On the emergence of Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu as the elected Governor of Abia State ,first in 2015 and in 2019, he did articulate key pillars of his devt agenda. He also outlined certain enablers that would later be the catalyst for actualising those key devt. targets .Central among those pillars is SME devt. coupled with an enabler : Human Capital devt.
The choice of SME as key Devt Target, in the administration of Gov Ikpeazu, is understandable because Abia State, particularly Aba, prides as the SME capital of Nigeria.
This indisputable accolade accorded Aba is predicated on the manifest ingenuity of the people which have translated into their prowess in trade and commerce .
The ability of a typical Aba man to create something from nothing, and her resilience to succeed, inspite of daunting odds, have remained a reference point overtime .
As a cerebral pragmatist who also is a beneficiary of the Enyimba indomitability. The Governor has long reciprocated the “Never say Never” spirit of the Aba man by insisting that he will leave Aba far better than he met it.
The odds are seemingly overwhelming, though, but the will to win is firm!
In order to live up to his words, the Governor did not only relocate to Aba, he has also chosen to, literarily, live in the streets with the lowliest of the low.
Ikpeazu is abreast with the challenges arising from the dearth of Infrastructure in Aba. He is also conversant with the geography and the topography of Aba. Infact, he has, in his finger tips, the antidote to Aba’s retrogression and the panacea for the re-emergence of the once business Haven.
The treatment has long begun. By God’s grace, healing is indeed imminent.
Ikpeazu’s success underscores his understanding of the psychology of his people, especially, their longing for development and the need for a partnership if the development of Abia State must be accelerated.
It was therefore in response to the Governor’s call for healthy partnership that Barrister (Mrs ) Uchechi Evoh,on January 2019, during the burial of her late mother, Mrs Victoria Ogwuma in Abayi Umuawala Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia State, promised to build an Ultra Modern Memorial hall in memory of her late parents Pa Sampson & Mama Victoria Ogwuma.
According to Mrs Evoh, the hall, when fully completed and handed over, will serve as “Skills Acquisition center, where the indigent in the society will be trained in plethora of skills and in entrepreneurship.” After the training, the beneficiaries will be “empowered” to earn a living through the skills they have acquired. Consequently, they will be able to “fend for their families and ultimately become productive in the Society.”
Today the pronouncement made by Mrs Uchechi Evoh is no more a promise but a promise kept.The said building have been completed and handed over to Abia State Government.
I refer to Uchechi Evoh’s gesture as the”onye gbuwe Achara onye gbuwe” spirit: The spirit of communality , patroitism and selflessness. A spirit that would build than destroy; commend than condemn.Serve than withhold!
Barr. Evo’ s effervescent personality is indeed resplendent in her obvious passion for charity and her devotion to duty.
In many ways Barrister Evoh’s personality compliments Ikpeazu’s leadership persuations .
Who is Mrs Uchechi N. Evoh(nee Ogwuma)?
Mrs Uchechi Evoh is a legal practitioner, born into the family of late Pa and Ma Victoria Ogwuma of Abayi Umuawala Autonomous Community in Isiala Ngwa North LGA.
She is married, with children, to Dr. Okebugwu Evoh, a Consultant Obstetrician and gynaecologist from Obingwa LGA. She attended College Practising School and later Adventist High School Ihie.
Mrs Evoh had a brief stint in the Institute de Fracaise Rambouillet, Establishment, Prive D’Enseignments Techique Et Commercial Paris as well as the Goethe Institute German Cultural Center , Lagos where she bagged a Diploma in French and a Certification in German languages respectively .
Before proceeding to the prestigious University of Buckingham United Kingdom and Ladoke Akintola University Ogbomosho, for her LLB , MBA and MPA, respectively, Mrs Uchechi had already received substantial mentoring, in acts of Charity and Philanthropy, from her parents who then were deeply involved in skills training / empowerment programmes.
Mrs Evoh worked in the Bank and other top- notch organisations before joining politics.
While in active politics she held sway as an Amazon of sort. She was everywhere, in Nigeria, mobilising women for her party PDP. No wonder in 2003-2004, Barr. Evoh was meritoriously appointed the Honorable Commissioner for Lands and Survey Abia State. She was later re-deployed to the Ministry of Special Duties in year 2004 – 2006.
As if all the Ministries wanted a feel of Mrs Evoh’s charismatic leadership she was, once again, in 2006- 2007, re- deployed to then Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning as the Honorable Commissioner.
As a proven leader and sagacious mobiliser Mrs Uchechi Evoh was the National President of the socio-cultural Ngwa Women Organisation based in Lagos. During her tenure, the group became outstanding for their developmental and philanthropic gestures in Ngwa Land, Abia State and Nigeria at large.
Mrs Uchechi Evoh’s historic gift to the people of Abayi Umuawala Isiala Ngwa North Local Govt area of Abia State is indeed invaluable and most cherished. The gift will linger in the annals of history as an exceptional gift to humanity while posterity will forever remark her magnanimity. Mrs Evoh’s gesture is indeed an elixir for poverty alleviation.
When the Abia hall of fame is finally unveiled Barr. Mrs Uchechi Evoh’s name will be mentioned as one who partnered with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu (Ph. D) to uplift the lives of ndi Abia.
