Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu’s outstanding performance in lawmaking, representation and oversight as well as his role as the deputy speaker, his sponsorship of over 120 impactful bills, which have led to constitution reforms, advanced regional development through the South East Development Commission, championed gender inclusion, and promoted peace, education and good governance across Nigeria, are good reasons he has been chosen for the first ever award of LEADERSHIP Legislator of the Year.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR, is a seasoned legislator, legal practitioner, international businessman, peace advocate and global thought leader in governance and development.
At present, he is the deputy speaker of the 10th House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and he represents the Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Born on May 5, 1971, in Agbamuzu, Bende local government area of Abia State, Nigeria, Kalu has had a career spanning over two decades of impactful service across the public and private sectors.
Deeply grounded in academics, the cerebral lawmaker holds a PhD in Public Policy and Strategic Studies from the University of Abuja, an LL.M in Terrorism & International Humanitarian Law (Distinction, University of Calabar), an MBA from Oxford Brookes University (UK), and a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons.) from the University of Calabar where he is currently pursuing a Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree.
He has further enriched his expertise through executive programmes at prestigious institutions, including: Leadership for the 21st Century, Harvard Kennedy School, USA; Governance & Development Programme, Miami Herbert Business School, University of Miami, USA; Environmental Crimes, United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), Italy; Migration and Human Rights, John Cabot University, Italy; Illicit Trade, University of Groningen, Netherlands; International Commercial Arbitration, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), UK.
His scholarly contributions include published works on climate adaptation policy, food security and security sector reforms in Africa, underscoring his role as a scholar-practitioner bridging research and governance.
Kalu began his political career as the chairman, Bende local government area of Abia State, and he later served as executive adviser to the governor of Abia State on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and International Relations before rising to national prominence in the House of Representatives.
First elected in 2019, the lawmaker distinguished himself as the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs/official spokesperson of the House, a role he handled with clarity, diplomacy and excellence.
Kalu has over the years asserted himself as a quintessential legislator, standing tall on the tripod of lawmaking, oversight and representation. During his first term (2019—2023), he stood neck high in sponsorship of bills in the 9th Assembly, emerging as one of the highest bill sponsors with some of the legislation assented to and being implemented for public good.
In the present Assembly alone, he has sponsored a total number of 120 bills. These pieces of legislation include Constitution Alteration Bills, Justice Sector Reform, Gender Equity, Security Sector, Education, Professional Bodies Bills, Governance, Public Service & Institutional Bills, Business Environment Reform, Productivity, and Economic Growth Bills.
Among the impactful pieces of legislation to his credit are the South East Development Commission (SEDC), State Police, and Special Seats for Women in Parliament.
The SEDC will help in the rebuilding of the post-war reconstruction that has not been attended to for over 50 years.
For state police, when the bill becomes law, state police creation will navigate the complex landscape of security challenges by empowering states with the means to address issues unique to their localities.
Another key bill is the one seeking additional seats for women in parliament. The proposed legislation will address the profound imbalance and the under-representation of women in the National Assembly and at sub-national levels.
Also, Kalu sponsored the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende (Establishment) Bill, and the Federal College of Education, Bende (Establishment) Bill. These bills aim to bridge the educational gap in the federal constituency, which has no tertiary institution despite its large population and strategic location.
Other bills of his include the Fiscal Reforms & Economic Management Bills 7, Science, Technology and Innovation, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, Time Limit for Hearing and Determination of Civil and Criminal Cases at Trial and Appellate Courts, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, Time Limit for Presentation of Treaties to the National Assembly, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) (Indigene Status by Birth) Bill, 2025, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) (Timeframe for Population Census Bill, and 2025 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) (Citizenship by Investment) Bill.
On representation, too, Kalu is not found wanting. Only recently, he was in his Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State to commission several school buildings, roads, boreholes and other development projects he facilitated.
As deputy speaker of the 10th House and chairman of the House Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), he leads one of the most consequential national assignments, shaping constitutional reforms that deepen democracy, inclusion, and national unity.
He also represents Nigeria on the global stage as chairman of the ECOWAS Parliament Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget; member of the Pan-African Parliament; Steering Committee member of the WTO Parliamentary Conference; and member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
In the private sector, Kalu has held various leadership positions across Africa, Europe and Australia including as director at Solcarbon SA-NV (Belgium), Ozbok Australia PTY LTD (Sydney), and Belcarbon SA (Belgium).
He also serves as principal arbitrator at Silk Partners LLP (Nigeria), where he advises on commercial law, arbitration and international business strategy.
Kalu’s passion for peace and development finds expression in the Peace in the South=East Project (PISE-P), an initiative he convened to promote dialogue, inclusivity, and non-kinetic solutions to security challenges in Nigeria’s South-East.
His humanitarian footprints also extend through the Benjamin Kalu Foundation, which for over two decades has provided interventions in healthcare, education and empowerment for youth, women, and persons with disabilities. In recognition of his outstanding service to the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, conferred on him the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu stands as a visionary leader for the 21st century, as he blends law, policy, diplomacy and humanitarianism to shape a more inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Nigeria, Africa and the world. This trajectory justifies his award as LEADERSHIP Legislator of the Year 2025.
