HON. MRS. UCHE EKWUNIFE (IYOM) THE LADY WITH A MIDAS TOUCH

Within a short time in life, Hon. Mrs. Uche Ekwunife (Iyom) has risen to the honorable position of Chairman, Committee on Environment, House of Representatives.

Her doggedness and resilience has continued to put her on the world map as one of the leaders of the 21^st Century in Africa.

        Before joining politics, Uche Ekwunife had a successful banking career. As a bank, she showed her mettle and wisdom in money management and brought her administrative acumen to bear on the banks she worked for, and the people she encountered. With an enviable banking experience at Royal Merchant Bank, Onitsha, Equatorial Trust Bank,  Onitsha, she later joined Standard Trust Bank, Awka and thereafter Standard Trust Bank Abuja, where she rose to the post of Area Manager and  Head, Private Banking Unit respectively. Hon. Ekwunife left a legacy in that sector. The excellent banking carrier projected her to the position of President, Young Banker’s Association, 2000-2006.

        Many people see Hon. Ekwunife from different point of view depending on the relationship with  her. She is seen as a role model, a goal getter, a trail blazer, a philanthropist and an Amazon of distinct quality and character who has distinguished herself in all spheres of life. Hon. Ekwunife has continued to put smiles on the faces of people especially the less privileged and the down trodden in the society. Indeed, she has become a succor to many families whose lives she has touched positively in various ways. She assisted over 600 unemployed youths to get employment both in private and public Sectors, assisted over 60 women travel to Dubai for Business and sponsored a lot of women’s travel to Israel on Holy Pilgrimage. In this year’s pilgrimage, Hon. Uche sponsored over 10 people to visit the Holy land to encounter God in a special way. The record shows that over 90 people have benefited from this benevolence’s so far.

        The leadership quality of Hon. Uche Ekwunife has always manifested everywhere she goes. As a former Board member of Nigeria Film Corporation, she put her wisdom to bear on the development and growth of the Nollywood industry. Her contributions to the industry remains unparalleled.

        Since her inauguration in June 2007 as a Member of the House of Representative, Hon. (Mrs.) Uche Ekwunife has continued to make credible quality representation of her Constituency. She has assisted many constituents in one endeavour or the other. She has attracted many developmental projects to the Constituency as dividends of democracy.

        She has moved several motions including the motion on the menace of armed robberies in Anambra State. This motion to an extent portrayed her interest and desire to see to the progress and security of her home State. The motion on the erosion menace in Nanka which left many people homeless and properties destroyed and which she presented on the floor of the house was admired by a lot of people. This motion was unique because it manifested her unequalled love and passion for humanity being that Nanka is not within her constituency. Till date, Hon. Ekwunife fight for the welfare of Ndigbo both at FCT Abuja  and beyond. Hon . Uche was also recently applauded for presenting and defending the position of Anambra State on the floor of the House on issue of loan borrowed from Islamic Bank. This is also another mark of patriotism

        The motion on the completion of the abandoned Zik’s Mausoleum in Onitsha, Anambra State is another motion that was appreciated by all and sundry. The project which was abandoned after 15 years after commencement was brought back to life with a call on the Federal Government to urgently ensure that work is completed at the Mausoleum. This motion was her brain child.

        Apart from the National Projects Monitoring Agency (Establishment) Bill and other bills credited to Hon. Ekwunife the Bill for an Act to amend the provisions of Sections 7 and 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended ) to provide for independence and financial autonomy of Local Government Councils in Nigeria; and for related matters, 2011 was not only applauded and passed by the House, it was also referred to the Ad Hoc Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for it to form part of the issues to be deliberated upon by the committee.

Other Bills credited to Hon. Ekwunife include but not limited to:

1.  A bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the National Environmental Sanitation Commission (NESC).

2.  A Bill for an Act to Amend the Environmental Health Officers (Registration Act) 2002 and other related matters

3.  A bill for an Act to Establish the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria and other matters connected therewith.

4.  A bill for an Act to Establish the National Youth Development Agency of Nigeria for The Purpose of Planning, Implementing, and Overseeing  a National Integrated Youth Promotion Development Program and for Connected Purpose.

Hon. Uche Ekwenife contested the February 6 Governorship election in Anambra state as the flag bearer of the Progressive People Alliance and ran the best campaign ever to be undertaking by any woman in the Nation’s history. Her performance is the election is today a case study for female politicians in the country.

Being a woman of substance that enjoys putting similes on people face, Hon. Mrs. Uche Ekwnife in 2001 established a Scholarship scheme for the education of the indigent and intelligent students. The scholarship and welfare scheme which was named after her father, Sir Emmanuel Ogudebe has over 1500 beneficiaries across Anambra state. She has also established may women through trading. The Welfare Scheme has uplifted the lives of many widows and families of the less privilege in the society. The Hon. Uche Ekwunife Youths and Widows Support Centre is a Non Governmental Organization established by her to help in the capacity building of the Youths and Widows. The dream is to help develop families as the bedrock of the larger society.

Hon. (Chief) Mrs. Uche Ekwunife is a recipient of several Awards and Chieftaincy titles from communities around Anambra state. She has been conferred with the tiles of Iyom Ugochinyelez-na-nwata, (Nri), AdaUgo-Igbo (Igbo-Ukwu), Anyanwu-Aguluezigbo, Ife-Abagana ‘Nnedoramma of Aguata’ Ezinne na Nimo and Ugomba-Agulu.

Iyom, is a fellow Honarry Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration, hold MBA in Business Administration, 2002 (Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka) (PPA) and B.Sc (Hons) degree in Business Education (Accountancy) in 1992 from University of Calabar.

Among Programmes and Training attended include:

Harvard Business School (University of Witwatersand Johannesburg) South Afric, Lagos

Business School-Management Development Programm, IBFC Augusto Training Lagos- Leadership Development and Fundamentals of Human Resource Management Skills Training, Policy Programmes and Projects-United Arab Emirates and others.

Hon. Uche Ekwunife sits today as Chairman, House Committee on Environment where she continues Legislatives business.

She is the leader, Anambra State Caucus (House of Representative)

Mrs. Uche Ekwunife is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club International for the enviable roles she has played for the enhancement of humanity and development of the communities of the state. She also has many other international and local Award among which is Award Excellence Performance by Nigerian Union of Journalist, Anambra State.

Iyom as she is fondly called is a hard working, determined, focused, kind hearted and God fearing personality who to her credited the construction of a Chapel of perpetual Adoration at St. Mary’s  Catholic Church, Nri to provide for the spiritual need of the people. Hon. Ekwunife is also credited to have sponsored Choir Competitions’ among the church within the constituency.

She is happily married to Chief Larry Ekwunife, a successful businessman from Nri community in Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State. The marriage is blessed with children. Hon. Ekwunife is a devout Christian and firm believer in the Power of God.                            

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