Tribute
By Chukwudi George Ozalla
Today, October 30, 2026, Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso, OFR, Ph.D., clocks 60. His Diamond Jubilee marks six decades of life, public service, political engagement and humanitarian contributions.
Two days before his birthday, after Senate plenary on October 28, as we strolled to his office in his usual atmosphere of camaraderie, friendly banter and easy interaction with people around him, we later settled into an exclusive chat in his office. I asked him directly how he felt about approaching the milestone of 60 years and the journey that had brought him this far.
His response began with gratitude to God Almighty for the gift of life. He acknowledged that some of those with whom he started the journey had passed away, and expressed gratitude for the grace that had preserved him to reach this age.
“I have to first thank God Almighty for the gift of life. Some of those with whom we started this journey together are gone. So, I give God all the glory for preserving me up to this moment. It is not by my power, but essentially by His grace,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude that God had used him to make a difference in the lives of others through his service to the people.
“I have to thank God that He used me to impact some lives while serving my people,” he stated.
Reflecting on his humanitarian work, Izunaso said he had spent the last 21 years working for people with special needs through the Kpakpando Foundation and was determined to continue.
“I believe that whatever position you find yourself, it is not for you alone. You are holding it in trust for the people, so you have to work in accordance with God’s dictates and for humanity,” he said.
His remarks brought together three things that matter deeply to him: gratitude for life, the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others and the responsibility that comes with public office. His reference to those who had passed away also gave the conversation a personal depth. Reaching 60, in his own words, was something to be thankful for, not something to take for granted.
There was another memorable exchange while we were inside the elevator. Someone reminded him that he would turn 60 in two days and that we would all join him in celebrating the occasion. Izunaso smiled and replied, “If God keeps us alive.”
It was a brief exchange, but his response was striking. Even with the birthday celebration just two days away, he acknowledged that life itself is in God’s hands. It was a simple but powerful expression of gratitude and an awareness of life’s uncertainty.
Born in Onitsha, Anambra State, on October 30, 1966, Izunaso hails from Ohakpu in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State. His family also has a close connection to Anambra State. He is married to an indigene of the state, making him an in-law to Anambra.
Onitsha is one of Nigeria’s foremost commercial centres, known for its busy markets, trading activities and constant movement of people from different parts of the country. The city’s daily commercial life brings together traders, customers, transporters and people from different backgrounds. Being born in this lively environment placed Izunaso at the heart of a city whose energy, enterprise and everyday human interactions offer a useful backdrop to his later journey through journalism, politics and public service.
Izunaso began his professional career in journalism with Satellite Newspapers. He served in different reporting capacities, including as Correspondent, Chief Correspondent and Abuja Bureau Chief. His work brought him into close contact with public affairs, government activities and the people and institutions that shape national life.
Journalism demanded that he follow events, ask questions and understand how decisions taken by those in authority affected ordinary people. Those years in the newsroom preceded his movement into political communication and elective office.
He later moved into political communication, serving as Chief Press Secretary to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Agunwa Anaekwe, and former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa. These assignments exposed him to the workings of legislative and executive institutions and the demands of public communication.
His involvement in party politics took him into national party administration. As National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he held a position that required coordination, political engagement and interaction with party members across the country. The responsibility placed him at the centre of the party’s organisational structure and involved working with people and interests from different parts of Nigeria.
Little wonder, perhaps, that Izunaso has also been entrusted with the responsibility of Director of Organisation of the PBAT Presidential Campaign Council for the 2027 general election. The assignment draws on his years of experience in party administration and political organisation. At the council’s inaugural meeting, he reviewed the Kaduna rally and discussed preparations for subsequent campaign activities, calling on governors in other states to make adequate arrangements for rallies in their respective states.
His electoral journey into the National Assembly began in 2003 when he was elected to represent Ohaji-Egbema, Oguta and Orlu West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He chaired the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, participating in legislative work relating to housing policy and urban development.
In 2007, he was elected to represent Imo West Senatorial District, popularly known as Orlu Zone, in the Senate. During that tenure, he chaired the Senate Committee on Gas, a strategic responsibility in a country where the oil and gas sector has significant implications for electricity generation, industrial development and government revenue.
