Emeka Nweke, M.A.

Woman in colorful patterned clothing poses near a bronze sculpture outdoors.

Bio:

Emeka Nweke, M.A. serves as Board Chair of Jazz Hands For Autism, bringing over four decades of engineering leadership, strategic planning, and governance expertise to the organization. His career spans three continents and includes experience in infrastructure development, international consulting, and public sector management, skills he now applies to advancing JHFA’s mission of inclusive music education for neurodivergent learners.


A civil engineer by training (B.S., University of Southampton, 1980), Mr. Nweke has led complex, large-scale projects across Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As a World Bank Consultant, he directed the technical team for the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) from 2007 to 2014, overseeing land degradation studies across five Nigerian states and managing diverse consultant teams. Currently, he serves as a Transportation Engineer with the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS), where he functions as Structure Representative for roads and bridges projects throughout Los Angeles County, applying rigorous oversight and public accountability standards to infrastructure development.



Mr. Nweke’s leadership at JHFA is deeply personal: as the father of a Neurodivergent son and JHFA’s founder, Dr. Ifunanya Nweke, he has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of inclusive music education for neurodivergent individuals. His board service reflects both his professional governance expertise and his family’s commitment to creating a world where every music educator is equipped to serve all learners. In 2012, he was elected Chairman of his clan (Umuobionwu), demonstrating his commitment to community leadership and consensus-building beyond his professional roles.