About Kingsley Chinda [Biography]



Kingsley Ogundu Chinda hails from Chidamati family in Rumuodikirike Compound, Rumuodani Community, Elelenwo Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He was born on 24th day of March, 1966 to the family Chief Thompson Worgu Chinda and Caroline Ihuchi Chinda (nee Nwaoshor).

He started his primary education at St. Marks State School Elelenwo where after primary 1. He left to the city where he lived with his half-sister Chief (Barr.) Mrs. Eunice Nnenda Ogan and in 1972 repeated primary 1 at Municipal Council School I, Orogbum along Agudama Street in D/Line, Port Harcourt. He graduated in top colours in 1978 and was an active young lad in school, as class prefect all through his primary school days. His best primary school teacher was Mrs. Ndiomu.

He gained admission to Stella Maris College, Port Harcourt in 1979 and was studious and disciplined in school. He started developing a compassionate view towards society and felt that all persons were not given fair and equal opportunity by nature. He pursued his education further at the Rivers State School of Basic Studies between 1984 – 1986 where he obtained his Advanced Level Certificate and gained direct entry into the Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt where he graduated with a Third Class in law.

Whilst in the University, he was active in student unionism and gained national accolade as a senate member of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He became the fulcrum of the NANS movement within the South-South.

Kingsley Chinda with a few friends reinstated the Ikwerre Students Association in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology and he contested student elections at the law faculty and later as the Assistant Secretary-General of the students union but lost both elections. Thereafter, he contested for the position of the Student Union President and won, thereby becoming the first ever elected Ikwerre student union president of the University, which incidentally is located on lkwerre soil.

He fervently stood in defence of the cause of the masses and student populace, he vehemently protested against the decision of the School Authority in the timing of the 2nd semester examination in 1989/90, which timing he felt was vindictive against the students for protesting an anti-students policy of the authority. He boycotted the said examination in protest as large student population was on holidays and missed the said exams. This caused him a 2year setback. He graduated from the University in 1994 and preceded to the Nigerian Law School, Logos where he made a 2nd Class.

He offered himself for National Service and was posted to Benin city in Edo State where he worked as a lawyer in the firm of DR. G.I.S OMONUWA & CO. Whilst on service as part of his community development project. He started a weekly radio program titled “YOU AND THE LAW” where he exposed some common but burning legal issues in society, like Police and the Society: Right of Arrest and Trial. Landlord and Tenant matters etc. that brought him to lime light in Benin city.

In 1996, he came back to Port Harcourt to practice law with the firm C.A.W. CHINDA & CO. where he served tutelage for about 2 years and decided to venture into Environmental and Human Rights Litigation with a longstanding school friend, Hon. Uche. Onyeagucha. This law firm ONYEAGUCHA CHINDA & ASSOCIATES was the product of the union.

Whilst in private practice, he handled several probono cases for indigent and, or oppressed persons. He clearly rejected briefs from oil giants and matrimonial maters (Divorce).

In 2002 he found his missing rib right in his community, Elelenwo and he got married to Miss Beauty Azeru Chinda (nee Chuku) and they presently have three pretty daughters (Angel, Kaka and Iche).
Kingsley Chinda has always been involved in politics. He was Legal Adviser to Social Democratic Party (SDP); Grassroot Democratic Movement (GDM) and People Democratic Party (PDP) at various times.

Between 2005, Chief (Barr.) Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike the then Chairman of Obio/Akpor appointed him as his Legal Adviser where he served until 2007 when the council was dissolved. He quickly went back to private legal practice with the firm of Onyeagucha, Chinda & Associates.

In 2008, His Excellency, RT. HON. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI appointed him as the Commissioner for Environment. In June, 2009 the cabinet was dissolved and he was re-appointed in August 2009 to the same ministry. He served in several boards and committees, one of such being, The Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority Board.
In December, 2010, he resigned his appointment in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the election into the office of House of Representatives and he contested the P.D.P primary election and won resoundingly. He is the P.D.P candidate for the April 2011 election for House of Representative, Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency.

His hobbies include reading, teaching, tactical planning or strategizing, swimming and Badminton. He has a passion for the preservation of the environment which he sees as a fundamental right.

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