TheCitizen - It's all about you
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials
No Result
View All Result
TheCitizen - It's all about you
No Result
View All Result

Okowa: Five valid facts about a solid achiever

The Editor by The Editor
July 24 2022
in Opinion
A A
0
Election tribunals affirm Ikpeazu, Okowa as governors
22
SHARES
734
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Peter Danjuma Kwali

Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa was recently selected by PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar Abubakar as his running mate. The choice of the 63year-old medical doctor over other prominent rivals has understandably elicited a lot of interest across the nation. Here are some interesting facts about PDP vice presidential candidate, Ifeanyichukwu Arthur Okowa

1. OKOWA HAS ACHIEVED A LOT AS GOVERNOR:
Okowa’s SMART Agenda development focus has delivered 120,000 direct and 1,000,000 indirect jobs through targeted job and wealth creation programmes. 13,000 entrepreneurs have also received targeted government support.

Under his watch, 798 road projects spanning over 1,800 kilometres of road have been completed. Over 20 kilometers of these roads are in riverine areas which testifies to Okowa’s commitment to ensure that development gets to all Delta people including those who live in areas with difficult terrains and poor access.

Also, over 970 kilometres of drains have been done while work on 22 bridges, both new and ongoing, has attained significant progress.

As a result of his strong focus on human capital development, Delta has also made exceptional progress in the education sector under Okowa’s watch. Massive investment in this area is delivering significant dividends.

These include 3 new universities upgraded from existing institutions: University of Delta (formerly College of Education, Agbor); Delta State University of Science and University (former Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro); and Dennis Osadebey University (former campus of Delta State University) Anwai, Asaba.

The government’s landmark achievements also include 9 additional technical colleges, 45 new secondary and model schools; 17 primary schools and 8,617 classroom blocks – all completed over the last 7 years.

In the health sector, Okowa’s achievements include a a reinvigorated primary health care system and the establishment of a contributory health insurance scheme with over 1,100,000 enrollees. Beneficiaries include children, widows and pre-maternal patients as well as other public and private sector clients. In all, 540 primary health centres have been deployed in the 25 local councils and and 270 wards of the state.

2. OKOWA IS AN IGBO MAN FROM THE SOUTH SOUTH:
The Delta governor who goes by the Igbo traditional title of Ekwueme, that is “one who keeps his promises” is an Igbo son whom providence has placed among his kith and kin of Anioma in the South South of Nigeria. He is very proud of the double heritage and the unique status that comes with it.

This could bode well for the PDP presidential ticket as he identifies with NdIgbo which are yet to produce a democratic President and also with the general South which is clamoring to be in power come 2023.

3. OKOWA IS BRILLIANT:
He received the second-best result in the Higher School Certificate Examination in the then Bendel State in 1976, before proceeding to the University of Ibadan where he obtained an MBBS in Medicine and Surgery, graduating in 1981 at the age of 22.
After his youth service the following year, Mr Okowa worked briefly as a medical officer with the Bendel State Hospital Management Board.

He later went into private practice when he established the Victory Medical Centre at Igbanke, a border town between Delta and Edo states.

4. OKOWA IS A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED PUBLIC SERVANT:
A key reason for Okowa’s strong performance as governor is that he understands the workings of government works and the inflection points of good governance. This is because of his wide ranging experience at the local, state and federal government levels. His public service CV is very rich. He has served in up to five different roles in government, including Local Government Secretary, Local Government Council Chairman, Commissioner, Senator and Governor.

He was first appointed the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources from 1999 to 2001 and was redeployed to the Ministry of Water Resources where he was until 2003 when he was reassigned to the Ministry of Health.

After serving as Secretary to the Delta State Government under former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Okowa would later serve as a Senator, and eventually, Governor.

