The immediate past Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji (Ikuku), has recorded a broad range of infrastructure, legislative, empowerment and community-development initiatives during his tenure in the Abia State House of Assembly.
Orji, who is the 2027 All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, served as Speaker during the 7th Abia State House of Assembly.
According to a scorecard compiled by his Media Director, Ikechukwu Kelvin Okorie, the former Speaker’s interventions covered water supply, roads, sports infrastructure, education, electricity, healthcare, youth empowerment, legislative reforms and institutional development.
WATER PROJECTS
- World Bank Estate, Health Centre Road water project.
- Finbarrs Road water project.
- Umuagom water project.
- Amaokwe Ugba water project.
- School Road Primary School water project.
- Amuzukwu Mbaraukwu water project.
- Orie Ogwu Okwulaga Afaraukwu water project.
- Amuzukwu Girls’ Secondary School water project.
- Ohobo Afaraukwu water project.
- World Bank Primary School water project.
- Methodist Primary School, Umuwaya Road water project.
- Umuobasi Ugba water project.
- Union Primary School, Afaraukwu water project.
- Awolowo Street by Okigwe Road, Urban Ward 3 water project.
- Ugwunchara Primary School, Urban Ward 3 water project.
- St. Stephen’s, Urban Ward 2 water project.
- Ohokobe Enyiukwu water project.
- Umuohu Ndume water project.
- Mission Hill water project.
- War Museum Junction water project.
- Afara Correctional Centre water project.
- Holy Rosary Girls’ Secondary School water project.
- Agbama Housing Estate water project.
- Ozuitem Street Extension water project.
MINI STADIUMS
- 1,000-capacity mini stadium at St. Stephen’s Urban School II.
- 1,000-capacity mini stadium at St. William’s Memorial Secondary School, Afugiri, Umuahia North.
- 1,000-capacity mini stadium at Umuabali Primary School, Umuopara.
- 1,500-capacity mini stadium at Ubakala Primary School, Old Umuahia.
- 1,000-capacity mini stadium opposite Santa Crux Secondary School, Olokoro, Umuahia South.
- 1,000-capacity mini stadium at Ikwuano Local Government Headquarters.
- 1,000-capacity mini stadium at Ariam Usaka, Ikwuano.
- 1,500-capacity mini stadium at Isieke Community Model High School, Isieke Ibeku.
ROAD PROJECTS
- Uchenna Junction–Afara Technical School, Afaraukwu Road.
- Amuzukwu internal roads.
- Amuzukwu–Umuokoo Road.
- Asaba Street–Junior Girls–Bishops Court, Umueze Road.
- Bende Road–Orie Ugba Road.
- Amuzukwu–Umuezeagwu Road.
- Umuezearota–Amuzukwu Road.
- Umuwaya–Mbaraukwu Link Road.
- Michael Okpara Road, Ofeme.
- Ariam Usaka Link Road.
- Mbom Afarata Ibeku Link Road.
- Okwuta Ibeku, Umuahia North.
- Agbo–Ubani Market Internal Link Road.
- Umuagu–Umuakanu Internal Rural Link Road.
- Atta–Emede–Emede Nkpuru Ibeku Internal Rural Road Network.
- Uzo Iyita–Umuoch, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu.
- Ochie Uhu–Umuochi Road, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu.
- Nkata–Umuokorie Road, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu.
- Ochie Ogbururuaja–Umuochi Road, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu.
- Umuokorie–Umuenweneze Road, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu.
- Okwoyi Isieke–Ozuitem Link Road, Bende LGA.
- Okwoyi Isieke Ibeku Internal Road, including the opening-up of Uzo Iyi Oteghe.
- Umule Link Road.
- Ekeokwuru–Amaogwugwu–Express Link Road.
- Ekeokwuru–Nkata Nkwoegwu Road.
- Amaogwugwu Internal Road.
- Isingwu–Mbato, Ofeme Road.
- Oriendu Ohuhu Internal Road.
- Umuagungolori Internal Roads.
- Umuda Isingwu Internal Roads.
- Umudiawa Internal Roads.
- Ajata Okwuru Ibeku Internal Roads.
- Umuhu–Ajata Link Road.
- Umuosu–Umuegwu Afugiri Internal Roads.
- Umunwanwa Internal Road.
- Ehume–Ogbuliebe–Ogbodiukwu Internal Road.
- Umuntu–Olokoro Road.
- School Signboard–Ahia Nkwunkwu Road down to Nsukwe Community, Ubakala.
