Senator Akobumdu,.during the Press Briefing
Abia Senator sponsors three bills, trains 2, 000 constituents on Human Capital Devpt. Programmes
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Senator Austin Akobundu has pledged that he would not relent in seeking the good of his constituency and constituents until Abia Central Senatorial District is vastly improved.
Akobundu made the pledge on Saturday, November 16, 2024 while giving account of his one year stewardship at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly in Umuahia.
After taking stock of his accomplishments in the past one year, the Senator told newsmen that he is motivated to do more when he sees that his constituents are happy with his achievements, saying that he was just beginning.
“The joy that engulfs me each time I see them beaming with smiles because of these programmes/projects is what motivates to keep doing more, and by the grace of God, we will not repent until the story of our constituency and constituents greatly improve,” he said.
Akobundu, following his Appeal Court victory, was inaugurated as a Senator of the Federal Republic on the 15th of November, 2023.
He said he had to hit the ground running, having lost five months as the Senate was inaugurated on June 13, 2023, and has so far, solely sponsored three bills, which when passed into law, would improve the fortunes of the senatorial district.
The bills are: a Bill for the Establishment of Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Umuahia North, a Bill for the Establishment of Federal College of Health Technology, Ikwuano, and a Bill for the establishment of the National Sport University, Nsulu. All the Bills have scaled First Reading. Besides, he said that he has co-sponsored many Bills and Motions.
He further explained that following his determination to empower and turn vibrant youths of the senatorial district from job seekers to job creators, he “embarked on a deliberate and systematic approach towards empowering them with globally competitive entrepreneurial skills.”
His report card shows that he has sponsored 113 of his constituents from across the six LGAs that make up the senatorial district to be trained as teachers at the National Teachers’ Institute and organised a five-day intensive training for 100 youths from across the senatorial district on sewing and fish farming methods and empowered the trainees with sewing machines and start-up stipends of N50, 000 and N100, 000 for the sewing and fish farming methods respectively.
The Senator also organized the training of 400 secondary students from the senatorial district on Embedded Systems Engineering, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. Reports said that after the training, “the beneficiaries were able to create game apps, animated cartoon characters, built housing and real estate prototypes with various modern facilities including smart homes, prototypes of vehicles including heavy duty vehicles, bulldozers, tractors, fire fighting trucks, SUVs, ambulances, security patrol vehicles among others with modern communication gadgets and other fittings.” The training held at the Nostro Communications Media House and Digital Opportunities Centre (NOSTROCOM House –which also houses a Digital Skills Acquisition Centre) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
The lawmaker further disclosed that the first batch of 1000 youths from across the 62 wards of Abia Central have undergoing a six-week Digital Skills Acquisition training on UI/UX Design, Web Design, Professional Graphics Design, Cyber Security Systems and Operations, Digital Marketing, and Forex Trading.
The above excludes training of another set of 150 youths from across the six LGAs of the senatorial district on cosmetology and paint production, after which they were given N100, 000 as start up stipends.
To promote peace in the senatorial district, Senator Akobundu sponsored a 2-day capacity building programme for the traditional institution on peace and conflict management.
“The aim is to equip our traditional institutions with requisite knowledge, skills and strategies needed to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts effectively in their respective communities and even beyond,” the Senator added, revealing that the second batch of the capacity building programme would start on November 26, 2024.
The Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs said he was making serious efforts to ensure that dilapidated roads in Abia Central, including the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Road, and Ntalakwu-Oloko-Nchara Road, were fixed to alleviate the sufferings they cause the people. “Although attention is already being given to some of the roads, I will continue to leverage my office to ensure that the roads are completely fixed,” he assured.
So far, the Senator reported that he has leveraged his office to facilitate recruitment of Abia Central constituents into the Federal Fire Service, the Nigerian Navy, The Nigerian Army, The Nigerian Airforce (both at the levels of Direct Short Service and regular recruits); the Nigerian Defence Academy, among others, even as his many youths were enjoying scholarships from his Foundation.
On projects, he disclosed that he undertook the remodeling, furnishing and equipping of Ahiaeke Oloko Health Centre, attracted by Hon. Sam Onuigbo, flagged-off the construction of Oloko-Amizi Road and Oloko-Ugbuebulle Road both in Ikwuano LGA and launched the “The Light Up Our Markets Initiative,” a programme designed to illuminate and ensure safer markets in the constituency.
Senator Akobundu said the project was conceived with a view to boosting commercial activities within the markets.
“We are starting with two markets in each local government within Abia Central as the first phase. These markets have been identified and I did a symbolic flag off of this initiative at the Apumiri Market in Ubakala, Umuahia South LGA. Work is also to commence immediately on all the other markets identified for this phase of the project,” he said.
Still on projects, the Senator said that on Saturday, November 16, 2024, the foundation of six Skills Acquisition Centres to be built in each of the local government areas was laid.
“This Centres, when completed, will bring our various training, skills acquisition and empowerment programmes nearer and make accessibility easier for the beneficiaries since they will no longer need to travel far distances to benefit from these programmes. This would ultimately, bridge the skills gap amongst our youths in Abia Central,” he noted.
The lawmaker expressed immense gratitude to his constituents for the opportunity they have given him to serve.
“I wish to thank all our constituents because without them and their support, we would not have been able to achieve this much just within one year,” he said.
