"...at that time when the lizards were still in ones and twos, the whole people assembled and chose me to carry their deity. And I said to them, who am I to carry this fire on my bare head? A man who knows that his anus is small does not swallow an udala (apple) seed. They said to me, fear not! A man who sends a child to catch a shrew will equally give him water to wash his hands. And I said, so be it”!
Culled from Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God.
Let me start by thanking Almighty God, the giver of life and wisdom, for His grace and mercy upon our dear state, Ebonyi, and for sending our diligent and workaholic, visionary and result-oriented Governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Prince Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to serve Ebonyi State in this challenging time. It is a challenging time, because achieving socio-economic emancipation in Ebonyi state and making its citizens economically viable is not an easy task.
Having this in mind and other pressing needs of the state, our dearest Governor initiated the People's Charter of Needs Mantra which captured all sectors of the economy and the people.
To actualize the policies and programmes of the People's Charter of Needs Mantra, His Excellency, the Governor has embarked on many developmental projects and social capital investments geared towards enhancing the Human Development Index (HDI) of the state.
FON has performed creditably in the following critical areas and sectors within two years in office.
EDUCATION: The following are modest achievements of His Excellency, the Governor in the education sector: Foreign and Local Postgraduate Scholarship Programmes (beneficiaries - Foreign 204 persons while local 541 persons), Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Ebonyi State College of Education Ikwo with state of the art facilities to meet International Standard, Increased the monthly Subvention of Ebonyi State University from N150million to N300million and released the sum of N300million earlier pledged by the immediate past administration, Establishment of the University of Aeronautic Engineering, Onueke, Building of ICT(Information and Communication Technology) University, Oferekpe Agbaja, Downward Review of School Fees of Ebonyi State University Students by 10%, Free and Compulsory Basic Education in the state, Building of Ultra Modern Classroom/Admin Blocks in all the 39 Pilot Schools in the state, to mention but a few.
EMPOWERMENT: The following life touching Programmes have been successfully implemented by the present administration in human capital development. They include: Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Empowerment Programme (FONEP) Where 95 Beneficiaries were empowered with the sum of N3million each, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Support Funds (SMEs) funded with the sum of N50milion shared to 1000 beneficiaries at N50,000 each, BERWO Foundation, Office of the First Lady in collaboration with Renewed Hope initiative Empowered 26 market women with the sum of N1milion each, One Million Naira Grant to 171 Students from the 171 Electoral Wards in the State, One Million Naira Grant to 39 Disabled People from the 13 LGAs of the State, etc.
AGRICULTURE: In Agriculture which is the economic mainstay of Ebonyi people, His Excellency, the Governor has made huge investment in the sector. The State Ministry of Agriculture has trained many youths in Agro processing techniques to enhance farming activities in the state in order to boost food security. Some of the programmes include; Procurement and distribution of fertilizer to farmers as follows: 2023 - 13,000 bags,2024 - 15,000 bags,2025 - 15,000 bags which were distributed during the year’s planting season, Farm inputs were equally distributed to farmers together with fertilizers, Under the Women Agricultural Support Program, 52 women received the sum of N200,000 each, Youth in Agric/Youth Cooperative Societies from the 3 senatorial zones of the state were empowered with N6million each, Rehabilitation and Reactivation of Ebonyi State Poultry Farm, and so forth.
CIVIL SERVICE: In the State Civil Service, His Excellency, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has achieved the following: Upward Review of Salaries of Ebonyi State University Lecturers by 20%, while that of Non-Academic Staff was increased by 10%, Payment of Backlog of Gratuities and Pensions to State Retirees from 2015 to date, Recruitment of 1,500 Teachers to the State Secondary Education Board, etc.
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: In order to heal the deep wounds of communal crisis and bring lasting peace to Ezilo in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state, the State Government under His Excellency, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has constructed 140 3-bedroom bungalow for each of the displaced people of Izzo/Amaze autonomous communities of Ishielu Local Government Area who lost their houses due to communal crisis and also for communities in Izzi and Abakaliki Local Government Areas who lost their lands to the government acquisition without compensation. He is also constructing 140 Housing Units for the State's Public and Civil Servants at Ochoudo Centenary City, Abakaliki, Construction and Furnishing of Duplexes for all the Traditional Rulers in the State etc.
