PIPO Cconsulting

1. INTRODUCTION

Professor Paschal Iloegbu Peter Okolie (JP) was born on 29^th August, 1965 at Ezi-Nze in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. He is a Certified Accountant, Financial Management Consultant, Chartered Tax Practitioner, Forensic Accountant, renowned academic guru and presently the Managing Consultant at PIPO Consulting based in Enugu, Nigeria. He consulted for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and currently consults for the Forum of Accountants-General in Nigeria, among others. He is an Adjunct Full Professor of Public Finance and Accounting.

A former Special Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on Financial Matters, he was the Accountant-General/Permanent Secretary in Enugu State for about eight years before his meritorious retirement. Prof. Okolie is the former Chairman, Forum of Accountants-General in Nigeria, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, among others.

2. EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS

Prof. Okolie is an Adjunct Full Professor of Public Finance and Accounting at the prestigious University of America, Curacao/USA. He holds a PhD in Finance, MBA and M.Sc in Banking and Finance and B.Sc (Hons.) in Accountancy from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu. Prof. Okolie also holds a Diploma in Catholic Social Teachings/Theology for Lay People from the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP), Enugu in affiliation with University of Bonn, Germany and another Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) from Peaceland College of Education, Enugu, among other qualifications.

3. PROFESSIONAL ATTAINMENTS

Prof. Okolie is a Fellow, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (FCNA); Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCTI); Fellow, Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC); Fellow, Association of Management and Social Sciences Researchers of Nigeria (FAMSSRN); Fellow, Chartered Certified Forensics Accountant (FCCrFA); Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administrators of Nigeria (FICAN); Doctoral Fellow of the Institute of Professional Financial Managers of London (DFPFM, UK); Member, Chartered Certified Fraud Investigator (CCFI); Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM); Member, Nigerian Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (NISMN); Member, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN); Member, Sub-Committee on Government Ministries and Agencies of AMSSRN; Registered Professional Accountant with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, among others.

4. CONTRIBUTION TO TERTIARY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Prof. Okolie commenced lecturing as far back as 1990 when he took up part-time lecturing in Accounting at OSISATECH Polytechnic, Enugu. He taught Public Finance for Middle Management Staff, on part-time basis, at Staff Development Centre, Enugu from 2004 to 2011. He is former External Examiner in Accountancy at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu. For the love of his alma mater, he offered two years adjunct lecturing on pro bono basis in the Department of Banking and Finance, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria. He is currently an adjunct Full Professor of Public Finance and Accounting in the Department of Management, Finance and Accounting, The University of America, Curacao and a Visiting Professor of Public Finance and Accounting in the Department of Accountancy, Cosmopolitan International Business School, Abuja, a Learning Centre of The University of America, Curacao/USA. In addition, he is a Visiting Professor in the Accounting and Finance Department, Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Sciences, Spiritan University Nneochi, Abia State.

 Among his publications and creative outputs are books in Financial Management, Accounting, Auditing and other general interest concerns; thirty five International Journal articles, six local publications, six unpublished research works and over fifty Conferences/Seminars/Workshop papers. He also edited one book and supervised/still supervising many students’ projects/dissertations/thesis.

As a testament to his academic prowess, he has delivered his Inaugural Lecture at The University of America, California, USA where he is an Adjunct Full Professor. In addition, he also delivered the Maiden Convocation Lecture of Spiritan University Nneochi, Abia State, Nigeria and the Convocation Lecture of the Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace (CIDJAP) Academy in affiliation with Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.

5. CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Apart from securing employment opportunities for hundreds of people from within and outside his immediate Communities, Prof. Okolie attracted several development projects which include roads, schools, hospitals, rural electrification, Police Divisional Headquarters for security, water, Civic Centres, among others for his Communities.

6. AWARDS

Resulting from his sterling performances, he won:

1. The Gold Award as the Best Branch Chairman of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria in the country in 2010;
2. A State Award as Best Staff in Enugu State Civil Service in 2012;
3. National Productivity Order of Merit Award in 2018 for diligent discharge of his duties and contribution to the growth of the Enugu State and Nigerian economy;
4. Dedicated Service Award in recognition and appreciation of contributions to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) implementation in Nigeria by Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) Sub-Committee on IPSAS Implementation in Nigeria in 2020;
5. Award of Excellence in Research and Scholarship by Association of Management and Social Sciences Researchers of Nigeria (FAMSSRN) for contribution to research in Nigeria in 2021;
6. Distinguished Service Award by Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in recognition of his outstanding valuable contributions towards the growth of the Institute in 2022,
7. Public Servant of the Year and Ambassador of Good Leadership by Nigerian Students’ Parliament in recognition of his outstanding achievements, selfless service to humanity and
8. Award of the title of “Ambassador of fearlessness and Major” by Bishop Okoye Chapter of Chevalier of Knight of St. John International (KSJI) in 2020 for portraying the Order in good light through the honest, transparent and accountable discharge of his duties as Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary in Enugu State,
9. Pan-African ICON of Nation Building in recognition of Selfless Contributions to Nation Building, Prompt Payment of Salaries as Accountant-General , Meritorious services to God, Humanity, Country and Africa by African Students Union Parliament (ASUP),
10. He was inducted into the Lejja, Nsukka Hall of Fame, among over thirty other awards too numerous to be mentioned here for want of space.

• HONOURS

Prof. Okolie has been honoured with many Chieftaincy titles by many communities. These include Okenwanamuluoha of Ibute-Nze, Nwachinemelu of Ezi-Nze, Nwadioramma of Isiube-Nze, Onwanetiliora of Akpakwume/Nze, Omeluoha 1 of Agba Umana in Ezeagu LGA, High Chief Ugwumba 1 of Ezedike Clan, High Chief Nwannedinamba1 of Ibute-Egede, Udi LGA, High Chief Nwannedinamba 1 of Ede-Enu Edeoballa, Nsukka LGA, among others.

In addition, three distinguished Authors acknowledged his services to people and government through three Books written in his honour. The Books are:

1. Paschal Okolie: Imprints on Human and Community Development by Prince Charles Chibuoke (2020),
2. The Giant Strides of a Quintessential Treasury Manager by Abel Anukwu (2020) and
3. Money, Man and Material Manager: A portrait of Dr. Paschal Okolie by Aniebo Nwamu (2022).

7. THE CHURCH

A devout Catholic, he is a Jerusalem and Rome pilgrim and has risen to the rank of Noble in the Knights of St. John International. Furthermore, he is the Vice-Chairman, Parish Pastoral Council, Christ the King Parish, GRA, Enugu and a Justice of Peace for the entire Enugu state. By the special grace of God, His Holiness Pope Francis in 2024 invested him with the Papal Honour of Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester (KSS).

8. EXPOSURE

In the course of his civil service career, he attended many workshops, seminars and conferences within and outside Nigeria, and he also delivered papers, in addition to serving on many committees. Prof. Okolie has travelled to many states in the United States of America, and countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

• KEY TAKE AWAYS FROM HIS PERSON

As an all rounder and a man of many parts, the person of Prof. (Sir) Paschal Iloegbu Peter Okolie is better summarized to capture the facts that:

1. As an Accountant in Civil Service of Enugu State, he rose to become the Accountant- General of the State.
2. As a civil servant, he rose to become a Permanent Secretary in the Public Service of Enugu State, thereby becoming the first to be re-designated as ‘Permanent Secretary/Accountant General’ in the State.
3. As a Professional, he rose to become Fellow of many Professional Bodies.
4. As an Academic, he published books and many academic papers nationally and internationally, lectures, serves as examiner and rose to the rank of Adjunct Full Professor of Public Finance and Accounting; delivered Convocation Lectures and Inaugural Lecture in Universities in Nigeria and America.
5. As a Teacher, he is a Registered Teacher with Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (MTRCN) and an adjunct/visiting Professor in three Universities.
6. As a dedicated staff, he won an Award as the best staff in the Civil Service and National Productivity Order of Merit Award for diligent discharge of his duties and contribution to the growth of Enugu State and Nigerian Economy.
7. As a devout Catholic, he holds Diploma in Catholic Social Teachings/Theology for Lay People. He is also a Papal Knight, a Knight of St. John International and a Jerusalem and Rome Pilgrim (JP).
8. As a man of the people, he was conferred with many chieftaincy titles.
9. As a social being, he became Chairman of virtually all groups (be it social, professional or religious), he had identified with. Above all, he was Chairman, Forum of Accountants-General in Nigeria.
10. As a man of peace, he is Justice of the Peace (JP) for the entire Enugu State.

• FAMILY

Prof. Okolie is happily married to Dr (Mrs) Stella, and to the glory of God, they are blessed with lovely children.