Board
Members of DEF Board of Trustees
1. Chairman: Prosper I. Igboeli, MD
2. Vice-Chairman: Okey Okoli, MD
3. Lifetime Trustees (based on personal contributions to Fund of >$20,000:00):
(a) Emmanuel Egbogah family;
(b) Prosper Igboeli, MD;
(c) Okey Okoli, MD;
(d) Igweka Uche;
(e) Beze Adogu, MD, PhD
4. Lifetime Trustee (based on inaugural service to DEF): Green Dim
5. Rotating Trustees (based on biennial DEC elections):
(a) Emmanuel Abara, MD;
(b) BCI Okpokwasili, DSc;
(c) Felix O Offodile, PhD;
(d) Gibson Okeke;
(e) Nelson Nwankwo, MD;
(f) Emmanuel Udezue, MD
6. Executive Director of Endowment Fund
7. Non-Voting Statutory Trustees:
(a) President-General of DOBA-ww
(b) Principal of DMGS
(c) Chairman of DMGS School Management Board
Members of DEF Executive
1. Executive Director: Beze Adogu, MD, PhD (cantab)
2. Secretary: Kene Ogbogu, MD
3. Treasurer: Sam Nwachukwu Okonkwo
4. Chief Financial Officer: Ifeanyi Egbuna
5. Publicity Secretary: Bernard Nwanya
6. Chief Fundraiser (Nigeria): Igweka Uche
7. Legal Adviser: Ralph Nwokike, Esq
Prosper Igboeli MD,
Chairman of DEF Board of Trustees
The Chairman, DEF Board of Trustees, is Prosper Igboeli, MD, a professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, who attended DMGS from 1963 to 1972 (spanning the war years) at Lugard House. He was appointed Chapel Prefect at the main school, and later elevated during higher school to Senior Prefect. A committed Boys Scout, he was selected as patrol leader for the Nigerian contingent to the 13th World Boys Scouts jamboree at Fujinomiya, Japan in 1971. There he met another young man, Michael Peres, whose family would assist him in furthering his education in the United States. He would graduate with first class honors from Utica College in 1974, State University of New York medical school in 1977, and residency in obstetrics & gynecology at Danbury Hospital (a Yale affiliate) in 1982. He would found the M&M Hospitals in Aba and Abuja, a pioneering facility for in-vitro fertilization technology and stem cell research across West Africa. He has served as chairman of Abia State Medical Association from 2006 to 2008, and was elected president of Nigerian Medical Association from 2008 until 2010. His personal philosophy is “when wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; but when character is lost, all is lost”.
Okey Okoli, MD,
Vice-Chairman of DEF Board of Trustees
The vice-chairman of DEF Board of Trustees is Okey Okoli, MD, an astute physician and committed philanthropist. He attended DMGS in Lugard House from 1970 until 1974. He would gain admission to study medicine at the University of Nigeria, followed by a brief stint in private practice before traveling to the United Kingdom for specialist training, during which he qualified MRCOG in 1993. He later moved to these United States for further training and research in obstetrics & gynecology, after which he founded a comprehensive women’s treatment facility in San Antonio, Texas, in 2001. He has been an indefatigable proponent of everything “Grammar School” since the launch of our North American alumni chapter.
Beze A Adogu, MD, PhD,
Executive Director of DEF
Beze Afam Adogu, MD, PhD (cantab) is the executive director of DMGS Endowment Fund. He graduated from DMGS (Tugwell House) in 1974, which was followed by medical school (1982), fellowship in internal medicine/endocrinology (FWACP, 1987), Doctor of Philosophy (1990), and after a few years of post-doctoral research at Cambridge and Brown Universities, he attained diplomate in internal medicine/nephrology (ABIM, 1996). He presently serves as a clinical professor of medicine at the Medical College of Georgia. His other passion is farming, an interest which he developed at Grammar School under the tutelage of Mr Sam Echezona.