The scorecard describes the Mbom Afarata Ibeku Link Road as particularly strategic because it provides a direct connection to several communities and is intended to reduce the need for residents to pass through the town when accessing Ubani International Market.
SCHOOL RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION
- Ugba Primary School.
- Urban Mission Hill Nursery/Primary School.
- Union Primary School, Afara.
- School Road Primary School.
- St. Stephen’s Primary School, including perimeter fencing and classroom blocks.
- World Bank Primary School.
- Amuzukwu Girls’ Secondary School.
- School of the Blind, Afara.
- Urban Primary School II.
- Ugwunchara Primary School.
- Umuwaya Primary School.
- City Nursery/Primary School.
- St. Michael’s Primary School.
- Methodist Girls’ High School.
- Afara Technical School.
- Amuzukwu Primary School.
ELECTRICITY AND TRANSFORMER PROJECTS
- Isieke Ibeku, Umuahia North.
- Mbaraukwu Amuzukwu, Umuahia North.
- St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Umuahia.
- Umuobasi Ugba, Umuahia North.
- Nkata Ibeku, Umuahia North.
- Ubakala Street, Umuahia.
- Uwalaka Street by Enugu Road.
- Igbo Street by Uzuakoli Road.
- Umuguru Ipube, Ubakala.
- Amaoba Ikputu Oboro, Ikwuano.
- Amaogwugwu Ohuhu, Umuahia North.
- Umuawa Alaocha, Umuahia North.
- Umuizu Okwulaga, Umuahia North.
- Umuda Isingwu, Umuahia North.
- Agbama Housing Estate, Umuahia South.
- Umuosu Umuegwu Afugiri, Umuahia North.
- Umuajiji Isieke Ibeku.
- Amizi Olokoro, Umuahia South.
- Umuagu Emede Ibeku Estate.
- Umuezearota Amuzukwu, Umuahia North.
- Ahiaeke Ibeku, Umuahia North.
- Awolowo Street off Owerri Road, Umuahia.
- Kaduna Street off Umuwaya Road, Umuahia.
- Item Street off Niger Road, Umuahia.
- Palm Lane Extension, Umuahia.
- Ariam Usaka, Ikwuano.
- Umuagom Ugba, Umuahia North.
- Amachara, Umuahia South.
- Umuagu Ibeku, popularly known as Big Man Estate.
HEALTHCARE
- Free eye and medical outreach programmes across his immediate constituency.
- World Bank Health Centre intervention.
ABIA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
- Renovation of the Abia State House of Assembly Complex to what the scorecard describes as a world-class standard.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT
- Free ICT training for Abia youths.
- More than 500 youths were reportedly trained, while another 1,500 were undergoing training in website development, graphics design, digital marketing, computer appreciation and mobile application development.
- Scholarships for indigent students.
- Start-up capital for young entrepreneurs.
- Provision of work tools to small and medium-sized entrepreneurs, including generating sets, barbing kits, grinding machines and hairdressing equipment.
- Distribution of vehicles and tricycles as empowerment items.
- Distribution of Toyota Sienna minivans to youths and leaders of Umuahia Central State Constituency and beyond.
- Six-room convenience facility and a drilled and reticulated water borehole at Obioma Quarters, Umuagu.
- Scholarships reportedly awarded to more than 100 indigent students from Umuahia Central State Constituency through university level.
- Employment/payroll support reportedly provided to more than 300 youths during his tenure as Speaker.
- School block and water project at the School of the Blind, Afaraukwu.
LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD
The scorecard further attributes a number of laws and legislative initiatives to the 7th Abia State House of Assembly under Orji’s leadership, covering legislative independence, healthcare, public finance, security, water, disability rights, economic planning, education, technology and social welfare.
Among the listed measures are:
- H.A.B. 1: Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission Law — 16 July 2019.
- H.A.B. 3: Abia State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2019 — 3 December 2019.
- H.A.B. 4: Abia State University Teaching Hospital Management Board Bill 2019 — 17 November 2020.
- H.A.B. 5: Abia State Donor Agency Trust Fund — 10 February 2020.
- H.A.B. 6: Abia State Consumer Protection Agency Law 2019 — 17 November 2020.
- H.A.B. 8: Abia State Supplementary Appropriation Law 2019 — 10 December 2019.
- H.A.B. 9: Local Government Councils of Abia State Appropriation Law 2019 — 10 December 2019.
