Hon. Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly • Rt. Hon. Michael Chike Balonwu, B.Sc.(Hons)
Hon. Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly Balonwu became the Speaker of the Legislative House of Assembly when the then Speaker, Mrs. Eucharia Azodo, who co-plotted the abduction of Governor Chris Ngige was impeached by the Hon. Members who firmly stood by the Governor. He was the Deputy Speaker. His ascendancy brought some positive changes because of matured ways he handles the affairs of the House. Under his able leadership, the House has passed over 205 Resolutions, and 33 bills fashioned for the betterment of Anambra people. He represents Onitsha-North I Constituency.
Deputy Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly • Hon. (Dr) Ozoemena Cyprian Ughamadu, B.Sc.,PGD.,MBA, PhD, FCIM
Deputy Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly Ozo Ughamadu needs no real introduction in the political turf of Anambra State. He was the first Organizing of the NPN in the State and later who election into the House of Assembly in the Second Republic. A returnee Legislator having been in the House from 1999-2003, Ughamadu became the Deputy Speaker, when Hon. Keluo Muolokwu, Awka-South I was removed. He represents Awka-South II Constituency, and hails from Nibo, Awka-South L.G.A.
Majority Leader Anambra State House of Assembly • Hon. (Sir) H. C Nsofor
Minority Leader Anambra State House of Assembly • Hon. Barr. Njideka Ezeigwe
Chief Whip, Anambra State House of Assembly • Hon.(Dr) Chief Benjamin I. Obidigbo, P.hD, FCIM.
Chief Whip, Anambra State House of Assembly. Before he Contested and won election into the House of Assembly, Dr. Ben Obidigbo had worked in United Kingdom after obtaining his Doctorate Degree in Information System Management. But for the zeal to develop his homested, he returned to Nigeria to establish Comteque International Ltd, an Information Technology Service provider firm, which had since trained Nigerians in the area of Information Communication technology, ICT. He people saw-the qualities in him and voted massively for him to represent them in the State House of Assembly. A management expert, Dr. Obidigbo is the National President of Certified Institute of Management Nigeria CIMN. He represents Oyi State Constituency in the House
A two-time member of the State Assembly, Hon. Molokwu was first elected member in 1999 when the Military handed over power. He had had a successful outing in Lagos as a full-time private legal practitioner, until his quest to represent his people became paramount. He attained the pinnacle of his political career when he became the Deputy Speaker in 2004 – a position he subsequently lost. Chief Hon. Molokwu is a recipient of many chieftaincy titles from various communities and town unions. He hails from Awka and represents Awka I Constituency.
Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Industry & Tourism • Hon. John Ifeatu Nwokeji
A high point of Hon. Nwokedi’s membership of the House was his sponsorship of a motion drawing the Federal Government attention to the dilapidated conditions of Federal roads in Anambra State and South-East Zone. The result was an increase in the amount of funds allocated for Federal road maintenance in Anambra and other South-East states. He also established a Community Welfare Trust Fund. Hon. Nwokeji represents Onitsha-North II Constituency.
Chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology • Hon. Jude Okey Ikejiani Aronu
Before now, Hon. Okey Aronu was the Chairman, House Committee on Local Govt./Political, Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters. Under him, the committee successfully resolved conflicts in various local communities in the State. As the chairman of committee on Science and Technology, as he says, his intension is the showcasing of the government’s unprecedented commitment to computer training for all workers in the State. Hon. Aronu represents Aguata II in the State Assembly.
Chairman, Committee on Economic Planning, Finance and Appropriation • Hon. (Sir) Joe Dimobi ( B.Sc, MBA, FCIM, KSJ)
Hon. Dimobi’s experience in student activism provided the springboard on which he contested and won the election into the State Assembly where he went on to become the Deputy Majority Leader. His background as an Accountant has equally equipped him for his current position as House Chairman on Economic Planning, Finance and Appropriation. He is a member of the Steering Committee for the joint DFID/World Bank Investment Climate; he is also a member of the State Implementation Action Committee on Farmers Loan Scheme. He hails from Aguluizigbo in Anaocha LGA and represents Anaocha II Constituency.
