Biography of Dr. Christian Oyirinda Amadi

Christian Oyirinda Amadi was born in April 23, 1977, in Adanta Community in Isiokpo kingdom in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.

A product of nature and nurture, he grew to become a major engagement of interest to those around him. His unusual demonstration of precocity made him attain a reasonable degree of financial self-reliance and independence quite early.

He is a highly motivated, energetic, conscientious, and professional Finance and Development Manager with over 20-years comprehensive experience in the Finance and Development Sector with massive and enviable exposure in all sectors of the economy.

A former Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Chris Amadi, holds a Doctorate degree in Trade and Development Finance of the Institute of International Trade and Development, University of Port Harcourt; an M.Sc in Finance, University of Port Harcourt; a B.Sc in Finance and Banking, University of Port Harcourt.

He is deep versed in finance development and administration and represents the best in the sector. An administrator per excellence, reformer and trailblazer, Dr. Chris Amadi hails from the ancient kingdom of Isiokpo, the traditional headquarters of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality in Rivers State.

He captures interest in many ways and serves as a major source of inspiration to the younger generation. His life holds attention, mostly because it is close to the generality of human experiences that the ordinary man in the streets can readily relate to in different ways, being from a humble background.

His passion for finance and development spurred him to take up a study in the field. By 1999 he had already bagged a B.Sc in Banking and Finance, thereafter he proceeded to consolidate and broaden his horizon by enrolling for a Masters program in the same field of study.

Perhaps, conscious of the rapid and dynamic nature of events within the financial circle, he enrolled and bagged a Doctorate degree in Trade and Development Finance of the Institute of International Trade and Development, University of Port Harcourt to further deepen his knowledge of the field.

Dr. Chris Amadi is a participant at the Harvard Business School’s “High Potentials Leadership Program” and Wharton Business School’s “Implementing Effective Strategy” he also completed a Project Management course at the University of Winconson, United States of America. He is given to a life of excellence, service and dedication to duty.

He is particularly known for leaving behind indelible marks of excellence, discipline, and transparency in all his dealings. From his University days, to his days in the Banking sector, he strove to leave giant footprints for many to follow.

As a great strategist and go-getter, Dr. Chris Amadi has served as the Chief Operating Officer of Gulf Pole Concerns Limited, where he oversaw the general operations of the company, articulated viable strategies and ensured the overall growth of the company amongst other things.

One of the few remarkable projects he embarked on while serving as the Chief Operating Officer was provision of specialized security patrol vessels for Nigeria Petroleum Company, Fabrication, Installation and Commissioning of 4-6 product transfer lines for Dangote Refinery, Lagos-Nigeria, Piping, Sandblasting and Painting of 20 units of 4M.L refined product storage facility in Dangote Refinery and many others.

Between 2011 and 2013, he was the Special Assistant on Finance to the MD/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, where he handled major responsibilities including liaising with various bankers and stakeholders on behalf of the MD/CEO as well as proposing and articulating relevant financial policies necessary for the smooth running of the Commission and advice same to the MD/CEO.

An ethical, firm, candid and skilled communicator, his gradation on the ladder of public service, particularly in the financial and development sectors is not unexpected given his passion and diligence towards service.

Here is a man who exemplifies leadership with mind-blowing simplicity and is readily accessible, attentive to all, kind-hearted and easy-going.

He spent a total of 11 years in the Banking Sector. Within the period under review, he rose to the enviable position of Branch/Zonal Head of Access Bank PLC, Port Harcourt region. An office he occupied from 2005 – 2011.

As the Branch/Zonal head, he was saddled with budget preparation, credit analysis, implementation, and monitoring, monthly MPR preparation and presentation as well as managing the entire marketing and operations of the bank.

Between 2003 and 2005, Dr. Amadi served as the Team Leader, Commercial Banking at Afribank PLC, Port Harcourt, where he grappled with schedules such as developing public sector business, planning and coordination of unit activities, relationship management and developing new businesses.

He was also the Credit and Marketing Officer at Ecobank PLC, Port Harcourt/Aba between 2000 and 2003. His sterling performance and special knack for getting results have always placed him on the spotlight.

Dr. Chris Amadi’s education and participation in several excellent executive training programs and workshops with notable institutions and organizations around the world ranging from International Trade Finance Training, Credit Risk Management, Financial Analysis using Moodies software, Anti-Money Laundering Course, Credit Analysis and Presentation amongst many others has assisted him in developing his leadership skills and becoming an effective manager.

He has several research papers to his credit, including Short-Run Casualty Analysis of the Determinant of Exchange Rate in Sub-Saharan Africa (2018), published with the International Journal of Business Research (IJBR), Vol. 1, No. 1, Fall 2017, USA; Dynamic Short-Run and Long-Run Effects of Manufacturing Merchandize Export on Economic Performance: An empirical evidence from Nigeria (2018), International Journal of Business and Behavioral Sciences Research; An Empirical Investigation for the nexus between Agricultural Export Base and Economic Growth in Nigeria (2018), International Journal of Business Marketing and Management Research.

He is a member of some international and local professional bodies: Member, American Certified Fraud Examiners, USA., member, Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISM); Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria, FCE.

Dr. Chris Amadi is passionate and very committed to the progressive advancement of the society as a whole. He believes in the unrelenting spirit of the Niger Delta people and he contributed to the best of his abilities as the Ag. Executive Director Finance and Administration of the NDDC in collaborating with relevant stakeholders to reposition the Niger Delta region for the good of all.

During the period under review he was entrusted with fulfilling certain financial responsibilities which include providing strategic and financial guidance to ensure that the commissions financial commitments are met in attaining Niger Delta regional development, developing all necessary policies and procedures to ensure the sound financial management and control of the commission, and developing and controlling the commissions annual operating budget to ensure financial targets are met in compliance with statutory/instant regulations.

Some of the administrative responsibilities he carries out in the commission as the Executive Director, Finance and Administration include coordination, and management of all directors and directorates, setting performance management guidelines and quality standard for the commission and a few others.

Chris Oyirinda Amadi is married to his hearthrob, Mrs. Maudlyn Oyirinda Amadi and they are blessed with three wonderful kids. At his leisure he loves to play football, read, travel and also has a charity foundation “Annabel and David Foundation”.