| Kalu Idika Kalu | |
| Office1: | Minister of finance |
| Term Start1: | 1985 |
| Term End1: | 1986 |
| Office2: | Minister of finance |
| Term Start2: | 1993 |
| Term End2: | 1994 |
| Office3: | Minister of national planning |
| Office4: | Minister of transportation |
| President1: | Ibrahim Babangida |
| Predecessor1: | Onaolapo Soleye |
| Successor1: | Chu Okongwu |
| Predecessor2: | Aminu Saleh |
| Successor2: | Anthony Ani |
| Birth Date: | 14 October 1939[1] |
| Birth Place: | Ohafia, Abia State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Alma Mater: | Kings College Lagos[2] University of Wisconsin |
Kalu Idika Kalu (born 14 October 1939) is a Nigerian politician. He was finance minister twice, minister of national planning and transportation minister.[3] He was a presidential aspirant in the 2003 Nigeria general elections under the platform of The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).[4]
Kalu was born in Ebem Ohafia, Abia state, southeastern Nigeria. He is of the Ibo people which is one of the largest tribes in Nigeria.
He studied at Kings College Lagos from 1954 to 1960 where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1964. Kalu also obtained a Masters of Arts in Economics in 1965, as well as a Doctorate Degree in economic development and public finance in 1972 from the University of Wisconsin. He was a Stimson Fellow while attending Yale University.[5]
He was a founding member of the Justice Party, but ran for president on the platform of NNPP during the 2003 Nigerian presidential election.
He participated in research work on developing countries and lectured at university level. While at the World Bank East Asia and Pacific Programs Department, Kalu contributed significantly to micro- and macro-economic work on the economies of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.[6]
He held various official positions in Nigeria and outside Nigeria including:
He is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), joining after leaving the People Democratic Party (PDP), as he believes in the emergency of a strong two party system in Nigeria.[8]
He married Imo Kalu, with whom he had five children.