Chairman, House Services Committee • Hon. Dr. Sylvester Ifezim Okeke (BA., FCIM)
Before his election into the State House of Assembly in 2003, Hon. Okeke was a Councillor representing Agulu Ward II in Anaocha LGA. Before becoming Chairman of House Services, he had served as Committee Chairman on Health. Hon. Okeke hails from Agulu in Anaocha LGA and represents Anaocha I Constituency.
Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture • Hon. Peter Chukwuma Onuorah (FCIM)
He was elected into the State House of Assembly in 2003 after his NYSC programme, and became the Majority Leader of the House. Before his present position, he had served as Chairman of the Security Committee. Hon. Onuorah hails from Anaku in Ayamelum LGA and represents Ayamelum Constituency
Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Ethics • Hon. Barr. Vitalis C. Okafor (MNIPR, HND, LLB. BL, MSC)
Hon. Okafor has been an active member of the House for several years, having been elected three times – twice in this dispensation. He was first elected during the botched Abacha transition programme, and re-elected in 1999. Since then, he has not looked back in serving his people. This, as he says, has accounted for why he has remained in the House. Hon. Okafor represents Ihiala I Constituency and hails from Uli in Ihiala LGA.
Chairman, House Committee on Health • Hon. Barr. (Mrs.) Anthonia E. Tabansi-Okoye (LLB, B.L)
Hon. Tanbansi-Okoye is a two-term Honourable Member of Anambra State House of Assembly. Her first appearance in this position was in 1991 when she represented Anaocha 1 Constituency, thus becoming the first female legislator in the then new Anambra State. She also contested and won in 2003 to represent Onitsha-South I Constituency in the House. Princess Tabansi-Okoye has to her credit the sponsorship of a good number of Bills, including the Child Rights Bill, the Child Care Support Services Agency Bill, and Violence Against Women Prohibition Bill. She hails from Nri in Anaocha LGA.
Chairman, House Committee on Education • Hon. Dr. Theo Nnorom (KSM, FCIM, Ph.D)
Hon. Nnorom was elected into the House in 2003 and became the Chief Whip. Before his chairmanship of his present Committee, he had served as chairman of various other House Committees including House and Urban Development, Committee on Tenders Board, Committee on Health. Hon. Nnorom has sponsored or made substantial inputs towards the passage of many Bills or motions, such as the Law Prohibiting Street Trading in the State, Universal Basic Education Law, Electronic International Market Establishment Law etc. He hails from Mbosi in Ihiala LGA and represents Ihiala II Constituency.
Chairman, House Committee on Youths and Sports • Hon. (Barr) Bona Orakwe (KSJ, LL.B, B.L.)
Until 2003 when he was elected into the State House of Assembly to represent Onitsha-South II Constituency, Hon Orakwe was engaged in private legal practice in the commercial city of Onitsha. He was then the Legal Adviser to Alor People’s Convention. He hails from Alor in Idemili-South LGA.
Chairman, House Committee on Police and Security Affairs • Chief (Hon) Theophillus Chinwuba (FCIM)
Before he won the election into the House of Assembly in 2003, Hon. Chinwuba was the Chairman of Anambra-East Local Government Council. He had earlier served as the Deputy Chairman of the Council and the State Assistant Financial Secretary of PDP. While in the House, he has also served as Chairman Local Govt./Political and Chieftaincy Affairs. He hails from Aguleri and represents
Reference: anambra.gov.ng/houseassembly.htm
Anambra
Anambra is a Nigerian State located in south-eastern part of the country.
Date created 27 August 1991
Capital Awka
Area 4,844 km²
Anambra is bounded by Delta State to the west, Imo State to the south, Enugu State to the east and Kogi State to the north.
Onitsha, Anambra
It has one of the highest population densities in Africa. The state comprises numerous thickly populated villages, a number of small towns and a few major towns; some areas are so thickly populated that the estimated density is 1500-2000 persons living within every square kilometer.
Most of the population is rural, although over the last two decades the rural-urban migration has stretched the meagre urban services to a breaking point. This pattern of human migration has posed serious problems for the state’s resources, fragile infrastructure, environmental sanitation, erosion control and social services. This pressure is especially evident in its huge commercial city of Onitsha.
