Walter Ofonagoro (born 24 June 1940) is a Nigerian scholar, politician and businessman who is a former Minister of Information and Culture, Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is also the Chairman of Stanwal Securities Limited (member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange), as well as Chairman of Merit Microfinance Bank Ltd. Early life Born and raised in Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria on June 24, 1940, Ofonagoro is the third child and second son in a family of fifteen. His father, Chief Gabriel Obioha Ofonagoro (Duruishimbu IV of Umuanu Amaigbo and Ugochinyere Igbo 1 of Amaigbo) was at the time of his birth, Assistant Transport Manager of UAC Bulk Oil Plant, Port Harcourt. His mother, Lolo Gladys Ogonnaya Ofonagoro was a dealer in UAC Textiles. He was educated at Baptist Day School Port Harcourt from 1947 to 1954, and subsequently at Baptist High School Port Harcourt from 1955 to 1959. He then went on to study at Holy Family College Abak in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria where he studied for his A-levels and passed the Cambridge Higher School Certificate examination with Distinction in 1961. Afterwards he went to study at Trinity College, University of Toronto Canada where he graduated with a BA. First Class Hons. Modern History, in 1966. He also studied at Columbia University, New York, where he earned an MA in African Economic History with Distinction in June 1967, and finally got his PhD in African Economic History with Distinction on February 2, 1972. He was a distinguished lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Lagos, Nigeria Career Contributions to academics Many years prior to his work in the Ministry of Information and Culture, Ofonagoro first began his career in 1962 as a tutor in Baptist High School Port Harcourt where he taught English, Latin and History. From 1968 to 1975, he held several esteemed positions in Columbia University, New York including; Columbia University Preceptor, Instructor in History and Associate Professor of History. During his tenure at Columbia, he helped to organize the Columbia-Morningside Lecture Series on African Heritage from 1968 to 1976. He was also appointed Adviser to Undergraduate History Majors at Columbia University School of General Studies; and was a member of the University Senate from 1970 to 1972. He also served as a visiting professor at various universities in the New York/New Jersey area such as; Queens College, New York University, Brooklyn College,