Minister Dave Umahi’s Biography: Quick Profile
Dave Umahi’s rise is one of Nigeria’s more interesting political stories. Before he stepped into politics, he was already a self-made billionaire, making his first fortune in engineering by the time he was just 25. He ran Ebonyi State for eight years, then President Tinubu picked him as Minister of Works in 2023. Here’s his profile in a nutshell.
| Profile | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | David Nweze Umahi (CON) |
| Popular Name | Dave Umahi / Engr. Dave Umahi |
| Date of Birth | July 25, 1964 (some sources cite January 1, 1964) |
| Age | 61 years old (as of 2025) |
| Place of Birth | Umunaga, Uburu, Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi State |
| State of Origin | Ebonyi State, Nigeria |
| Tribe / Ethnicity | Igbo |
| Religion | Christianity (Assemblies of God — born again 1979) |
| Father | Elder Joseph Umahi Nwaze |
| Mother | Deaconess Margaret Umahi |
| Siblings | Eight (nine children total); includes Maj.-Gen. Obi Abel Umahi (Rtd.), Roy Umahi Nweze, Austin Umahi Nweze (lawyer) |
| Wife | Rachael Umahi (Her Excellency) |
| Children | Four confirmed: Osborn, King David, Jeddy, Tehila |
| Highest Academic Degree | B.Sc. Civil Engineering — Anambra State University of Science and Technology (now ESUT), 1987 |
| Professional Title | Engr. (Engineer) — not a professor |
| National Honour | Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) — October 2022 |
| Current Role | Minister of Works, Federal Republic of Nigeria (sworn in August 21, 2023) |
| Previous Role | Governor, Ebonyi State (2015–2023); Senator, Ebonyi South (2023) |
| Net Worth | Estimated $3 million – $330 million USD (widely varying sources) |
Is Minister Dave Umahi a Professor?
No, he’s not a professor. He’s never held a teaching post, never led a faculty, and no university has given him a professorial title. His correct designation is Engr. Dave Umahi — the “Engr.” shows he’s a fully qualified civil engineer, trained at university, and he worked in the field for years before switching to politics. A lot of people get confused for two reasons. First, there’s the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) in Uburu.
He set it up when he was governor, so people sometimes link him to academia or think he holds a university post. Second, he has a big public presence and often dives deep into policy debates, which might give him an academic vibe. But here’s the deal: he’s an engineer, a former governor, and now a federal minister. Professor isn’t part of his story.
Minister Dave Umahi Primary School Education
His primary school days started in his hometown — a humble beginning for someone who would go on to pave roads all over Nigeria.
| School | Location | Period | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umunaga Primary School, Uburu | Umunaga, Uburu, Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi State | 1971 – 1977 | First School Leaving Certificate — awarded with Distinction |
He spent six years at Umunaga Primary School — and the outstanding result he achieved was an early signal of what was to come. Graduating with distinction from a community primary school, in a state that was then part of the old Imo and Anambra regions, set the intellectual foundation for his engineering career decades later.
Minister Dave Umahi Secondary School Education
Secondary school wasn’t exactly a straight path for Minister Dave Umahi. He moved through two different schools before finally earning a West African School Certificate result any student would be proud to hang on their wall.
| School | Location | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishiagu High School | Ishiagu, Ebonyi State | 1978 – 1979 (Class 1 and first term of Class 2) | Began secondary education here; transferred after Class 2 first term |
| Government Secondary School, Afikpo | Afikpo, Ebonyi State | 1979 – 1982 (approx.) | Completed secondary education; WAEC Division 1 — Alpha performance in Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Statistics, Physics and Chemistry; appointed Library Prefect |
His secondary school record at Government Secondary School Afikpo was exceptional. Clear signs he was headed for an engineering career. He also served as Library Prefect, showing not just academic focus but leadership, too, long before his professional life began.
Minister Dave Umahi University Education
When it came to university, Umahi went all in. He started at the Anambra State University of Science and Technology in 1982, right after his WAEC exams, and graduated five years later with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. The university later became Enugu State University of Science and Technology after Ebonyi State was created. Civil engineering was a tough field, but he didn’t just keep up—he thrived.
| Institution | Period | Programme | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anambra State University of Science and Technology (now ESUT — Enugu State University of Science and Technology) | 1982 – 1987 | B.Sc. Civil Engineering | Degree awarded 1987. Elected Student Senator representing the Engineering Faculty; excelled in all school senate proceedings |
University wasn’t just about classes and exams for him, either. Umahi got involved. He was elected Senator in the Students’ Parliament, representing the Engineering Faculty, and people who were there still talk about how active and committed he was in every session. After earning his degree, he completed his NYSC year, then dove straight into the engineering world—co-founding a major construction firm by 1990.
