DUX PER EXCELLENTIAM: THE PERFORMING MINISTER FOR INNOVATION, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY WITH GREAT CAPACITY AND DEXTERITY By Uchenna Bartholomew Arum

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DUX PER EXCELLENTIAM:



THE PERFORMING MINISTER FOR INNOVATION, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY WITH GREAT CAPACITY AND DEXTERITY




By Uchenna Bartholomew Arum











Naturally, Leadership is same as building a nice house on a strong and rocky base with bricklayers laying number of blocks on it to erect a durable strong edifice. Which if not well articulated can collapse. The house structure can be a bungalow or skyscraper but must be solidly layed. That foundation layed is always strong, the blocks also should be solidly cemented when the mixtures are well articulated not with vague disjointed over pouring. 

Now, In a nation that is navigating rapidly in technological changes and an urgent demand for economic renewal required, the leadership required is no longer defined by position, but by strong performance that can cement the ideas like that rocky strong foundation. 


Noteworthy In the innovation, science and technology ministry, that among those leading its transformational strides with uncommon veracious capacity and dexterity is the Man *Uche Geoffrey Nnaji,* the Honourable Minister for Innovation, Science, and Technology. That name is technologically scientific. The name is a cornucopia of Innovation. The name Uche Geoffrey Nnaji has come to represent more than office. It symbolizes competent leadership, strategic innovation, and inclusive progress. *He is, in every sense of the word, Dux per Excellentiam — a leader par excellence.* 


Appointed in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Chief Uche Nnaji has not only embraced the enormous responsibility placed on his shoulders but has done so with the refined balance of vision, action, and humility. His work at the helm of one of Nigeria’s most strategic ministries reflects a rare combination of technical expertise and human-centered leadership that is steadily reshaping the nation’s innovation sphere.


From the outset, Chief Uche Nnaji has demonstrated that his approach to governance would be results-driven, not ceremonial hence the title *"a noiseless sound proof Minister".* With quiet resolve and deliberate action, he began addressing long-standing inefficiencies that plagued Nigeria’s science and technology apparatus. Under his leadership:


Seventeen federal agencies under the Ministry are now undergoing structural and performance realignments to ensure that science and research translate into real products and services.


 *A new era of AI, Robotics, Biotechnology, Renewable Energy, and Digital Fabrication policy development has emerged, positioning Nigeria to compete globally in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.* 


Partnerships with the private sector, international collaborators, and academic institutions are being activated to connect research with industry and innovation with employment.


This performance is not by chance. It is the product of great capacity ie the ability to manage complexity with competence and dexterity, the skill to adapt swiftly and wisely in pursuit of meaningful results *- Nwakaibie!* 


Dexterity in Uche Nnaji is not simply intelligence, it is the ability to think, act, and lead with skill under pressure and uncertainty. Chief Uche Nnaji brings this to the Ministry in abundant measure making the ministry more viable than ever. 


Chief Uche Nnaji has not just shown professionalism but has proven to be capable of:


 *1. Balancing Complex Administrative system (bureaucracy) with innovation, reforming systems without disrupting stability - the reason he stays late in the office until his visitors are ALL attended to;* 


 *2. Engaging stakeholders across divides, from local communities to multinational tech firms;* 


Turning abstract policy into tangible outcomes, such as technology hubs, digital skill programs, and innovation funding for youths.


In his leadership, we find an admirable blend of technocratic clarity and political sensitivity, of strategic patience and timely execution. Shockingly, few public servants manage this balancing act well without delays. Chief Nnaji is among the few senior Ministers who talk and do — and do so with excess grace.


Though his office is federal, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji has never forgotten his roots in Enugu State. His leadership is not of the weak but the one that carries his state at heart with the spirit of homegrown responsibility. A firm belief that governance must touch lives at the grassroots.


 *Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji has:* 

Ensured that Enugu youth benefit from federal employment empowerment, federal innovation programs, scholarships, and training opportunities;


Supported the deployment of solar-powered systems, and digital skills training in communities across his home state, Energy commission of Nigeria is really positive on that;


Created bridges between local innovators in the Southeast and national innovation habitats, ensuring that no one is left behind in the system.


This is the mark of a man who understands that public office is a platform for impact, not just prestige. This is the reason he gives governance a human face.


_Dux per Excellentiam_ simply means *“Leader par excellence.”* It is not just a title given lightly,  it is earned through distinction, resilience and competence. Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji earns this title daily through a leadership style grounded in his:


*Visionary Thinking ie* A clear understanding of where Nigeria must go, and how to get there through science and innovation.


*Administrative Skill ie* an efficient management of agencies, personnel, and projects with transparency and accountability.


*Intellectual Depth ie* A Strong grasp of complex technological systems and their socio-economic implications.


*Empathy and Accessibility ie* A deep commitment to people-centered governance, particularly the youth and underserved.


*Quiet Strength ie* The ability to perform without noise, delivering progress without seeking the spotlight or excess television and radio announcement.


In Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Nigeria has found more than a minister. It has found a standard-bearer for a new era of service. With great capacity and rare dexterity, he is advancing a vision of Nigeria as a technologically competitive, economically empowered, and socially inclusive nation.


For the people of Enugu, he is a source of pride. For the Nigerian youth, he is a symbol of opportunity. And for the nation at large, he is proof that public office, when held with integrity and purpose, can indeed become a tool for transformation.


 _Truly, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji - *Nwa-ka-ibe-ya (that child that is more than others)* is practically and pragmatically a Leader per Excellence because surely, Enugu shall rise again._ 




Uchenna Nwafor Arum writes from Umuatugbuoma Akegbe Ugwu, Nkanu West LGA

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