Celebrating One Year of Transformative Representation of Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo.

By Comr. Kenechi Okoye

In the heart of Idemili, a new era of legislative triumphs has dawned, thanks to the indomitable spirit of Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo. As the representative of Idemili North and South federal constituency, he has proven himself to be an exemplary leader, seeking opportunities for the prosperity of our people.

Immediately after being sworn in on June 13, 2023, during the plenary session of the House of Representatives on June 15, 2023, Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo made an amendment to one of the prayers on Hon. Clement Jimbo’s motion, advocating for an ad-hoc committee to be created to deal with gully erosion in Idemili communities, which was adopted.

On July 20, 2023, he co-sponsored a bill on the urgent need for the federal government to intervene in the erosion menace in Nigeria, using the Oba, Nnobi, and Alor erosion sites as case studies.

On October 6, 2023, he had a strategic meeting with the House Committee chairman on Industry, seeking collaboration for our brothers in Mgbuka Obosi, Nkpor, and Ogidi to access government support to ease doing business and seize Small and Medium Enterprise opportunities offered by the federal government of Nigeria. This meeting brought about the federal government’s digital skills program in our constituency.

On October 8, 2023, he donated a shuttle bus from his personal funds in response to the mobility challenges faced by Idemili South L.G.A workers.

On October 10, 2023, he presented a petition on the floor of the House of Representatives regarding the mysterious death and burial of Mr. Ibeh Maxwell Onyeka in Dubai, without his family’s knowledge. The petition was submitted to his office by Dr. Emenike Onwutalu and was adopted and referred to the Committee on Public Petitions.

On November 1, 2023, he organized a one-on-one virtual meeting with Idemili youths, titled “Legislative Interventions and Youth Participation in Governance,” which was applauded as one of its kind in the history of Idemili politics.

In December 2023, as part of Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo’s vision to ensure our people are happy during the yuletide season, he shared about four thousand bags of rice and vegetable oil with Idemili widows, youths, and men. In furtherance of his appreciation to Idemili communities for their support, he shared 17 cows with the 17 towns in Idemili North and South, meant for the Igwe in council and Town Unions Excos.

On January 25, 2024, he inspected and handed over the renovated Block C building at Notre Dame High School, Abatete, Idemili North. On January 27, 2024, he inspected and handed over the scheduled maintenance of the Administrative Block at Community Primary School, Ugamuma Village, Obosi, in Idemili North.

On February 14, 2024, he moved a motion on the “Need for the construction of a pedestrian bridge at Enekwasumpu along Onitsha-Enugu Expressway” in Obosi, Idemili North.

On February 17, 2024, focusing on sports development and youth empowerment, he had a strategic meeting with Minister of Sports, Sen. John Enoh.

On February 22, 2024, he trained Idemili women and youths on renewable energy, including solar, biomass, hydropower, and wind energy. This was a six-day training during which equipment and capital were given to participants after the training.

On February 23, 2024, he purchased JAMB forms for over 200 Idemili North and South Students.

On February 29, 2024, he moved a motion on the “Need to investigate the funds disbursed to the licensed Electricity Distribution companies by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as loans under the National Mass Metering Program,” which was adopted and referred to relevant committees for further legislative action.

Hon. Okonkwo has installed solar-powered street lights in major markets in Idemili, facilitated employment of Umu-Idemili in federal government agencies, built a recreational arena for community primary school, Oba, and constructed a 50-seater capacity solar-powered ICT center at Ojoto, Idemili South.

On may 14, 2024, to cushion the effect inflation, he launched food Bank initiative to supply essential food items to the elderly, widows and people living with disabilities.

In recognition of Hon. Okonkwo potentials and experience, he was enlisted into 15 House of Representatives committee, namely:

S/NO COMMITTEE

  1. BANKING REGULATIONS
  2. DEFENCE
  3. COMMUNICATIONS
  4. CORPORATE & INTERGATION IN AFRICA
  5. DIASPORA
  6. EMERGENCY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT
  7. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
  8. INTERIOR
  9. HIV & AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA CONTROL
  10. PUBLIC SECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL REFORM
  11. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
  12. YOUTH IN PARLIAMENT
  13. FOOD & DRUGS ADMIN CONTROL– (DEPUTY CHAIRMAN)
  14. NIGERIA-CHINA – PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP COMMITTEE – (DEPUTY CHAIRMAN)
  15. PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP COMMITTEES
    a. PORTUGAL
    b. JAMAICA
    c. TUNISIA
    d. CANADA
    e. GHANA
    f. BENIN
    g. MORROCO

Awards:

  • Best performing first-time lawmaker of the year 2023 by the United Business Women Association of Nigeria and Diaspora
  • Prestigious LEE leadership excellence Award as first-time house of representatives member of the year 2023
  • ICON of youth empowerment by Youth Assembly Of Nigeria (YAN)

Bills Sponsored by Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo that have passed the first reading:

  1. Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Ogidi, Anambra State (Establishment) Bill, 2023.
  2. Federal Medical Centre Act, Awka-etiti, Anambra State (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
  3. Federal Polytechnic Act, Oba, Anambra State (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
  4. Agricultural Research
    Council of Nigeria Act, Nnobi, Anambra State (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
  5. The Nigerian Police Training College, Umuoji, Anambra State (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
  6. The Mining Intelligence and Security through Public-Private Partnership across Mining Communities in Nigeria (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
  7. Sustainable mining infrastructure development bill, 2023.

Bill sponsored by Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo that has passed the second reading:

  1. The Nigerian Mining Development Bank NMDB (Establishment) Bill, 2023.
    Congratulations to the people’s honourable, Rt. Hon. Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, Labour party and the good people of Idemili. A new Idemili is here.

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