Prominent Nigerians

Full Name: Onyeka Onwenu
State of Origin: Imo State
Ethnicity: Igbo.
Date of Birth: 17 May 1952  
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage status: Married.
Spouse(s):           
Parents: Mr and Mrs D.K Onwenu
Residence: Imo, Nigeria
Language: Igbo and English
Religion: Christian
Alma mater: Wellesley College of Massachusetts, USA and The New School for Social Research in New York
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, actress, journalist, politician, and X Factor Series Judge.
Position(S): Executive Director/chief executive officer of the National Centre for Women Development Till date
Political Party: People's Democratic Party (PDP)
Facebook: Onyeka Onwenu
Twitter: @OnwenuOnyeka

INTRODUCTION
Onyeka Onwenu was born on May 17, 1952 to D. K. Onwenu in Arondizuogu, Imo State. Her father was a politician but she lost him to autocrash when she was just four years old. She is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress, journalist, and politician.
Onwenu attended Wellesley College of Massachusetts, USA and possess a BA in International Relations and Communication, and a Master's degree in Media Studies which she obtained from The New School for Social Research in New York.

EDUCATION
Onwenu attended Wellesley College of Massachusetts, USA and possess a BA in International Relations and Communication, and a Master's degree in Media Studies which she obtained from The New School for Social Research in New York.

CAREER 
Onyeka Onwenu was a staff of the United Nations in New York where she lived and worked for many years before returning to Nigeria in the year 1980.
Onyeka did her mandatory one-year National Service, at the Nigerian Television Authoriy (NTA).
She began her music career in the year 1981 while still working at the NTA. Then she released the album "For the Love of You".
In 1988, she teamed up with King Sunny Ade in a track titled “Mada wolohun”  (Let Them Say). After the very positive response the song got, and in acquiescence to fans' demand for more, she and the master of juju music did two more songs -  “Wait for Me” and “Choices.”
In the year 2013, Onyeka was named as one of the three judges on the Nigerian version of The X Factor.
Onyeka Onwenu later joined politics and became a member of the People's Democratic Party. She was appointed the Chairperson of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture.
On September 16, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Onyeka the Executive Director/chief executive officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
Onwenu has featured in numerous Nigerian movies and in the year 2006, she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress.
In the year 2014, she acted in the movie half of a Yellow Sun together with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton.

LOVE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
Onyeka Onwenu has two Sons.
Onyeka Onwenu said and I quote” When my kids were younger, I used to play with them. I didn’t enter politics until they were of certain age and right now I have more time to do my work and politics, because I wanted to raise my kids by myself, I didn’t believe in leaving kids with nanny.”
THE DAYS OF YOUTH:
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT ONYEKA ONWENU
She cut her hair low when she was in school, and has never worn a weave or long hair after that. That was about three long decades ago.
Guess we should not be expecting a change of hairstyle anytime soon. Maybe not ever!
She is a former chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture, and currently the Executive Director/chief executive officer of the National Centre for Women Development

AWARDS, HONOURS, LAURELS AND RECOGNITIONS
In 2006 she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
In 2014, she was in the movie half of a Yellow Sun with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton.