His Excellency Dr. Okwesilieze is a member of the Nwodo political dynasty of Ukehe in Enugu State. He is the second son of Igwe John Nwodo, a traditional ruler who was the Minister of Commerce and later Local Government in the former Eastern Region under Premier Michael Okpara. Okwesilieze Nwodo studied medicine at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1971–77). Between 1977 and 1980, he was a house officer at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu and at the Military Hospital in Jos. He continued his studies at the Royal College of Surgeons, London (1980) and the Belgrade Medical School, Yugoslavia (1980–84), and obtained an  MB.BS in Medicine and Surgery. He worked as a pediatric surgeon in Yugoslavia and then in Birmingham, England, before returning to Nigeria and taking a post as Medical Doctor at the Ukehe Medical Centre and Maternity (1984-1991). Dr. Nwodo was elected Governor of Enugu State in January 1992 on the National Republican Convention (NRC) platform during the Nigerian Third Republic. He held office until November 1993, when General Sani Abacha came to power in a military coup. He was twice elected Secretary General of People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 1999-2001 and was elected National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party in 2010. Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo was in 2007 awarded a national honor, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), by President Shehu Yar'Adua, for his contributions to development of democracy in Nigeria. He is a thorough breed Igbo leader who has done much to promote his Igbo identity. He has spoken bluntly on a number of occasions on the marginalization and suppression of Ndigbo in Nigeria. He is the Chairman of the 20-man Ohanaeze Ndigbo Restructuring Committee set up to articulate a position for Ndigbo in the proposed restructuring of Nigeria. Dr. Nwodo has made and is making a number of investments in the South East Nigeria and is totally committed to the economic development and growth of South East Nigeria and in the creation of wealth and employment generation, east of the Niger.