By Collins Agwam
One of the numerous things I have learnt from my spiritual father, Bishop David Oyedepo, founder of The Living Faith Church Worldwide, is the act of Appreciation.
According to him, "appreciation is an application for more". This is true given that in various homes, it is expected that when parents buy something special for their children, they say "thank you" which is a sign of gratitude and this prompts the parents to do more for their wards.
It's in the light of this, that I find it worthy to applaud the Governor of Delta state, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for his giant strides which is seen across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state in less than two years of his administration.
In the face of the current economic recession stagnating developments in many states of the country, how Governor Okowa is able 'perform miracles' in the areas of road construction, building of modern hospitals, building of schools of modern standard, youths empowerments, among others have become a great surprise to Deltans as it takes a man with great managerial skills to be able to achieve all these with scarce resources.
In less than two years of his administration, Ekwueme as his political associates call him, has been able to carry-out several projects across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.
Some of the completed projects by the Okowa led administration include: Reconstruction/Expansion/Construction of Kefas Road/Old Emede Road/Uzere Junction, Oleh in Isoko South Local Government Area. Oleh, completion of Palace Road in Owa-Oyibu, Ika North - East LGA Owa-Oyibu, construction of Ikokogbe/Idumizomor Road, Owa-Oyibu in Ika North-East LGA Owa-Oyibu, construction of Onomigbo Street, Orerokpe, Okpe L.G.A Orerokpe, construction of Ejinyere/Orodje Streets Orerokpe, Okpe L.G.A Orerokpe, construction of Ejiyere Street, Dederu Street and Akemu Street(by Church of God Mission)Warri South Local Government Area. Warri, construction of Orikeze Street with a Spur to Orikeze Close in Ika South LGA Agbor, reconstruction of Oteri Township Road Ughelli North L. G. A. Oteri, construction of Upper Imudia/Dr. White Street, Agbor, Ika South L.G.A.
Others are: Construction of Idumu Ugboh Street with a spur of 113m to Godwin Emefiele Close, Agbor, construction of the Extension of Ikokogbe / Idumuizomor / Palace Road, Owa-Oyibu in Ika North East Local Government Area, construction of Access Road to Awaritse Industrial Park, Obitugbo (Phase) 1 in Warri North Local Government Area Obitugbo, Koko, construction of Access Road to Ani-ikpeku, (Palace Road) Igbodo Igbodo, construction of Esenwa Street, Access Road to Christ Embassy Church Road and Extension of Access road to the Orthopaedic, Surgical Wards and Doctors Quarters, Asaba among others.
Some of the ongoing projects scattered across the state are: The dualisation of Sapele Road from Amukpe Roundabout by Sapele/Warri Expressway to AT & P Roundabout Sapele in Sapele Local Government Area, construction of Ughelli-Afiesere-Ofuoma Road in Ughelli North L.G.A, dualization of Nnebisi Road (from Traffic Light Junction to Cable Point) Asaba, expansion and upgrading of Tankers Park, Ekpan in Uvwie LGA, construction of Middle Section of Alisimie/Oza-Nogogo in Ika South LGA Oza-Nogogo, construction of Ugbomro Road (Section I: Between DSC Expressway and the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Junction) in Uvwie Local Government Area Ugbomro,
main Axial Road at Okerenkoko, Warri South West Local Government Area. Okerenkoko, among others.
In his usual quest to enhance the health sector, Governor Okowa has constructed/rehabilitated Abavo General Hospital, Patani General Hospital and a chunk of other hospitals across the 25 local government areas of the state.
Some other achievements recorded by the Okowa led administration in the health sector include: Inauguration of boards to facilitate achievements of their mandates, increased number of private medical facilities registered in the state through increased drive, reduction in quackery through increased supervision of registered facilities and closure of unregistered clinics, improved supervision of private pharmacies and patent medicine vendors, improved routine and random monitoring of nursing and maternity homes, increase in out-patient and in-patient load in all health care facilities in the state, among other numerous achievements in the health sector.
Aside these applaudable deeds by the governor, which will no doubt bring prosperity to the door steps of Deltans, Ekwueme has also created 17,173 direct and indirect jobs in less then two years of his administration, these includes: the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP); Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP); Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP); Extension of Loans; and Development of Agro-industries
which has lifted thousands of Deltans from the shackles of poverty.
Born on the 8th of July, 1959 at Owa-Alero in the present Ika
North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, he had his early education at Iroro Primary School, Owa-Alero and later attended the famous Edo College, Benin City.
He graduated with the second best result in the Higher School Certificate Examination in the then Bendel State in 1976.
Thereafter, he proceeded to the University of Ibadan to study Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa graduated in 1981 with MBBS, at the record age of 22.
Upon his completion of the National Youth Service Corps in 1982; he worked briefly with the defunct Bendel State Hospitals Management Board as a Medical Officer before venturing into private practice as Director, Victory Medical Centre, Igbanke, in 1986.
Okowa has done greatly well for Deltans, and so far, he has not stopped "performing miracles" in the state as he has shown great commitment to the welfare of his people. If only, every state in Nigeria have a governor like Okowa, then our country would be a better place.
Collins Agwam is a Political Analyst and Public Affairs Commentator.
agwamcollins@gmail.com
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