Okeke "OK Negus" Okonjo
Born
Okeke Ubu Yu Okonjo

(1983-02-28) February 28, 1983 (age 41)
Quthing, Lesotho
NationalityLesotho
Other namesOK Okonjo
EducationNational University of Lesotho
Occupation(s)Politician, Party chief
Known forInfluential politician from Lesotho
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Political partyKopanang Basotho Party of Lesotho
SpouseWatu Awolowo
ParentUnknown

Okeke "OK Negus" Okonjo is a Lesotho politician. He is the co-founder and current head of the Kopanang Basotho Party.[1] Born in Quthing and orphaned at birth, he was a ward of the state and a resident of the Quthing Orphanage until the legal emancipation age of 16. At 17 years of age, he became an employee of a local restaurant, which he inherited three years later when its owner died of old age. Using the proceeds of the sale of the business as capital, and inspired by the American investor Warren Buffett,[2][3][4] he started a stockbroking partnership which blossomed in the early 2000s after a series of successful bets involving cocoa and fruit futures.

His newfound wealth allowed him to pursue a career in politics while attending lectures at the National University of Lesotho in African Studies. After being featured on national radio shows, Okonjo was able to garner enough political capital to found the Kopanang Basotho Party along with a handful of freeholders and businessmen from Quthing. The party is headquartered in Quthing, but Okonjo currently resides in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, in order to "stay in the midst of the political elite".[4] Okonjo married local DJ and radio show host Watu Awolowo in 2005.[5]

References

  1. ^ Lundhal, Mats. In the Shadow of South Africa: Lesotho's Economic Future (Making of Modern Africa). Ashgate Pub Ltd, 2003, p. 92.
  2. ^ African Development Bank Group. African Development Report 2008/2009. Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 119.
  3. ^ Lundhal, Mats. In the Shadow of South Africa: Lesotho's Economic Future (Making of Modern Africa). Ashgate Pub Ltd, 2003, p. 98.
  4. ^ a b Lesotho Times. February 27, 2008, p. 3.
  5. ^ Lesotho Times. March 15, 2002, p. 3

{{DEFAULTSORT:Okonjo, Okeke}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1983 births]] [[Category:Lesotho politicians]] [[Category:People from Quthing District]] {{Lesotho-politician-stub}}