With only three days left to the end of the Glazia Black History campaign, we’re still shining our lights on Nigerians doing amazing things in various fields of life. Today, we celebrate Kelechi “Kaycee” Madu – Minister of Justice and Solicitor General of Alberta.
Kelechi Madu
Minister of Justice and Solicitor General of Alberta
“Work to understand them and to offer them empathy and work towards a world where everyone feels safe, where everyone can feel justice.”
Kelechi “Kaycee” Madu is a Nigerian-Canadian lawyer and politician who is the current Minister of Justice and Solicitor General of Alberta since August 25, 2020.
He was elected in the 2019 Alberta general election to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta representing the electoral district of Edmonton-South West.
Kelechi Madu was born in 1973 in Okrika Nweke, Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area, in Imo State, Nigeria and attended the University of Lagos graduating with a Bachelor of Laws, and being called to the bar in Nigeria. He migrated to Edmonton in 2005 with his wife Emem for her postgraduate studies at the University of Alberta.
Kelechi Madu was an active member of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, organizing delegate selection meetings, and later supporting the merger of the party with the Wildrose Party in 2017. Madu volunteered and supported Jason Kenney during the 2017 PC leadership election and the 2017 United Conservative Party leadership election following the merger.
During the 2019 Alberta general election Madu contested for the constituency of Edmonton-South West, which was previously held by New Democratic Party MLA Thomas Dang, who chose to run in Edmonton-South following the 2017 Electoral Boundary Re-distribution. Madu defeated four candidates, capturing 10,245 votes (45%), above the next closest candidate John Archer, a former reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Brian Mason’s press secretary, representing the NDP with 9,539 (42%). Madu became the only United Conservative Party candidate elected within the boundaries of the city of Edmonton.
On 30 April 2019, Madu was appointed to the Executive Council of Alberta as the Minister of Municipal Affairs, and held that role until August 25, 2020 when he was appointed Minister of Justice and Solicitor General.
On March 4, 2020, Kelechi Madu was designated as a Queen’s Counsel by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta via an Order-in-Council. Queen’s Counsel is the highest honour awarded to lawyers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of law and society.
Kaycee Madu is the first black man to hold the position of Canada Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Alberta Province.