Born: 1965 (Wallsend, North Tyneside)
Biography:
Chinyelu Susan Onwurah, better known as Chi Onwurah, was born on April 12, 1965, in Wallsend, North Tyneside. She is a prominent British Labour Party politician who has been serving as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central since 2010. Onwurah’s mother hailed from Newcastle, while her father, originally from Nigeria, was studying at Newcastle University Medical School to become a dentist when they met and married in the 1950s.
However, just months after Onwurah’s birth, the family relocated to Awka, Nigeria. Tragically, the Biafra War ravaged the region in 1967, plunging it into a devastating famine. As conditions deteriorated, Onwurah’s mother made the difficult decision to return to Tyneside with the children, while her father remained in the Biafran army.
Onwurah attended Kenton School in Newcastle before pursuing her studies in electrical engineering at Imperial College London, earning her degree in 1987. She embarked on a diverse professional journey, working in hardware and software development, product management, market development, and strategy across various private sector companies in the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Nigeria, and Denmark. During this time, she also pursued an MBA at Manchester Business School.
Prior to her political career, Onwurah held the position of Head of Telecoms Technology at Ofcom, where she played a pivotal role in advancing broadband provision in the country. Alongside her professional pursuits, she also became actively involved in the Anti-Apartheid Movement, serving on its National Executive and subsequently joining the Advisory Board of the Open University Business School.
In 2010, Onwurah successfully entered the realm of politics, securing her election as the Member of Parliament for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, following in the footsteps of the longstanding Labour MP Jim Cousins. With a majority of 7,466, she quickly established herself as a formidable force in Parliament.
Onwurah’s engineering background provided her with a unique perspective and shaped her view of Parliament as a culture shock. Nevertheless, she also noted that it was the most diverse and gender-balanced working environment she had ever experienced. Her dedication to championing gender equality and empowering women played a significant role in her political career and her contributions to society.
Within the Labour Party, Onwurah supported Ed Miliband in the 2010 leadership election and was rewarded with the position of junior shadow minister for Business, Innovation, and Skills. In January 2013, she assumed a broader role as a Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, focusing on crucial issues such as cyber security, social entrepreneurship, and open government. Her departure from this post in September 2015 saw her succeeded by Louise Haigh.
Onwurah’s commitment to gender issues is evident in her activism. In February 2014, she initiated a parliamentary debate on gender-specific toy marketing, highlighting the need to challenge stereotypes and promote equality from an early age.
Throughout her career, Chi Onwurah has played a significant role in shaping policy, advancing technological progress, and fighting for equality. Her engineering background and multifaceted experiences have allowed her to bring a unique perspective to the political realm, making her a respected and influential figure in British politics.