By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Monday made his first appointment, announcing Anambra-born Sylvester Okonkwo as his Chief of Staff.

A congratulatory message to Okonkwo in that respect sighted on Monday partly reads: “A Hearty Congratulations to a very good man, Chief Bar Sylvester Okonkwo (Okwuluora Ojoto) on your appointment as Chief of Staff to the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Akpabio.

“May God lead you successfully as you discharge you duties.

It was learnt that Okonkwo, a lawyer cum politician and a close ally to late Annie Okonkwo, has been a close associate of Akpabio when the latter was the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Chief Okonkwo attended Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, and he is also an alumni of the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus where he bagged a Bachelor Degree in Law (LL.B. Hons. B.L).

He hails from Ojoto in Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, South East region of Nigeria.

He is a corporate lawyer and an astute politician spanning more than two decades. He was a senatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

Until his appointment, Okonkwo was the CEO of Chinto Technologies Limited, an ICT and telecommunications outfit.

He is happily married to Chief (Barr) Mrs. Chidiebele Okonkwo, with kids.

Akpabio was elected President of the Senate of Nigeria on June 13, 2023, with 63 votes, defeating Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara State who scored 46 votes.