Deep Dive Intelligence, a data analytical organisation, recently conducted a survey on 2019 presidential aspirants’ preparedness index. The poll showed that among the new generation aspirants gunning for Nigeria’s presidency, Kingsley Moghalu is the only candidate with a campaign website.
Moghalu is a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and author of many books, one of which is BUILD INNOVATE GROW (BIG), his economic blueprint on how to make Nigeria prosperous.
There are few candidates running for the office of the president with his level of preparedness and capacity.
On the academic side, Moghalu has a long list of qualifications.
He has an M.A. degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and International Certificate in Risk Management from the Institute of Risk Management (IRM) in London.
He is an alumnus of advanced executive education programmes in macroeconomics and financial sector management, corporate governance, and global strategic leadership at the International Monetary Fund Institute, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Business School, and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
He was appointed a Professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Massachusetts, USA, based on his work at the CBN, UN and on the strength of his third book, which he wrote while he was Deputy Governor of the CBN – Emerging Africa: How The Global Economy’s ‘Last’ Frontier Can Prosper and Matter.
Moghalu also has a rich working experience that stands him out from the crowd of contestants.
He worked at the United Nations (UN) for 17 years, rising from entry level to the highest career rank of Director.
He held key positions in strategic planning and political affairs, legal affairs and development finance at several duty stations.
At the UN, Moghalu served at its Headquarters in New York, Tanzania, and Switzerland.
He was also on assignments to reconstruct then broken nations of Cambodia, Croatia, and Rwanda. Today, those nations are well among the comity of healthy countries.
Moghalu was born in Lagos in 1963 to Isaac Moghalu, a Nigerian Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mrs. Vidah Moghalu.
His father, Isaac Moghalu was posted abroad as a Nigerian diplomat in Geneva, Switzerland shortly after his birth, and subsequently served in Washington D.C. as well.
Young Moghalu spent his early childhood in Geneva and Washington where his family lived in the 1960s. He obtained the LL.B. (Honours) degree in law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1986, and the B.L. (Barrister at Law) from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.
He worked as corporate and media attorney for Newswatch magazine, and as a Special Correspondent for several international newspapers and magazines including The Christian Science Monitor.
He left Nigeria in 1991 for graduate studies in the United States.
How far can these preparations take Moghalu? The Kenyan scholar, Patrick Lumumba, once said that the tragedy of Africa is that those with ideas are not in power, while those in power have no ideas. According to him, what is sad is that when the people have a chance to vote, they still vote for those with no ideas.
Can Nigerians prove Lumumba wrong? If yes, then Moghalu stands a better chance for the number one job.
