Gov Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State
Ikpeazu signs Diaspora Bill into law, harps on human capital to develop Abia
[From BONIFACE OKORO, Umuahia]
Abia Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has stressed the need to leverage on the abundant human capital that abound in the state and abroad to develop the State.
Ikpeazu stated this Friday during a ceremony in Government House, Umuahia, to sign into law, the Abia State Diaspora Bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly.
The bill seeks to provide legal backing for Abians in Diaspora to participate in the governance of the State.
Permanent Secretary/Clerk of Abia State House of Assembly, Dr John Pedro Irokansi, presented the Bill to the Governor for signing.
The law, according to the Governor, would create a platform for Abians from all walks of life to participate in the governance process of the state.
He noted that Abia was endowed with men and women with great capabilities scattered across the world.
The Abia Chief Executive recalled that those in the Diaspora have made direct returns and remittances which account for major foreign inflow into the country, emphasizing that in Abia, they have made impressive contributions in the area of farming, health, education and industry.
Ikpeazu listed some of the interventions anchored by Diaspora Abians to include the Geriatric Care, Training and Retraining of Teachers, and Medical Outreaches, among others.
He, therefore, commended them for supporting the building of a Specialist Pediatric Hospital in the State and announced that the state has just received two containers of medical supplies, out of four, donated by those in the Diaspora to drive the specialist hospital and congratulated Abians in the Diaspora for supporting the effort.
He announced that the Special Adviser on Diaspora Matters would henceforth serve as the Acting Executive Secretary of the Diaspora Commission and implored those in the Diaspora to continue to look homeward.
Ikpeazu commended the leadership of the State Assembly for responding to the yearnings of the Abia community in the Diaspora through the drafting of the bill.
Earlier, the sponsor of the Bill and member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Hon. Mike Ukoha, had commended the Governor for signing the bill into law, describing it as a revolution and a platform that would bring about socio-economic development to the State.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Diaspora Matters (now Acting Executive Secretary, Abia Diaspora Commission), Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Erondu-Ogbonna, said Abia was the first State to have the Diaspora Commission, pointing out that with the Governor’s assent, the Diaspora bill which is a Federal legislation has been domesticated in the State
She thanked the Governor for accepting the noble idea.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, in a statement issued to newsmen, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. ACB Agbazuere and some other aides of the Governor witnessed the event.
