By Anthony Nwachukwu
The newly appointed spokesperson for the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ikechukwu Chika Onyemekara, brings a wealth of experience in marketing and public relations to the post.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in the same field, Onyemekara’s career with the NPA began in 1992 as a marketing officer.
With time, he eventually gained a significant expertise in the maritime industry, where his interpersonal skills and ability to interact with key stakeholders soon saw him transition into strategic roles within the commercial department.
Recognising his people-management abilities, the NPA management redeployed Onyemekara to the Public Affairs Division, where his strong performance and results-driven approach led to his appointment as Technical Assistant Protocol.
In this role, he coordinated media relations, diplomatic engagements and government relations for several managing directors of the agency, which further solidified his reputation as an invaluable asset to the organisation.
Onyemekara has also represented the NPA at several international fora, including the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), where he participated in working groups such as the Editorial and Technical (E&T) Group for the IMSBC Code. He has also attended numerous national and international capacity-building workshops sponsored by the NPA.
An avid reader and traveler, Onyemekara is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and actively participates in alumni activities for the Federal Government College, Kaduna. Prior to his current appointment, he served as Assistant General Manager, Corporate & Strategic Communications, and Technical Assistant Protocol to the Managing Director.
