Restoration of delisted courses in MOUAU: My example of effective representation… Rep Onuigbo
One of the spectacular impacts of Rep. Sam Onuigbo’s effective representation, the member representing Ikwuano/ Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency of Abia State was the restoration of delisted courses (mostly management) at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
It is no longer news that in the past, some courses were delisted from the academic curriculum of MOUAU, some which were mostly management courses.
The incumbent Lawmaker disclosed this when he declared his interest to contend for the seat of Senate to represent Abia Central Senatorial District in the 2023 general election.
Reportedly, Odozio-Obodo did not only move a motion to restore the courses on the floor of the House, but also embarked on massive Media campaigns, as well as personal meetings in order to facilitate same.
Speaking, he said: “A great example of my representation being led by the clamour of the people is the effort we made in ensuring that efforts were made to restore the delisted courses (mostly management) at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
“Not only did I move a motion on the floor of the House on this issue, I followed it up with massive media campaigns and personal meetings”.
According to Onuigbo, his motivation was borne out of his quest to boost businesses in the area, as well as to ensure that children otherwise students of his immediate Constituency and beyond would not be denied opportunities to study courses of their interest.
Speaking, he said: “two things were paramount on my mind while doing this: number one is the importance of ensuring that our children do not lose the chance of being educated in courses of their preferences which were already being offered by the university. The second thing was the need to ensure that businesses around the university boosted by the presence of a large number of students offering the delisted courses, were not affected. I am happy today that most of these courses have become accredited. This, for me, is what representation is all about— paying attention to the voices of the people and amplifying those voices, as their representative”, he reiterated.
Moreover, among other colossal projects actualised by the Legislator in his Constituency since inception of his representation are;
Rehabilitation of the failed sections of the Umuahia–Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene federal road in 2017; The ongoing total reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road; Training of select women and youths from Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency on fashion designing by the Industrial Trust Fund; Training of mechanics in their workshops at Mgbuka, Ohiya Mechanic Village, by the National Automation Council.
Others are; Training of select youths from Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency on Solar Panels installation, POP and painting, and web design by the Industrial Trust Fund; Training of select women and youths from Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency on fish farming by the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Lagos; Training of 1,500 women and youths from Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency on how to start and manage small businesses by the Border Communities Development Commission. This was followed by provision of stipends; Training and empowerment of 100 men and women with galvanized battery cages, point of lay birds, bags of feed and start-up funds in February 2021; Empowerment of additional 100 youths and women with galvanized battery cages, point of lay birds, bags of feed, and start-up funds in May 2021.
“Training and empowerment of 100 graduates from Ikwuano/Umuahia North/ Umuahia South Federal Constituency in Arts and Culture, and the provision of stipends; Training and empowerment of 50 youths from Ibere in Ikwuano Local Government Area on how to run small businesses; Empowerment of constituents with several equipment/materials to enable them source for a living. These include the distribution of motorcycles, grinding machines, sewing machines, to hundreds of constituents; Construction of a block of four classrooms at Ekebedi Oboro, Ikwuano LGA; Construction of a block of three classrooms in Old Umuahia, Umuahia South LGA; Construction of a block of two classrooms at Adanma Girls Secondary School, Afugiri, Umuahia North LGA; Construction of a block of two classrooms at Umutowe Central School, Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA; Construction of a block of three classrooms at Nsirimo, Ubakala, Umuahia South LGA; Construction of a block of three classrooms at Umulu Ibere, Ikwuano LGA; Construction of a block of three classrooms at Umuajata Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA; Construction of a block of six classrooms at Amaoba Oboro, Ikwuano LGA; Rehabilitation of the Obuohia Obi-Ibere Cottage Hospital, Ikwuano LGA; Construction and equipping of the Oloko Health Centre, Ikwuano LGA; Purchase of WAEC and JAMB forms for constituents.
Also, Printing and distribution of past SSCE/NECO/GCE Questions and Answers (1988-2019) on English and Mathematics to students and candidates from secondary schools in Ikwuano/Umuahia North and Umuahia South Federal Constituency; Water project in Obunta Oboro Ikwuano LGA; Water project in Inyila Ibere, Ikwuano LGA; Water project in Avonkwu Ibeku, Umuahia North; Empowerment of 250 farmers on the 24th of April, 2017 with fertilizers, coveralls, knapsack sprayers, pesticides, etc.
“Donation of office equipment to Pacesetter FM, Umuahia after the fire outbreak incident; Provision of a Generating Plant for NTA Umuahia; Donation of a modern and powerful Sony camera set and other accessories to the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) to support their digitization efforts; Erosion control work at Amankwo Ezeleke, Umuopara, in Umuahia South LGA; Erosion control work at Okwe Oboro, in Ikwuano LGA; Construction of a massive Skills Acquisition Centre with nine skills units at the headquarters of Umuahia South Local Government Area, Apumiri, Ubakala. (Ongoing) Electricity project in Obuohia Obi-Ibere, Ikwuano LGA, among others.
