly, another Tedx talk (in February 2020) on the topic ‘Establishing your own brand in leadership’

Ben Etiaba is a renowned public speaker with a proven track record of delivering impactful speeches to youth and student audiences. He has completed over 20 public lectures, including two appearances on the prestigious TEDx platform. In November 2019, he delivered a talk titled "Why Transformational Leaders Play the Game of Golf," followed by another TEDx talk in February 2020 on "Establishing Your Own Brand in Leadership."

As a distinguished speaker with many public lectures and presentations under his belt, Ben Etiaba instituted the now iconic distinguished speaker series ‘Nkata Umu Ibe’ at Enugu Sports Club in collaboration with the Centre for Memories (Ncheta Ndigbo) while he was the Chairman of the Club in 2018. This series has seen the following distinguished speakers taking to the stage at the prestigious Enugu Sports Club (since 1929) over the last few years; Prof. Chidi Odinkalu who spoke on the topic ‘Igbo Ekunie’ (Lessons from the Post-War Recovery in Southeast Nigeria). Prof. Chidi spoke at the maiden edition on Friday 4th of May 2018. Other distinguished speakers were; Prof. Okey Ndibe, Prof. Osita Ogbu, Dr. Joe Abah, Mr. Dike Chukwumerije, Mrs Chioma Yvonne Mbanefo, Dr. Chuba Keshi and many other notable speakers.

In the year 2023, the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) selected Ben Etiaba to deliver their Annual Ethical Leadership lecture on the 20th day of September 2023 and following that lecture where Peter Obi appeared as a speaker, Ben was awarded the Fellowship of Ethical Leadership of the University of Nigeria (FELUN).

Political Career

Frustrated by the lack of ethical leadership in Nigeria, which has contributed to the country’s political, social, and economic challenges, Ben Etiaba—once seen as apolitical despite his well-known political family background—decided to take action. He admirably contested the Anambra State Governorship election on November 6, 2021, in a refreshing and principled campaign that set a new standard for ethical political campaigning in the country.

He initially contested in the 2021 Anambra Governorship election primaries under the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, he eventually became the Governorship candidate for the Action Alliance. Following the election of Professor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the winner, Ben returned to the APC in December 2021. Since then, he has remained an active and dedicated member of the APC in Anambra State, the South East, and across Nigeria.

Awards

Ben Etiaba has received numerous prestigious international and national awards over the years such as the winner of the ‘Merit Award’ of ICAN by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria Onitsha, Meritorious Award for Ben’s ‘Excellence in Leadership and National Youth Integration’ 2021; Award by Veteran Ex Rangers International Football Players of 1970 to1975 Group, recognizing his contributions to sports, community development, and humanitarian efforts.

To mark the 40th anniversary on the throne of the Ancient Kingdom of Nnewi in the year 2003, His Royal Majesty Igwe Kenneth Orizu III CON arguably Nigeria’s longest serving traditional ruler alive, made Ben Etiaba the youngest Chief (‘Ifennia Nnewi’) of the Ancient Kingdom of Nnewi in that year’s honors list at the age of just 40 in December 2003.

Ben who is a member of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, is married to Enyi Etiaba a Medical Doctor and a Lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus and is blessed with three children, Ms. Chinemelum, Mr. Chukwudifu and Mr. Tobenna.