WORKS/INFRASTRUCTURE: Being critical sectors of the state's economy, the following are wonderful achievements of the present administration in the state: Construction of 3 - Span Ekka/Inyere Akadoro Unity Bridge, 3 - Span Alubueleke Akadoro bridge, Odomoke Unity Bridge, Twin Flyover Bridge with Underground Tunnel at Vanco junction, Abakaliki, Construction of 5 - Span Interstate Enyim Bridge Linking Ebonyi and Benue states,Construction of overhead bridge with underground tunnel at Iziogo in Izzi local government area, Construction of 2 Kilometer Roads to Palaces of all Traditional Rulers in the state, Asphalting of Abakaliki Urban Roads, Construction of many rural access roads aimed to ease movement of goods and farm produce within the rural communities, and many others.
TRANSPORTATION: Implemented projects in this sector are: Rehabilitation and Procurement of Brand New Buses for EBOTRANS, Establishment of EBOCAB for convenient transportation within and outside the state etc.
AVIATION: In Aviation, the State Government has completed the Construction of International Standard Runway, Rehabilitation and Equipment of Chuba Okadigbo International Airport, Onueke etc.
INFORMATION: Rehabilitation and Equipment of EBBC/ Salt tv.
HEALTH: This sector has recorded enviable progress owing to the level of achievements by His Excellency, the Governor: Recruitment of Medical Personnel for the 13 General Hospitals in the state, Procurement and Distribution of 13 Special Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and 13 Ambulances for the 13 General Hospitals in the state, Procurement and Distribution of Hospital Equipment and Drugs for the 13 General Hospitals in the state, Increment of Salaries of all Medical Personnel working in all the General Hospitals in the state, to mention but a few.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT: The following are some of the modest achievements of the ministry within the past two years: Under the First Phase of RAAMP Project, there is ongoing construction of 60km roads across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, Under the Second Phase of the RAAMP Project, there is a Proposed 76.81km roads across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, There is also the Constitution and Inauguration of Rural Access Road Authority (RARA), and Ebonyi State Road Trust Fund Board and Administration, saddled with the responsibility of maintenance and sustainability of rural roads in the state. The ministry also embarked on Needs Assessment Tour of the 171 Wards in the state to ascertain the needs of Ebonyi people in order of their priorities and as well sensitize Ebonyi rural populace on the People's Charter of Needs Mantra of the present administration, and many more.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY: This sector has recorded many achievements for the past two years of Governor Nwifuru's administration. They are: Revival of Ebonyi State Pipe Production Plant, Ezzamgbo, Revival of Ebonyi State Building Materials, Ezzamgbo, Construction of Ebonyi State Industrial City, Ezzamgbo, NigerCem Nkalagu: The state government recently inaugurated a- 15 Man Committee to fashion out modalities to reactivate the cement factory.
SECURITY: Every responsible government makes security of lives and property of the citizens a top priority. To achieve peace and orderliness in the state, His Excellency, the Governor purchased and distributed Brand New Hilux Vans to all the Security Outfits in the state. There is no doubt that Ebonyi State is the most peaceful and safest state in Southeast Nigeria, Courtesy of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru's proactive and responsive governance in the state.
PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION: This is another area His Excellency, the Governor has performed exceptionally well. The communal crisis which lingered between Ishinkwo and Abaomege in Onicha Local Government Area, Ezza Effium and Effium communities in Ohaukwu Local Government Area and Effium, Ohankwu and Amanna in Ikwo and Ezza South Local Government Areas, Akaeze and Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area, and Ekoli Autonomous Community in Edda Local Government Area. Peace is a panacea to developments in any society. His Excellency, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has been able to attain the level of development in the state within two years in office because he was able to resolve the communal crisis and achieve lasting peace in the warring communities in the state.
Ebonyi State Ministry of Information and State Orientation, with the mandate of disseminating essential and vital information to enhance and facilitate democratic governance in the state, has initiated 8-Point Agenda that will help the Ministry of Information and State Orientation move forward, and support the Actualization of Ebonyi State Government’s People’s Charter of Needs Mantra of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s administration.
In our willingness to entrench inclusivity, we are glad to announce our open door policy which will welcome the inputs, suggestions and contributions of the citizens of the state. We are partners in progress. Come, let's work together to make Ebonyi State great and its citizens proud.
Thanks for your continued support, encouragement and prayers.
God bless you all!
Barr. Chief Ikeuwa Omebeh
Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ebonyi State.
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