Igweka Uche,
Chief Fundraiser (Nigeria)
Our Chief Fundraiser (Nigeria) is Igweka Godson Uche, a native of Amichi in Anambra State, distinguished petroleum engineer, and knight of the Anglican Church. He joined DMGS in 1965 at Tugwell House, where he would serve as Deputy Senior Prefect and Tugwell House Prefect in 1971, before moving on to Government College Ughelli for his higher school certificate. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Ibadan in 1978, a Master’s degree in Systems Engineering from Southwestern Louisiana University at Lafayette in 1983, and full registration with COREN as a professional engineer. He initially worked for Nigeria’s oil giant, NNPC, from 1979 to 1982, before founding Weltek Nigeria Ltd, an oil & gas engineering, procurement and construction company in 1986. He has been particularly active in alumni affairs, serving as President of DMGS Old Boys’ Association in Port Harcourt from 2003 to 2012, and was honored with the Chike Okonyia award for distinguished services to DMGS in 2014. He remains indefatigable in the fight for a Grammar School renaissance.
Kene Ogbogu, MD,
Secretary of DEF
Dr Kene Ogbogu, MD, MBA, is a proud 1993 graduate of DMGS, and currently serves as the Secretary of the DMGS Endowment Fund (DEF). In his role as Secretary of DEF, Dr Ogbogu is deeply committed to fostering the organization’s growth and development. Professionally, Dr. Ogbogu is a hospital medicine physician based in Minnesota, where he is dedicated to providing excellent patient care and making a meaningful impact in both his community and the medical field.
Ifeanyi Gregory Egbuna,
Chief Financial Officer of Fund
Gregory Egbuna, from the great Lugard House (1976 graduating set), is the Chief Financial Officer of DEF. He has garnered an extensive experience as a committed educator, serial entrepreneur, and more recently, an executive director of a non-profit organization, case manager, staff architect, and IT/technical consultant. Gregory holds a Master of Arts in International Relations and Conflict Resolution, a Master of Science in Vocational-Technical Education, and a Bachelor of Architecture. He is presently pursuing a Certificate in Financial Crimes Investigation. He is actively involved in various community organizations and initiatives, including political campaigns, educational equity, civil rights, and neighborhood improvement projects. His previous roles as the Chief Information Officer for DEF as well as the Financial Secretary for DOBANA further underscore his attention to details, strong leadership, and analytical skills. Gregory and his wife own and operate an Income Tax and Accounting Services business and have operated a non-profit After-school Technology Education Program. Gregory enjoys traveling, reading, creative writing, music, photography, and soccer, as well as spending quality time with both friends and family.
Sam Nwachukwu Okonkwo,
Treasurer to Fund
Ichie Samuel Nwachukwu Okonkwo is the Treasurer of DEF. A longtime participant in all alumni affairs, he has served in various positions, including as president, of DMGS Old Boys Association of North America. He works for the City of Sugarland, Texas, and in his free time is intimately involved in all things Grammar School. Sam enjoys travelling, exploring new things, attaining new environmental certifications, and continually expanding his horizons.
Ralph Igwens Nwokike,
Esq, Legal Adviser to Fund
Our legal adviser, Raphael (Ralph) Igwens Nwokike, Esquire, was admitted to Crowther House, DMGS, in 1975. He was to later become Crowther House Prefect in 1979/1980, his year of graduation from Grammar School. He thereafter gained admission to Anambra State Polytechnic, Oko (which is now a Federal Polytechnic) from where he earned a diploma in Mass Communications in 1987. Subsequently, he was admitted to the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, to study Law in 1988. On graduation with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1992, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for further training and pupillage, from where he was called to the Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Nigerian Supreme Court in 1993. He was in private legal practice in Lagos, Nigeria until he moved to the United States in 1999, where he passed the Washington State Bar exams to gain privileges as an attorney of the Supreme Court of Washington State. He then established his own chambers, Nwokike Law Office P.S. in 2002, which specializes in all aspects of Immigration Law, Personal Injury Law, Family Law and Civil Litigation. Mr. Nwokike has also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from DeVry University in Washington State.
Bernard Nwanya,
Public Relations Officer of Fund
Bernard Nwanya, Public Relations Officer of the Fund, is a Chemical Engineer and social entrepreneur, who has garnered extensive leadership experience despite his young age. He had previously served as the First Vice-President of DOBA Worldwide in Nigeria. As the founder of Success Hub Learning Community, a non-profit organization, Bernard addresses the societal neglect in providing information, training, and intellectual investment for vulnerable youth across Africa. He leverages mobile technology, community outreach, and social media to create a positive impact in diverse communities. He holds an Executive Leadership Certificate from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.