Dr Uduaghan and Barr Ogeah, right
Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan revolutionized governance at subregional level through his innovative politicies…
Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan revolutionized governance at subregional level through his innovative politicies, programmes and initiatives while demonstrating that states can do a lot more in touching the lives of the people.
Chike Ogeah, who was Commissioner for Information in Dr. Uduaghan’s second term as governor of Delta State, stated this while reacting to the transition of the former governor in the early hours of Monday.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of this great man. I had the privilege of working closely with him in his second term as Commissioner for Information. His major pre-occupation was always what to do to improve the quality of living of the people and residents of Delta State.
“To him, the major indices for measuring societal development is the living standard of the people. That is why he evolved a number of innovative programmes aimed at making life worthwhile for the people. One of the programmes that was very dear to him is to maternal and child care initiative. Through the programme, children under fives and all pregnant and nursing mothers enjoyed free health care.
“The initiative revolutionized health services in Nigeria because it was unknown in the country. His background as an accomplished medical practitioner and administrator equipped him for the project and he drove it with immense passion,” Ogeah stated.
He recalled that in education, Dr. Uduaghan embarked on the building of modern classrooms across the state with well-equipped science laboratories. The EduMarshal project he introduced gave vent to his policy that every child of school age has no business being outside the classroom during school hours.
“Parents of children found hawking wares on the streets during school hours were apprehended and prosecuted. And his passion for educational excellence was unparalleled. He instituted a special scholarship scheme for graduates of Nigerian universities of Delta State origin with first class. Everyone of them got N5 million to study in any part of the world,” Ogeah stated.
In governance, the former Delta State Information Commissioner said said his “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative, demonstrated the vision of a leader who saw beyond his immediate time and environment.
“Nigerians got to know that crude oil which remains the mainstay of the economy is a finite resource that has a limited life span. He began the process of weaning Delta’s economy from dependence on oil and growing other sectors of the economy. The remarkable thing is the consciousness of the fact the crude oil will dry up at some point came from a governor whose state is seen as getting a lot of income from crude oil. It is to his credit that Nigeria and governments at all levels are beginning to address that inevitable development,” Ogeah said.
On the provision of infrastructure, Ogeah said one of his signature projects is the construction and operationalisation of Asaba International Airport which opened up Delta North to unprecedented development which “I had the privilege of being personally involved in its delivery having just left Sahcol as managing director. It afforded me the opportunity to liaise with some of my former colleagues in other aviation agencies in securing some of the necessary approvals for the operationalnalisation of the airport by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.” He also built the current Government House in Asaba which remains one of the most modern in the country. This is in addition to state of the art stadiums in Warri and Sapele along with the Stephen Keshi Stadium which has been hosting international matches and which was the main venue for the 21st National Sports Festival in 2022.
“Dr. Uduaghan displayed an amazing sense of fairness in the execution and citing of projects. He started the Trans-Warri–Ode-Itsekiri Road and Bridge project which led to the
completion of six bridges, including Bridges 1 through 7 in the Ifiekporo community linking key riverine areas, while work started on multiple other spans along the alignment.
He built many roads in Ndokwa area, including the
18.4-Kilometre Ugiliama-Eweshioum-Ogume-Abbi Road and 42.6-Kilometre Iselegu-Utagba Uno-Obiaruku Road.
Still on health, one of the programmes that was dear to him was maternal and child care initiative. Ogeah said Dr. Uduaghan established tertiary health institutions with specialist facilities, including scan machines in mother and Child Hospital in Warri and Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara.
He did not leave the media in his drive for human capital development. Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan sponsored batches of journalists from print and electronic media in Delta State for specialized training at the Thomson Reuters Foundation Institute in London during which more than 40 practicing journalists benefited.
“I was greatly inspired by Dr. Uduaghan’s sense of service to the people. It was a great privilege to have worked closely with him. I commiserate with his wife and children. He was a great boss I will always cherish. May God receive him in His paradise,” Ogeah said.
Signed
Chike Ogeah, Esq
Former Delta State Commissioner for Information
