Ernest Ndukwe: Doing it Right, Always.

Ernest Chukwuka Ndukwe, an engineer by profession, is the Managing Director and Chief Executive officer of General Telecoms, formerly GPT (WA) Limited. He is the first Nigerian to hold that position since 1989. How has he found the position? Said Ndukwe: "I took over from an expatriate. The challenge before was to prove myself and demonstrate that I can do even better, that has been my greatest challenge ever since".

How did he choose engineering as a profession? "I did not come into engineering by accident. Right from my childhood, I had always known that I wanted to be an engineer. I had always enjoyed using my hands to fix things. I made an early decision to read engineering although I did not know my area of specialisation till later on.

Ndukwe studied at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University where he bagged the bachelor of Science degree in electronics/electrical engineering. He went on to do satellite communications courses at Harris Corporation Training school Florida, United State. He also undertook an executive programme at the Lagos Business School.

He was a pupil at the Nigerian Railway Corporation where he served during his National Youth Service Corps Programme. Thereafter, he joined Radio Communications Nigeria Limited as Communications Engineer before moving over to General Telecommunications Plc as Engineering Manager (radio). His movement within the organisation was however fast. By 1989, he was promoted to the position of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.

Ndukwe is satisfied with the turnaround programme at the GT Plc, although not yet completed. Said he; "We have set goals. We have a five-year plan. We have done two and still have more to do. We have to build a solid communication professional company that will be the pride of Nigeria. A lot of expansion plans are till in progress". He favours privatisation especially telecommunications insisting that it would accelerate growth in the industry. Ndukwe belongs to a few clubs but likes to relax with his family after office duties.

Newswatch June 29, 1998