After spending about 12 years outside the Senate, Izunaso returned to the National Assembly in 2023, winning election into the 10th Senate. His return brought him back to an institution in which he had previously served, with additional experience from journalism, political communication, party administration and his earlier legislative assignments.
He currently chairs the Senate Committee on Capital Market and Institutions. The committee’s work covers an important part of Nigeria’s financial system, including the institutions and regulations that support investment, capital formation and investor protection.
A major development in this sector is the Investments and Securities Act 2025, which updated the legal framework governing Nigeria’s capital market and addressed developments such as digital assets. As chairman of the relevant Senate committee, Izunaso has an oversight responsibility in relation to the implementation and effectiveness of the regulatory framework.
His legislative interests have also included constitutional review and the rights and welfare of persons with special needs. He has supported proposals for stronger constitutional protection and inclusion, as well as the demand for an additional state in the South-East. These issues touch on representation, equal opportunities and the place of different communities in Nigeria’s political and social arrangements.
His public life is not limited to political office and legislative assignments. Another important part of his work is the Kpakpando Foundation, which he established in 2006. The foundation has undertaken interventions for persons with special needs and other vulnerable people, including medical outreaches, educational assistance, empowerment programmes and other forms of support.
Persons with special needs often face difficulties in accessing education, healthcare, employment, transportation and public facilities. In many communities, inadequate support can make ordinary daily activities difficult and restrict opportunities for people to earn a living or participate fully in society.
The foundation’s work has included support for education, healthcare and opportunities for greater independence. Access to vocational training, assistive devices, medical care and economic opportunities can make a considerable difference to individuals and their families. A person who acquires a skill and becomes self-reliant, a child who receives educational support or someone who gains access to needed medical care has a better chance of living with dignity.
Izunaso’s statement that he has devoted many years to this cause suggests that he sees the work as a responsibility that should not be tied to the period of holding political office. His birthday reflections also showed that he considers the opportunity to improve other people’s lives an important part of what God has enabled him to do.
Plans associated with his 60th birthday have also included efforts to facilitate the release of 12 inmates from a correctional centre in Imo State and provide free medical treatment for about 700 inmates, in partnership with Nizamiye Hospital, Abuja, and the Kpakpando Foundation.
The planned intervention draws attention to the welfare of people in correctional facilities, many of whom have limited access to medical services. Medical attention can address immediate health concerns, while assistance for inmates who qualify for release under the law can help them return to their families and communities. Such efforts recognise the need for humane treatment and care, including for people in custody.
His representation of Imo West, a district comprising 12 local government areas, has also involved constituency projects and interventions. These include markets, water facilities, solar-powered streetlights, skills-acquisition centres, roads and erosion-control projects.
Such projects can improve living conditions when properly executed, maintained and made accessible to the communities for which they are intended. A good road can make it easier for farmers to transport their produce to market and for residents to reach schools, hospitals and business centres. A functional water facility can improve household welfare, while vocational training can give young people a route towards employment or self-employment.
The people of Imo West are entitled to see the benefits of public expenditure in their communities. Completed projects should be functional, properly maintained and responsive to the needs for which they were provided. The responsibility of an elected representative extends beyond securing projects to ensuring that the people receive value from public funds.
I recall vividly that I have served on two planning committees chaired by Senator Izunaso. Those experiences gave me the opportunity to observe his approach to assignments at close quarters. I found him energetic, passionate about his responsibilities and attentive to details. He took a keen interest in the planning process and ensured that everything was properly done.
At 60, Izunaso has accumulated considerable experience in journalism, political communication, party administration, legislative service and humanitarian work. He has represented his constituents in both chambers of the National Assembly and returned to the Senate with another opportunity to contribute to national legislation and address the needs of Imo West.
The years ahead will provide further opportunities to build on his record. His constituents will look for improvements in their communities, while his legislative work will be judged by the quality of laws, the effectiveness of oversight and the results of the policies he supports. His humanitarian commitment will also be judged by the number of people who receive meaningful assistance and how much that support improves their lives.
On this special occasion, I join his family, friends, associates, constituents and well-wishers in celebrating a man whose journey has taken him through different areas of public life and whose work has touched many people. May God Almighty grant him good health, wisdom and renewed strength, and give him many more fruitful years to serve humanity and the nation.
Happy Birthday, Kpakpando!
