Who is Collins?

Collins Nweke is a Belgian politician of Nigerian origin, born on 14 July 1965 and of Igbuzo, Delta State Nigeria extraction. He is husband of Tonia Nweke, an educator trained at the College of Education, University of Benin & Delta State University; father of Tonna (Corporate Tax Advisor / Management Accountant) and Chidi (Visiting Professor & Researcher on Artificial Intelligence). A 2014 candidate Member European Parliament, Collins is a third term Municipal Legislator for Social Affairs at Ostend City Council, Belgium. Since 2006 his portfolio has included the Economy, Social Policy, Equality Affairs and International Development. Collins features regularly on TV Continental Lagos as Global Affairs Analyst, on Channels TV as Foreign Policy Commentator, on TRT World Istanbul as African Affairs Analyst among other Afrocentric media houses.

Education:

• Belgian ‘Graduaat’ in Corporate Strategy
• Fellow Chartered Public Manager, FCPM of the Chartered Institute of Public Management of Nigeria
• MSE (Social Economy)
• BCom (International Business Management)
• OND Mass Communication
• Certified Management Consultant, CMC

Honours:

• Doctor of Governance (Honoris Causa) awarded in 2014 at the University of Lagos by Victoria Global University
• Fellow Institute of Management Consultants, FIMC
• Fellow International Association of Research Scholars & Administrators

Appointments:

• Member Governing Board Municipal Library Kris Lambert Oostende
• Member Advisory Board WestKans (Province of West Flanders) Bureau Accessibility Policy
• Member Governing Board Equal Education Opportunities (GOK) for disadvantaged children
• Member Commission on Crime & Prevention Ostend Belgium
• Member Presidential Strategic Planning Committee on Nigeria Vision 2020
• Board Member Commission on the Economy, Ostend City Council
• Member Commission on Public Works, Ostend City Council

Political Career:

• Following impressive personal score at the 2006 municipal elections, was appointed lead Social Policy for the Green Party Ostend and served as Councillor Social Welfare until 2012, making history as the first and so far the only non-Belgian born person to serve in elective office in the West-Flanders constituency
• Was elected Municipal Legislator Ostend City Council by direct vote for a six-year term running through December 2018. Portfolio includes the Economy, Social Policy, International Development and Equality Policy
• Councillor for Social Affairs, Ostend City Council for the term of office 2018 – 2025

Community Engagements:

• Founding Board Chairman Municipal Advisory Council for Ethnic Minorities Ostend City Council
• Co-Founder and first Board Chairman, Jakoeboe Refugee Welfare Association Ostend
• Founder Nigeria Human Capital in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria
• Co-Founder Global Change for Africa Awards
• Past Chief Executive, General Secretary and later Chairman Board of Trustees Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe
• Advisor Changemakers Initiative Flanders
• Patron AfricaFora France
• Advisory Board Member Protect Accent UK

Issues of political concern:

• Social Policy, Poverty Eradication & Social Inclusion
• Social Economy
• Employment (special employment measures and policies. ..)
• Interculturalization & Global Affairs
• Energy Poverty
• Solidarity Mechanisms
• Africa Trade & Investment Matters
• Effective human capital management