Dr. (Arc.) Chuba Charles Jonnwakalo, B.Arc, M.Arc, PhD.Arc, AIA, NCARB CERTIFIED (alias Obunwelude, Obodoaku) was born on 30th April, 1961 to the family of late Mr. John Hilton ‘Genegbo Nwakalor, and late Mrs. Catherine Agbomma Nwakalor (nee Onwumbiko), of Umubele village, Awka, capital of Anambra State in Nigeria.
He was Number 5 in the family of seven children but the second son, second to Mr. Dadson Okechukwu Jonnwakalo (Afvulukwe). The highly gifted and brilliant Charles had his primary education at St. John’s Church Missionary Society (CMS) Central School, Otuobosi, Onitsha and his secondary education at the famous Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha.
He worked briefly in a bank in Lagos before securing a scholarship to study Architecture in the University of Nebraska in the United States of America. There, he bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. He had two Master’s degrees, one from Pratt University, the other from Catholic University in Washington DC, both in the US. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Architectural Design and Landscaping in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, USA.
He got registered as an Architect in the States of New York and Massachusetts (AIA, Certified NCARB) in USA.
Dr. (Arc.) Chuba Charles Jonnwakalo worked, with ground-breaking record of impact and success, for the New York State Department of Corrections in Facilities Management, New York State Department of Transportation, and New York State Dormitory Authority before resigning to fully open his own private Architectural office.
He was the Founder and Managing Director of CCJN & Associates, USA. The trailblazer practised the profession with ease, style, versatility, expertise and tremendous success in the United States of America. He was one of the few Black workers in the US to be reckoned with then.
The icon of Architecture of international repute, Dr. (Arc.) C.C. Jonnwakalo, returned to Nigeria a few years back to contribute his quota to nation-building. He made significant input in Nigeria as could be gleaned from his record as Managing Director of CCJN & Company Ltd., Abuja and Enugu, Nigeria and Managing Director of Obelisk International Ltd., Abuja and Enugu, Nigeria. Passionate about teaching, Dr. (Arc.) Chuba Charles Jonnwakalo settled into teaching and raising young Architects in the Department of Architecture at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
There, he distinguished himself as a unique, innovative teacher, researcher and administrator. The erudite scholar, with over 30 years experience of teaching (counting from the US), has to his credit a large number of publications including articles published in reputable peer-reviewed international and national journals and books.
Member of a couple of professional associations, he attended and participated actively in a good number of international and local conferences, workshops and seminars.
His well-researched publications available on Researchgate, for instance, attract a wide readership from the international community and help boost the visibility of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the great institution he served till his demise on the 23rd of February, 2022.
In community service, this illustrious and ebullient doctor played several leadership roles. For example, he was an erstwhile President of Dennis Memorial Grammar School Old Boys’ Association (DOBA) in USA.
He was a practising and committed Christian of the Anglican Communion. He served as Chairman of, Harvest Committee of Saint Stephen’s Church, Awka, Awka Diocese of the Anglican Communion.
Charlie got married as a young man and was blessed with six children, viz.: Ndidi, Ositadinma, Chinwe, Njideka, Chuba and Chinonye.
More...
Less...