- H.A.B. 10: Local Government Health Authorities of Abia State Appropriation Law 2019 — 24 December 2019.
- H.A.B. 11: Abia State 2020 Appropriation Law — 24 December 2019.
- H.A.B. 13: Abia State Orientation Agency Law — 4 January 2020.
- H.A.B. 16: Abia State Agency for Free Home Healthcare Services for the Elderly — 17 November 2020.
- H.A.B. 17: Abia State Security Fund — 23 March 2020.
- H.A.B. 18: Abia State 2020 Local Government Councils Appropriation Bill — 17 November 2020.
- H.A.B. 21: Abia State Diaspora Commission Law — 22 March 2021.
- H.A.B. 30: Abia State Water and Sewage Development Law — 16 March 2021.
- H.A.B. 34: Abia State Supplementary Appropriation Law 2020 — 7 December 2020.
- H.A.B. 37: Abia State 2021 Appropriation Law — 29 December 2020.
- H.A.B. 41: Abia State Audit Law 2021, providing for the appointment of a State Auditor-General and Auditor-General for Local Governments — 28 June 2021.
- H.A.B. 42: Abia State Judiciary Fund Management Law 2021 — 5 July 2021.
- H.A.B. 49: Abia State Supplementary Law 2021 — 22 March 2021.
- H.A.B. 57: Bill for an Act to Provide for the Fifth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution — 8 June 2022.
- H.A.B. 14: Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency Law 2019.
- Abia State Homeland Security Watch Law 2020.
- H.A.B. 23: Abia State Commission for Disabled Persons Law — 31 August 2022.
- H.A.B. 12: Abia State Electricity Power Authority (ABSEPA) and Power Stations Bill 2019.
- H.A.B. 15: Abia State Number Plate Production Authority Bill 2019.
- H.A.B. 24: Abia State Industrial Cluster Establishment Bill 2020.
- H.A.B. 28: Abia State Public Procurement (Amendment No. 1) Bill 2020.
- H.A.B. 29: Abia State Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Abolition and Prohibition) Bill 2020.
- H.A.B. 36: Abia State Watershed Management Bill 2021.
- H.A.B. 38: Abia State Safety Management and Building Control Agency Bill 2021.
- H.A.B. 43: Abia State Registration of Industries Operational Permit Bill.
- H.A.B. 45: Abia State Debt Management Office Bill 2021.
- H.A.B. 46: Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Education for Employment Agency.
- H.A.B. 51: Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Economic Planning Board.
- H.A.B. 53: Bill for the Establishment of the Abia State University of Medical and Health Management Technology.
- H.A.B. 55: Abia State Tele-Health Care Agency Bill 2022.
- H.A.B. 56: Abia State Food Banks Bill 2022.
- H.A.B. 61: Abia State Female Right of Inheritance of Property Law 2022.
- H.A.B. 23: Law for the Welfare of Disabled Persons.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
The scorecard lists the following awards and recognitions:
- Champion Newspapers Awards: Most Outstanding Speaker of the Year, 2021.
- Abia Online Media AGM/Bloggers Week: Man of the Year, 2021.
- Nigeria Union of Journalists, Enugu State Council: Best Speaker in the South-East, 2022.
- IGBERE TV Leadership Excellence Awards: Best Speaker of the Year, 2020/2021.
- Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Freedom Awards: Distinguished Friend of the Media, 2021.
- Vision Africa Radio Personality Awards: 2021.
- The Sun Newspaper Public Service Award: 2020.
- Nigeria Society of Engineers: Fellowship Award, conferred on 3 November 2022.
- Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria on Leadership and Good Governance: Award of Excellence/Pillar of Democracy, 2020.
The compilation states that Orji received hundreds of awards and recognitions from religious, corporate and governmental organisations.
THE IKUKU LEGACY
Taken together, the scorecard presents Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji’s tenure as one centred on physical infrastructure, legislative development, human capital investment and community empowerment.
The listed projects include dozens of water schemes, road interventions, school renovations, electricity and transformer projects, mini-stadiums, healthcare interventions and youth empowerment programmes. His legislative record, as presented in the compilation, also includes laws and bills addressing governance, security, public finance, healthcare, disability rights, education, economic planning, water management and women’s property rights.
The scorecard was compiled by Ikechukwu Kelvin Okorie, Media Director to Rt. Hon. Chinedum E. Orji, and reflects the achievements attributed by his media team to his tenure in the Abia State House of Assembly.
IKUKU DID ALL AND WILL DO MORE.