Minister Dave Umahi Qualifications: Degrees and Certificates
Here’s a quick rundown of Minister Dave Umahi’s educational journey—every confirmed degree and certificate, from his primary school leaving award all the way to his university qualification and national honor.
| Qualification | Institution | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| First School Leaving Certificate (Distinction) | Umunaga Primary School, Uburu | 1977 | Confirmed — cited across all major sources |
| WAEC West African School Certificate (Division 1) | Government Secondary School, Afikpo | Circa 1982 | Confirmed — Alpha grades in Maths, Add. Maths, Statistics, Physics, Chemistry |
| B.Sc. Civil Engineering | Anambra State University of Science and Technology (now ESUT) | 1987 | Confirmed — primary degree; basis for “Engr.” professional title |
| NYSC Discharge Certificate | National Youth Service Corps | 1988 | Completed mandatory national service year |
| Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) | Federal Government of Nigeria | October 2022 | National honour conferred by President Muhammadu Buhari |
Other Tertiary Institutions Associated with Minister Umahi
Minister Umahi’s connection to higher education goes beyond ESUT—he’s actually the founder of a major university. When he was governor of Ebonyi State, he set up King David University of Medical Sciences right in his hometown, Uburu. On September 15, 2022, the government made it a Federal University and renamed it the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS).
Now, it’s one of only eight specialized medical universities in Nigeria. The National Universities Commission (NUC) accredits it, and the school offers 17 different health courses across six faculties. You’ll find programs like Medicine and Surgery, Physiotherapy, Nursing Science, Dentistry, and Optometry.
Dave Umahi Federal University: Portal and School Fees
Students are always looking for info about the Dave Umahi Federal University portal and school fees. Here’s what you need to know: the university—officially the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS)—sits in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
| University Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Name | David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) |
| Also Known As | King David Nweze Umahi University of Medical Sciences, Uburu (KDUMS) |
| Location | Uburu, Ohaozara LGA, Ebonyi State, Nigeria |
| Official Website / Portal | kdums.edu.ng |
| Became Federal University | September 15, 2022 |
| NUC Accreditation | 2023/2024 — accredited for Nursing Science, Physiotherapy, and other courses |
| Faculties | 6 faculties; 17 health-related courses |
| Acceptance Fee | ₦100,000 (new students) |
| Tuition Fees (Nigerian students) | ₦530,000 – ₦1,030,000 per session (inclusive of hostel accommodation) |
| Tuition Fees (International students) | Up to ₦10,000,000 for medical courses |
| How to Pay | Visit kdums.edu.ng → Fee Payment Portal (top right corner) → Generate Registration Number using JAMB/IUC number → Log in → Select payment method (ATM card or bank print-to-pay) |
Minister Dave Umahi’s Wife and Children
Minister Umahi is married to Rachael Nweze Umahi, known publicly as Her Excellency Chief (Mrs.) Rachael Umahi. They have four children together: Osborn, King David, Jeddy, and Tehila. Some reports say there are seven children in total, but only these four are officially confirmed. The oldest, Osborn, graduated from the University of Surrey in the UK back in 2019, which just goes to show how much the family values education—something that clearly tracks with Umahi’s own path.
Minister Dave Umahi Assets and Net Worth
Trying to pin down Minister Umahi’s net worth is like chasing smoke. Some sources put it at $3 million, while others go as high as $330 million. The big gap comes down to how private he’s kept his business deals and his famous claim that he became a billionaire at 25, long before politics entered the picture.
On the record, he co-founded Norman Engineering and Construction Nig. Limited in 1990. He also led Brass Engineering, Focus Investment, and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort as Chairman and CEO—though he stepped down from these roles when he became Deputy Governor in 2011.
These days, his assets include properties in Ebonyi State, other real estate, and whatever’s left from his business days. As Minister of Works, he controls one of Nigeria’s biggest infrastructure budgets—including the hotly debated ₦15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. In that role, his influence goes way beyond any number you’ll find attached to his net worth.
The Engr. Dave Umahi Education Foundation
One legacy that really stands out is the Engr. Dave Umahi Education Foundation. Since 2007, it’s given out more than 1,000 full university scholarships to Nigerian students, covering them from their first year through graduation. The foundation also supports widows, orphans, youth entrepreneurship, and provides essential supplies to people who need them most.
Minister Dave Umahi and His Education in Perspective
David Nweze Umahi grew up in Uburu, Ebonyi State. He aced his First School Leaving Certificate at Umunaga Primary School, finished Government Secondary School Afikpo with a Division 1 in WAEC, and earned a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from ESUT in 1987. From there, he built a successful engineering business, led Ebonyi State for eight years, and now, as Minister of Works, he’s helping shape Nigeria’s infrastructure.
He’s not a professor. He’s something rarer in Nigerian public life—an engineer who actually builds things, both in office and out.
