Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho (rtd), Executive Chairman, Integrated Oil and Gas Limited
-By Danlami Nasir Isah
Emmanuel Iheanacho was born in Imo State. He attended the University of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom where he obtained a Master of Science degree in International Transport, and also earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in General Management from the University of Bradford.
Emmanuel Iheanacho is a retired Merchant Navy Captain who was appointed Nigerian Minister of Interior in 2010, when President Goodluck Jonathan was acting for President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Captain E. Ihenacho is an experienced maritime executive and industry veteran of many years professional standing. Capt. Ihenacho, an ex-ship master, is a subject of international shipping and general management and regularly entertains consultation in these fields.
He also holds Masters Degrees in shipping management from the University of Wales and Bradford, England and is also a member Chartered Institute of Transport and the Nautical Institute.
Iheanacho became Managing Director of Genesis Worldwide Shipping Company, and Chairman/CEO of Integrated Oil and Gas. As Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shipping Companies Association, in July 2004 he praised the cabotage law that had been passed a few years earlier, but called for a more consistent policy and greater financial support from the government to build up the Nigerian shipping industry, including creation of a national carrier.
As Vice President of the Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria, in August 2007 he praised the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, and called for stability in its leadership.
Shortly after being appointed Minister of Interior, Iheanacho toured the Medium Security Prison in Kuje, Abuja, where he found many unfinished projects and demanded action. He also said his ministry would work with the ministry of justice to speed up the trials of over 30,000 prison inmates still waiting trial, and to allow for release of inmates who had not been tried after three or more years in jail. In April 2010 he inaugurated the Nigeria Civil Defence College for Peace Disaster Management, Katsina, an institution for training security personnel.
As the Chairman of the Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, he is responsible for the development of the company’s business which includes the conception of necessary corporate action plans, the management of the human and material resources of the organization and the direction of collective energies of the organization towards the achievement of the company’s goals and objectives. It is the acknowledgement of his performance in, and outstanding contributions to the maritime industry that Captain E. Ihenacho was awarded the National Maritime Merit Award of “BEST MASTER MARINER IN NIGERIA” for the year 1999.
