As Enugu State file out on March 18 to elect House of Assembly members for the 2023 election, Isiuzo People reaffirm that Hon Mrs. Amaka Ugwueze deserves a second term because of her sterling performance during her first term.
BY ANAYOCHUKWU AGBO
Her good works speak for her. Youths have found in her a pillar of strength. Her fellow widows are smiling today because she stands in the gap for them. Rural children are getting the education they need because she is their benefactor and mentor. In just 26 months of selfless, humane, and effective representation, Hon Mrs Amaka Ugwueze, member, representing Isiuzo Local Government in Enugu State House of Assembly has captured the hearts and heads of the masses with her good works and grassroots politics.
And having found her faithful in her first term, the whole 11 wards in Isiuzo reaffirm that one good term deserves another. It is therefore expected that the electorate will vote to return her to the House of Assembly on March 18.
In the run-in to the state elections, she interfaced with Isiuzo electorates who acknowledged her effective representation and philanthropy with a rousing welcome and love across the 11 wards in the Local Government.
She used the opportunity to appreciate the Isiuzo people for their solidarity and support during her first term. She appealed to them to give her the opportunity to serve them again to enable her to consolidate on the good foundation she had laid based on the groundwork done by her late husband, Late Hon. Chijioke Ugwueze, who unfortunately died in active service after only 16 months at the House of Assembly.
The electorate acknowledged the good work she is doing for the Local Government and promised to support her. She is expected to defeat other contenders from other parties easily because of the good job she is doing in the House and her philanthropy in the 11 wards of the Local Government.
Mrs. Ugwueze was elected to represent Isiuzo State Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly on November 5, 2020, through a by-election. The vacancy was created by the unfortunate transition of her beloved husband, Hon Leonard Chijoke Ugwueze. She defeated eight other candidates in a landslide victory at the polls.
Isiuzo people welcomed Mrs. Amaka Ugwueze on the campaign trail in her first coming.
Building on a solid foundation
Before his untimely transition, Hon. Chijioke Ugwueze, a goal-getter, had laid a dynamic foundation for the effective representation of the 11 wards in Isiuzo Local Government Area.
Late Hon Chijioke Ugwueze: He had compassion for the masses; he lived and died for the people
In his short stint of about 16 months in the House of Assembly, he attracted six projects:
- Appointment and prompt payment of 22 liaison officers across the 11 wards of Isi-Uzo L.G.A, two per ward.
- Attracted construction of access rural road/ diversion from Mgbuji to Akpaka Umuhu in Eha-Amufu.
- Attracted Science Laboratory in CSS, Umuhu, CSDP assisted project and Payment of N1 million counterpart fund for Umuhu civic hall.
- Attracted construction Of Uno Neke Civic Center, CSDP assisted Project, and paid the counterpart fund.
- Attracted the construction of Umualor Health Center, CSDP assisted project and paid the counterpart fund.
- Attracted construction of a three-classroom block at Ogo Community Secondary School, Ikem Uno, CSDP assisted project and paid the counterpart fund.
Achievements of Hon. Mrs. Catherine Amaka Ugwueze so far
In the House, Hon Mrs. Ugwueze followed up on all the projects and programs her late husband started. In addition, she also hit the ground running to fulfill her husband’s passion for the effective representation of Isiuzo people across the board.
- She established the Leonard Chijioke Ugwueze Foundation in the memory of her husband to continue and sustain the legacy of philanthropy both of them had been doing in the service of the people.
- For the initial takeoff, she awarded scholarships to 33 financially challenged brilliant students selected from 11 council wards in Isiuzo Local Government Area, three per ward.
- Paid three terms of school fees for them in their final year in secondary school.
- Registered 2012/2022 WAEC/NECO and JAMB for 33 of them.
- Empowered selected challenged widows from each of the 11 council wards in Isiuzo local government Area to start various businesses of their own.
- Sponsored several youths in various vocations of their choice by paying for the training, and accommodation during the training and empowered them to take off at the end of the training.
Umuhu Civic Hall
Ogor Community Secondary school classroom block
Community Secondary School Umuhu Science Laboratory
Uno Neke Civic Centre Hall
Access rural road diversion from Mgbuji with two culverts
Hon Mrs. Ugwueze says new sets will be selected every year for each scheme (Widows, youths, and financially challenged brilliant students).
In December 2021, barely one year in office, she connected with the grassroots where it counts most in ways that touched the people of Isiuzo through the youths and widows.
- Another set of 123 widows from various communities in Isiuzo was selected and honoured with Christmas gifts on 26th December 2021. Each of them got a bag of rice, a pair of rappers, a pair of footwear, and cash.
- Sensitized Isiuzo Youths on the dangers of Drugs Abuse (Mkpurummiri); after the seminar, she gave each of them a Christmas gift.
in December 2022, this was repeated. it has become an annual event and gets larger every year.
The Widows thanking God for their good fortune
She calls the widows “my colleagues” and says her food would not taste well if they were not well-fed. “They are my colleagues. Widows are heartbroken. We want them to know there’s hope. There is God. We look unto God. We want to make them happy and give them a sense of belonging.”
Rev. Fr. Obayi praying for the Widows
A cross-section of the 33 students on scholarship to university level
On the youths, she says, “Youths are the bloodstream of the society. They are the hope of tomorrow. We want to sensitize them about this particular hard drug, Mkpurumiri; that it kills. Using this drug will compromise your future and affect society negatively.”
Selected youths for skills acquisition during the interview
Effective Representative in the Chambers
Inside the hallowed chambers of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon Mrs Ugwueze quickly adjusted and learned the ropes. Already skilled and experienced in the management of a thriving business, equipped with native wisdom and academic competence shored up with a Ph.D. in Accountancy in view, she immersed herself in her new responsibility.
Effective representation
She is very active in the plenary, committees, and oversight functions of the Assembly and participates competently in the debate of bills.
As chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, the responsibility fell to her to guide the House of Assembly in the formulation of an appropriate response to the terrorism of herdsmen against farmers across the state. Her constituency, Isiuzo, is predominantly agrarian and depends on farming for their sustenance, as well as contributing substantially to the food basket of the state and Nigeria.
While making her contribution to the “Bill for a Law to Prohibit Open Grazing, Regulate Cattle Ranching and for Connected Purposes, HB.7, 2021,” during the plenary on Thursday 12 August 2021, she told the people of Enugu State and the world at large how painful it was to her the way herdsmen were killing, destroying farmlands and the properties of the good people of Isiuzo and other communities around the state. She said the Bill will rescue the people of Isiuzo and other agrarian communities in the State from the calamity.
As the chairman Joint Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Judiciary, Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges, Youth, Sports, and Security Matters, Hon. Mrs Ugwueze conducted this delicate assignment with admirable competence. It included a sensitive public hearing which the committee completed successfully.
She presented the committee report to the Committee of the whole House. The House accepted the report that all the oral and written submissions received by the committee were in support of the immediate passage of the bill. And following consideration of the report of public hearing the house passed the bill.
Governor Ugwuanyi promptly signed the bill into law on September 14, 2021. The implementation of the law is improving the security of lives and property in Enugu State and its environs.
The physically challenged received wheelchairs.
In appreciation of her continuing contributions to the cause of education, Hon Mrs Ugwueze was given a well-deserved award by the Post-Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB), dated 26th February 2022, and presented on Sunday 20th March 2022, “For her Outstanding Contributions and Positive Impact on Human Capital/Structural Development in PPSMB”.
Isiuzo Football Fiesta.
