Historic: Governor Ikpeazu Assents to Diaspora Bill, Appoints Ogbonna-Erondu Acting Executive Secretary
Posted by FN Editor | 3 years ago | 806 times
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu during the weekend signed into Law the Abia Diaspora Commission (ADCOM) Bill whivh was recently passed by the Abia State House of Assembly, with a charge for Abians in Diaspora to sustain their support towards the overall development of the state.
Governor Ikpeazu while signing the Bill into Law at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Umuahia, as presented by the Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the Abia State House of Assembly, Sir John-Pedro Irokansi described as commendable the intervention of Abians in Diaspora in key sectors of the state economy.
The Governor noted that the Abia State Geriatric Outreach, the Tele-Health Initiative among others are all being managed by Abians in Diaspora, adding that Abia will by October this year become the first state to commence digital learning in its primary and post-primary schools.
He also announced that the Pediatric Hospital being championed by the Diasporans will soon be functional as the state government has taken delivery of two out of four containers of medical equipments shipped in by Abians in Diaspora.
Governor Ikpeazu noted that the development is in line with his resolve since 2015 to create a platform for all Abians irrespective of their location to be part of the developmental narratives of the state.
He used the forum to express appreciation to members of the Abia State House of Assembly for responding to the yearnings of the Abia community in the Diaspora through the Law which provides the Diasporans the much needed legal platform to be part of the development of the state.
The Governor announced the Special Adviser on Diaspora and Special Duties, Dr Mrs Ngozi Ogbonna- Erondu as the Acting Executive Secretary of the Abia Diaspora Commission.
"For us in Abia, if you had followed my comments from 2015, you'd realise that I promised to create a platform that will enable every Abian irrespective of their polictical or religious persuasion or location across the Globe to participate in government and governance of the State because I'm of the firm belief that the greatest asset God has blessed us with in Abia is the people. We are a people of great capacity in all fields of endeavour", he said.
In his remarks,the Member representing Arochukwu State Constituency and Sponsor of the Bill, Chief Mike Ukoha said that the signing of the Bill into Law marks a new beginning of a revolution that will further the socio-economic development of the state.
He said that the state was looking forward to the influx of investments from Abians in Diaspora into the state and promised to contribute his quota to ensuring that the Diasporans take advantage of the law.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora and Acting Executive Secretary of the Abia Diaspora Commission, Dr Mrs Ngozi Ogbonna-Erondu said that Abia was the first state to domesticate the law and described Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as the most Diaspora-friendly Governor.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor ACB Agbazuere among other government functionaries witnessed the ceremony while the Chairman/CEO Nigerian Diaspora Commission Abike Dabiri- Arewa and some Abians in Diaspora joined the event via Zoom.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Mrs Ngozi Ogbonna-Erondu is a Consultant Pharmacist based in New Jersey, United States of America. She holds a PhD in Pharmacy, including several other academic and professional qualifications in her field.
Dr Mrs Ogbonna-Erondu has lived in the US for about 40 years with her husband who is an establushed medical doctor and they have 4 children, all of whom are medical doctors with expertise in different fields of medicine.
Before her appointment as Acting Executive Secretary of ADCOM, and as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Diaspora Matters, Dr Mrs Ogbonna-Erondu had organised the donation of several container loads of medical equipment and other pharmaceutical products some of which are going to be used to equip the Pediatric Hospital being built in the State.
Abia is the first State to create the Diaspora Law among the 36 States of the Federation.
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