By: Amb. Anthony Akalugo
OKWUDOR EBENASATO ANCIENT KINGDOM HOLDS POST-SERVICE HOMECOMING RECEPTION FOR RT. HON. AMB. UJU JOVITA ONWUDIWE, Ph.D, IGOLO NJABA
The heavens are telling the good works of God as humanity attests to sterling qualities of those who live and trudge on in fair disposition and promotion of the true values. Our dear wife, Rt. Hon. Amb. Uju Jovita Onwudiwe, Ph.D, Igolo Njaba, became the jinx breaker for the people of Okwudor Ebenasato since its existence. It is noteworthy that this amazon of a woman, clad with Brain, Beauty and Compassion (BBC) came all the way from Umusike, Ihe, in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu state, married to Chief Innocent Chinna Onwudiwe (Planner), (Iheomadinihu of Okwudor), of Umuonuji, Umuduruogba, Okwudor, Njaba L.G.A.
Her marriage to our land brought uncommon goodwill and charismatic mould of the likes of Debora, Judith, in the scriptures, and others. She exuded humility, confidence, calmness, respect for all, simplicity, intelligence and candour. Indeed, she is truly cultured. She proved that a woman can be humble and yet soaring to great heights.
Despite the fact that Okwudor had been the bastion of political kingmakers, we couldn’t enthrone anyone from Okwudor as a legislator representing Njaba at the state House of Assembly or the federal constituency, nothing of such ever held before the coming of Igolo Njaba. She is therefore a jinx breaker, being the first Okwudor person to step into state or federal legislative office, she also doubled as the first female lawmaker to represent Njaba constituency, and the second lawmaker in the history of Njaba to do two terms in office. This is despite the fact that Okwudor and Njaba at large is a male chauvinistic enclave where the fears for empowerment of women are palpable.
Igolo Njaba approached the political process and the various institutions with calmness, simplicity and focus, showed ability to ignore tantrums, refused to be intimidated, and was able to navigate rightly to win the party flag and went on to win general elections, and I make bold to say that irrespective of the fact that she did two tenures in office, she actually won elections thrice. She has successfully paved way for women in politics in Njaba as Njaba people have now realised that respectful person regardless of gender can be trusted with power. She has intelligently liberated Njaba from male dominance of political space, women can now aspire to any height.
In the House of Assembly, Igolo Njaba was a loud voice that thundered from the plenary. She was known to be forthright, always playing morally conscious politics, advancing the course of women and the vulnerable, championing matters of empowerment and public sensitivity and maintaining an open-door policy. She was the face of the legislature and was a fearless and altruistic voice laden with virtue and progressive garnishing.
Igolo Njaba served as an interim speaker called “ Speaker Protempore ” and as a ranking legislator, played significant role in shaping the house over the 8 years duration and she represented the country, Nigeria, in International legislative conferences.
With over 15 bills and 20 motions in her kitty, sponsored, she was very prolific. Some were passed into law and others were at various stages of Legislative process. She was the lawmaker who sponsored the Violence Against Persons’ Prohibition (VAPP) bill that was passed and assented to by the governor. Her bill on Microcredit Guarantee scheme and Fire Bureau bill were passed into law and received assent.
She believed that all forms of violence including gender-based violence and domestic violence and all others must be curtailed to promote a society with civilized orientation. She maintained her strong voice against societal ills and supported innovative ideas of government for the benefit of the masses.
Okwudor Ancient kingdom comprising of Okwudor and Ihebinowerre autonomous communities, is proud of her exploits. She indeed was a good ambassador, who made us proud. Her innumerable empowerment programs, accessibility, sincerity, representative dexterity, institutional intervention and relentless hunger to impact her constituents and all, lifted the community of Okwudor ancient kingdom to greater heights. She has set a high standard of performance which others following her must emulate or possibly surpass.
Evidently, Igolo Njaba was able to distribute over 10 cars and buses, 40 motorcycles, skills empowerment equipment which includes, tile cutters, sewing machines, aluminium profile equipment, grinding machines, hair dryers, and lots more. She was able to distribute improved farm seedlings and farm inputs to thousands of farmers, paid WAEC and JAMB registration fees for indigent students, provided seed-funds to women, youths and petty traders covering over 1000 people across Njaba, distributed food stuff uncountable, constructed ICT and Lounge building and equipped it and installed solar power, drilled borehole and installed overhead tanks and provided generators in six locations across Njaba, and supported the churches and traditional institutions and communities in many ways. In the area of employment, Dr Uju facilitated employment of over 230 N-Power applicants, employment of many applicants in state civil service, higher institutions in the state, gave recommendation to many seeking corporate jobs or foreign trips, etc.
Igolo maintained regular presence at events in Njaba and would insist that her service to the people would be at no cost to the people. Her report card is very rich and testifies to her huge achievements while in office. She was truly an example of a humble service-oriented leader with passion for serving and associating with her constituents.
In recognition of her sterling performance and excellent service records, Okwudor Ancient kingdom honoured her with the highest title for the female gender, Ugololo Okwudor. Women honoured her with Ezinne and Ugosimba awards. In addition, she has received over 100 awards from International and Domestic groups, institutions, associations, etc. She just received a nomination for Pan African American Leadership Award, an initiative of African Women in Leadership Organization (AWOL), holding I’m Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
She is a real model of quality, good and delectable service to the people; a redefinition of true value which politics should possess and a true mother to her biological children and foster children spread across Njaba constituency and Imo State in general.
As we celebrate her post-service homecoming, we continue to assure her of the total support to her future endeavours especially as we march towards the re-election of our distinguished governor, His Excellency Dist. Sen. Hope Uzodimma, Onwa Oyoko, whom she stands clearly to support.
Igolo Njaba is a true ambassador of 3-R shared prosperity government.
The Post-Service Reception Ceremony homecoming will hold tomorrow, Sunday, 24th September, 2023, with thanksgiving mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church Okwudor and reception at Central School, Okwudor.
Okwudor and Ihebinowerre say, welcome home,
Igolo Njaba
Ugololo Okwudor
Ugosimba Okwudor
Ezinne Amazon Lady
Our Speaker Protempore…
Written By: Amb. Anthony Akalugo
Leadership Sustainability Coach, 2023