Consequently, portable water, electricity and decent housing for the residents of Onitsha have become a luxury. The onerous task before the new government of Mr. Peter Obi is to reverse the decadence of the past and turn things around for the teeming population of Onitsha in particular and and the entire state generally. Most of the population of Anambra State are members of the enterprising Igbo ethnic group who are renowned for their resourcefulness and spirit of entrepreneurship. The Anambra Igbo are ubiquitous and can be found in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria, as well as in virtually every region of the world. Wherever they find themselves, the entrepreneurial skills of the Igbo stand them out in all their fields of endeavor. Indeed, Anambra State is a very exciting place to visit by anyone who wants to experience the vibrance of authentic Africa.
HISTORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS Old Anambra State was created in 1976 from part of East Central State, and its capital was Enugu. Following further state creation in 1991, Anambra was divided into two states, Anambra and Enugu. Awka is the capital of Anambra State.
The main towns of Anambra state are Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Obosi, Ihiala, Ekwulobia (Aguata), Uli, Abagana.
Other significant communities include Ogidi, Aguleri, Umueri (Umuleri), Umuoba-Anam, Nmiata-Anam, Awkuzu, Nsugbe, Ichida, Alor and Atani. There are 21 local government areas in the state: Aguata, Awka-North, Awka-South, Anambra-East, Anambra-West, Anaocha, Ayamelum, Dunukofia, Ekwusigo, Idemili-South and Idemili-North. Others are Ihiala, Njikoka, Nnewi-North, Nnewi-South, Ogbaru, Onitsha-North, Onitsha-South, Orumba-North, Orumba-South, and Oyi.
EDUCATION Anambrarians are a very educationally advanced people. Literacy rate in the state is comparatively high, and there is an abundance of well educated and skilled personnel in virtually all fields of endeavour. There are a number of institutions of higher learning including Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka; Anambra State University, formerly known as Anambra State University of Science and Technology (ASUTECH) Uli; Federal Polytechnic in Oko; Nwafor Orizu College of Education in Nsugbe; College of Agriculture, Igbariam (now incoporated into the Agricultural Sciences faculty of the state university). Hundreds of excellent primary and secondary schools exist in the cities and towns of the state. Primary and secondary school enrollment in the state is one of the highest in the country. Consequently, Anambra state has one of the the largest numbers of JAMB candidates seeking the limited higher education spaces in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. A recent anomaly in the educational system is the drop in male enrolment, mainly in secondary schools. This is one of the educational problems currently being aggressively tackled by the state government.
PROMINENT PERSONS Anambra state is the home state of many prominent Nigerians, past and present.
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, First President of Nigeria
Lady Janet Mokwelu, First Nigerian Female Legislator
Sir Louis-Philippe Odumegwu-Ojukwu, First Nigerian Millionaire
Christopher Okigbo, Celebrated Poet
Professor Kenneth Dike, Renowned Historian
Chief Mrs Oyibo Odinamadu, Female Political Collosus
Mokwugo Okoye, Acclaimed Social Critic & Writer
Sir Louis Mbanefo, First Nigerian Lawyer
Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Former Senate President of Nigeria
Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, former Head of State/President of the defunct Republic of Biafra; Chairman of Board of Trustees of All People’s Grand Alliance (APGA) polictical party
Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, Second Republic Vice-President of Nigeria
Professor Chinua Achebe, Globally Acclaimed Author
Nwafor Orizu, First Senate President of Nigeria.
Professor Chike Obi, Renowned Mathematician
Dr. Pius Okigbo, Distinguished Economist
Professor Dora Akunyili, Director General of NAFDAC
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Hon. Minister of Education
Professor Chinyere Stella Okunna, First Female Professor of Mass Communication in Nigeria
Prof. Ben Enweonwu, Renowned Artist
Philip Philip Emeagwali, World Class Computer Scientist
Professor Charles C. Soludo, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria
Professor Ben Nwabueze, Renowned Constitutional Lawyer & Former Minister of Education.
