Professor Kingsley Bosah Chiedu Ayodele Moghalu was born on May 7, 1963, in Lagos, Nigeria, as the first of five children. His father, Isaac Chukwudum Moghalu, was a Nigerian Foreign Service Officer inducted into the Ministry of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs after Nigeria’s independence in 1960. His mother, Lady Vidah Chinelo Moghalu, was a schoolteacher at the Breadfruit School on Lagos Island and later a professional dietician. Shortly after his birth, his family relocated to Geneva, Switzerland, and subsequently to Washington, DC, in 1964 due to his father’s diplomatic postings.
In 1967, amidst Nigeria’s political crisis, the Moghalu family returned to Nigeria, where Isaac Moghalu joined the Eastern Region Civil Service. He later served in the Cabinet Office of the Eastern Region and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Biafra. The family remained in Eastern Nigeria after the civil war, with Isaac Moghalu rising to the rank of Permanent Secretary. This upbringing instilled in Professor Moghalu a strong value system rooted in family honor and public service.
Education and Early Career
Kingsley Moghalu attended Eziama High School, Aba; Government College, Umuahia; and Federal Government College, Enugu. He earned a law degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. He served as a Legal Officer during his National Youth Service at Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Lagos.
Following this, he worked for three years as General Counsel of Newswatch, Nigeria’s leading newsmagazine, and contributed as an opinion columnist for The Guardian. He also reported for several international newspapers, including Africa News Service, South, and the Christian Science Monitor. In 1991, he pursued postgraduate studies at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, where he earned a master’s degree in international relations in 1992 as a Joan Gillespie Fellow.
United Nations Career
Professor Moghalu joined the United Nations Secretariat in 1992 under Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. Rising through the ranks, he served in legal, strategic planning, and executive management roles in New York, Cambodia, Croatia, Tanzania, and Switzerland. In 2006, Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed him to the high-level Redesign Panel on the UN Internal Justice System, an assignment at the nominal rank of Under-Secretary-General.
Return to Education
In 2005, while serving in Geneva, Professor Moghalu earned a Doctor of Philosophy in international relations from the London School of Economics, completing his dissertation in a record 12 months. He later obtained the International Certificate in Risk Management and further training at Harvard University, Harvard Business School, and the International Monetary Fund Institute.
Transition to the Private Sector
Moghalu transitioned to the private sector by founding Sogato Strategies, a risk advisory firm in Geneva, in 2009. The firm served global corporations, including UBS and Syngenta. His expertise in risk management paved the way for his appointment as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2009, where he played a key role in stabilizing Nigeria’s financial system during the global financial crisis.
Central Bank of Nigeria
From 2009 to 2014, Professor Moghalu served as Deputy Governor of Financial System Stability at the CBN. He led banking sector reforms, addressed systemic risks, and was a member of the Monetary Policy Committee and the Bank’s Board of Directors. His tenure was marked by navigating challenges posed by the global financial crisis and oil price shocks.
Academic Career
After his tenure at the CBN, Professor Moghalu was appointed Professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. He authored Emerging Africa: How the Global Economy’s ‘Last Frontier’ Can Prosper and Matter and several other notable works. He also became a Senior Fellow at Fletcher’s Council on Emerging Market Enterprises.
Public Policy and Advisory Roles
Professor Moghalu founded the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation (IGET) in 2016, focusing on policy solutions for inclusive growth in Africa. He joined the Advisory Board of the London-based Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) and serves as a Senior Advisor alongside global economic leaders.
Public Speaking and Media
Moghalu is a sought-after speaker and has appeared on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times. He provided analysis during Nigeria’s 2015 presidential elections, contributing insights on the nation’s economy and politics.
Honors and Accomplishments
Professor Moghalu has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB). He is a member of the American Economic Association, American Bar Association, Academy of International Business, and Global Association of Risk Professionals.
Family
Professor Moghalu is married to Maryanne Moghalu, a lawyer and social entrepreneur who directs the Isaac Moghalu Foundation. The foundation supports educational initiatives and disadvantaged youth in Nigeria. The couple has four children. His siblings are accomplished professionals in technology, security, education, and engineering.
Professor Moghalu’s journey reflects his commitment to public service, intellectual achievement, and global impact.
Related posts:
Chika Unigwe
Ngozi Nwosu
Speed Darlington (Akpi)
Views: 62
N:B Please send your updated CV to: info@igbopeople.org – Editor
© igbopeople.org
All entries on this website will be periodically updated to add, modify, or amend the information or content of existing entries. Consequently, no legal action will be entertained against the biographer for any information considered incomplete or insufficient.