CHIGOZIE JAMES OKEREKE WAS BORN ON 13TH SEPTEMBER TO THE FAMILY OF ENGR. PROF. & DR. LADY C.D OKEREKE OF UMUODIRI UMUCHOKE UMUNUMO EHIME-MBANO L.G.A, IMO STATE. HE OBTAINED HIS FIRST SCHOOL LEAVING CERTIFICATE IN 1999 FROM UNIVERSITY STAFF SCHOOL FUTO UPON COMPLETING HIS PRIMARY SCHOOL. HE ATTENDED GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL OWERRI WHERE HE OBTAINED HIS WASSCE IN 2005. HE WROTE THE FIRST POST UME EXAMINATION AND GAINED ADMISSION TO STUDY ARCHITECTURE IN IMO STATE UNIVERSITY OWERRI AND GRADUATED WITH A B.Sc ARCH IN 2008/2009. HIS NYSC WAS IN MINISTRY OF HOUSING ASABA, DELTA STATE FROM 2010 TO 2011. HE GOT A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT WHILE DOING HIS NYSC IN MAY, 2011 FROM INTERNATIONAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS. HE SUBSEQUENTLY SETUP A CONSTRUCTION FIRM HARDCORE NIG. ASSOCIATES THAT RENDERS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO PRIVATE CLIENTS, CORPORATE ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT BODIES. IN 2012 HE ENROLLED FOR M.Sc ARCHITECTURE AND BAGGED THE DEGREE IN OCTOBER, 2015. HE IS INSTRUMENTAL TO THE FORMATION OF YOUNG ARCHITECTS WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL IN PRACTISE. HE IS THE CHAIRMAN, ROAD MAINTENANCE OF HIS NEIGHBOURHOOD AND THE OKPUKPU NYIRI AGU 1 OF IGBOLAND A TITLE CONFERRED ON HIM BY SOME PRIESTS. HE IS A MEMBER OF VARIOUS ACADEMIC, PROFESSIONAL, SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS. LASTLY, IN 2019 HE WAS OFFERED LECTURING EMPLOYMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, SOES, F.U.T.O WHERE HE WORKS TILL DATE.