5. OKOWA IS A SERIOUS CHRISTIAN:
The Delta Governor is a tolerant and cosmopolitan public servant who has a deep respect for all religions. As he said in his recent Eid-el-Kabir message to Muslims, Nigeria benefits when citizens embrace peaceful co-existence and genuine brotherhood. Okowa also takes his own faith, Christianity, very seriously. His devotion has been demonstrated through various gestures, including a recent N25 million donation to Living Faith Church, Asaba, for the completion of church building projects. Also, he received a merit award by the Asaba Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, for his development strides in the State and for his support to the church.

Other impressive accomplishments of the Okowa administration in Delta include the Ultra-modern Prof. Chike Edozien Central Secretariat Complex, the Stephen Keshi Stadium as well as the Asaba Storm Water Drainage project and the ongoing Warri Storm Water Drainage project.

Clearly, Okowa, a calm and inclusive leader who prefers to let his work speak for him is leaving a solid and impactful legacy in Delta State. This is good news for the Atiku-Okowa ticket.It is also an additional reason for Nigerians to support a team which has the capacity to unite the country, fight poverty, grow the economy, create opportunities and make Nigerians proud of their country again.

*Danjuma Kwali is a public affairs analyst.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share9Tweet6
Previous Post

WHO declares monkeypox as global health emergency

Next Post

Mediterranean ships recover 5 bodies, rescue over 1,100 refugees

Related Posts

Supreme Court affirms Mbah as Enugu State Governor
Opinion

2027: Mbah, PDP and newfound political romance in Enugu

May 17 2025
Nigeria should emulate India’s blueprint for development
Opinion

Nigeria should emulate India’s blueprint for development

April 21 2025
Much ado about immortalising Humphrey Nwosu
Opinion

Much ado about immortalising Humphrey Nwosu

March 31 2025
Exit of Sahel Republics from ECOWAS – Vanguard
Opinion

ECOWAS @ 50: The Mythology, Reality and the So What?

March 16 2025
Why are the steps of peace lame towards Sudan?
Opinion

Why are the steps of peace lame towards Sudan?

February 22 2025
Why is sports betting beating Nigeria?
Opinion

Why is sports betting beating Nigeria?

February 20 2025
Next Post
Mediterranean ships recover 5 bodies, rescue over 1,100 refugees

Mediterranean ships recover 5 bodies, rescue over 1,100 refugees

Russian foreign minister begins tour of Africa

Russian foreign minister begins tour of Africa

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Imo communities decry govt takeover of farmland

Imo communities decry govt takeover of farmland

by The Editor
May 29 2025
0

...

North-Central stakeholders demand return of APC National Chairman slot

Lagos APC aspirants protest over LG primaries

by The Editor
May 13 2025
0

...

Rivers LGs urge Ibas to tackle kidnapping, herdsmen attacks

Rivers LGs urge Ibas to tackle kidnapping, herdsmen attacks

by The Editor
May 8 2025
0

...

1,796 die in boundary, communal clashes in seven years

1,796 die in boundary, communal clashes in seven years

by The Editor
May 6 2025
0

...

APPOINTMENTS

Benue governor appoints TuFace Idibia as adviser

Benue governor appoints TuFace Idibia as adviser

by The Editor
April 23 2025
0

...

Gov. Diri heads PDP convention zoning committee

Gov. Diri heads PDP convention zoning committee

by The Editor
April 15 2025
0

...

NNPCL welcomes Ojulari, bids Kyari farewell

NNPCL welcomes Ojulari, bids Kyari farewell

by The Editor
April 2 2025
0

...

Tinubu extends Immigration CG Nandap’s tenure till 2026

Tinubu extends Immigration CG Nandap’s tenure till 2026

by The Editor
March 31 2025
0

...

ODDITIES

Ladies who wear leg chains are prostitutes, says Pastor Ibiyeomie

Ladies who wear leg chains are prostitutes, says Pastor Ibiyeomie

by The Editor
May 27 2025
0

Probe begins as Plateau market fire guts 107 shops

Father sets wife, children ablaze over alleged infidelity, daughter dies

by The Editor
May 20 2025
0

Kano varsity shuts female hostel over immorality

Kano varsity shuts female hostel over immorality

by The Editor
May 13 2025
0

GLOBAL NEWS

Equatorial Guinea warns against US travel after Trump ban

Equatorial Guinea warns against US travel after Trump ban

by The Editor
June 11 2025
0

...

Ghana bans use of honorary doctorate, professorship titles in public

Ghana bans use of honorary doctorate, professorship titles in public

by The Editor
June 10 2025
0

...

Rwanda pulls out of regional bloc over DR Congo row

Rwanda pulls out of regional bloc over DR Congo row

by The Editor
June 8 2025
0

...

Trump sends National Guard to Los Angeles over immigration raids protests

Trump sends National Guard to Los Angeles over immigration raids protests

by The Editor
June 8 2025
0

...

Plane carrying 20 people crashes in US

Plane carrying 20 people crashes in US

by The Editor
June 8 2025
0

...

State of the States

Enugu governor promises to immortalise music icon, Mike Ejeagha

Enugu governor promises to immortalise music icon, Mike Ejeagha

by The Editor
June 7 2025
0

...

Kano: Supreme Court reserves judgement on appeal against Gov. Yusuf’s sack

Gov. Yusuf declares Monday public holiday to mourn Kano athletes

by The Editor
June 1 2025
0

...

Ondo governor approves employment of 1,100 primary school teachers

Gov. Aiyedatiwa approves upgrade of 102 Ondo health centres

by The Editor
May 27 2025
0

...

Lagos to introduce monthly rent payment system

Lagos to introduce monthly rent payment system

by The Editor
May 15 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Widget Tab Post needs JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
BREAKING: Air India flight to London crashes with 242 on board

BREAKING: Air India flight to London crashes with 242 on board

June 12 2025
Equatorial Guinea warns against US travel after Trump ban

Equatorial Guinea warns against US travel after Trump ban

June 11 2025
Nigeria’s manufacturing: A call for revamp – Punch

Nigeria’s manufacturing: A call for revamp – Punch

June 11 2025
2027: Only a strong northern candidate can unseat Tinubu, says Dele Momodu

Nigeria now ruled by civilian dictators, says Dele Momodu

June 11 2025

EDITORIAL REVIEW

Nigeria’s manufacturing: A call for revamp – Punch

Nigeria’s manufacturing: A call for revamp – Punch

by The Editor
June 11 2025
0

Protecting children from online predators – Punch

Protecting children from online predators – Punch

by The Editor
June 8 2025
0

Insecurity: Enough is enough – Tinubu tells NSA, Security Chiefs

Tinubu chants tiresome borrowing tune – Punch

by The Editor
June 1 2025
0

Auctioning Emefiele’s duplexes – Punch

Auctioning Emefiele’s duplexes – Punch

by The Editor
May 27 2025
0

Corruption-ridden constituency projects – Punch

Corruption-ridden constituency projects – Punch

by The Editor
May 26 2025
0

Opinion

Supreme Court affirms Mbah as Enugu State Governor

2027: Mbah, PDP and newfound political romance in Enugu

by The Editor
May 17 2025
0

...

Nigeria should emulate India’s blueprint for development

Nigeria should emulate India’s blueprint for development

by The Editor
April 21 2025
0

...

Much ado about immortalising Humphrey Nwosu

Much ado about immortalising Humphrey Nwosu

by The Editor
March 31 2025
0

...

Exit of Sahel Republics from ECOWAS – Vanguard

ECOWAS @ 50: The Mythology, Reality and the So What?

by The Editor
March 16 2025
0

...

Plugin Install : Popular Post Widget need JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Headlines
  • Latest News
  • Governance
  • Business
  • Financial Crimes
  • Opinion
  • Editorials

© 2024 TheCitizen Ng. All Rights Reserved.