From Chuks Collins, Awka
Dec 1,2022

It's widely acknowledged that Anambra state has produced amongst the best representatives at the national and international arena over the years; both in sports, administration, commerce and politics.

What with names like Owelle Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr Abyssinia Akweke Nwafor Orizu, Dr Chuba Okadigbo, and Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu. There was also Prof Dora Akunyili, and Chief Augustine Ekene Dili Chukwu Ilodibe.

We cannot forget the great Power Mike Okpala. There is also Obi Mikel, Aloysius Atuegbu; an in commerce we have Dr Innocent Chukwuma, Chief Eugene Ojukwu, Chief Louis Carter Onwugbenu.

And then, Senator Chris Ngige, Chief Ben Obi, Prof Obiora Okonkwo, and Chief Dozie Nwankwo.

All of the above have continued to fly the flag of Anambra state loftily high in diverse positive ways and sectors globally.

Focussing on Dozie Nwankwo, a young, debonair successful businessman whose years of kind hearted disposition towards members of the public so elicited his people that they persuaded him to go represent them in the National Assembly. This positive move has continued to yield more and more blessings to the people of the constituency.

First elected into the 8th National Assembly and later reelected into the incumbent 9th Assembly, Nwankwo was never born with a spoon in his mouth. But rose from the crucible and broke into the ranks through sheer hard work and determined action to succeed. In all these, he imbibed the culture of kindness, love and giving.

That's why he established multiple empowerment and poverty alleviation tools and channels with which he touches the lives of people always.

Little wonder he's popularly called "Onyendozi", literally interpreted 'the great builder'. He had gone into the National Assembly with the determination to leverage on the opportunity to impact and expand his good works on the society with purposeful leadership and quality representation.

Ever since his appearance at the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly, Nwankwo has remained a regular face and voice at the plenary, committee activities and at the numerous life enhancing constituency outreach programmes in favour of the nation, Anambra State and the Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha constituents.

History has recorded Nwankwo as belonging to the very few lawmakers that think outside the box. And having his eyes focussed on the much needed welfare of his constituents, he has been pursuing one life transforming project/policy after another for them.

From the seat of power in Abuja, down to his Enugwu-ukwu community and the entire Njikoka, Dunukofia and Anaocha Federal Constituency; and the entire Anambra State, this well-schooled lawmaker thinks, dreams, sleeps and wakes up for the people.

That was reason Nwankwo was christened "the emerging contemporary Nnamdi Azikiwe", by colleagues at the Green Chambers. They had claimed that whatever he sets his mind on, he achieves. And that wherever others failed, he had always succeeded. Little wonder the sobriquet, "the Crown Prince".

Incidentally those who appeared to have been taken unawares by his Midas touch simply fall into line after the last All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) party primaries for nomination of the party's Anambra Central senatorial flag bearer. Dozie Nwankwo smoothly floored the immediate past national chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh and other heavyweights.

As a very young man, Nwankwo's main backbone remains the youth and the womenfolk. A random sample of their views about him was cheering and heart warming. Womenfolk described him as a big blessing to the state, and a dream son to every mother. They further described him as having a 'heart of gold'. While the youths saw him as "one of our own". That it was for people of his ilk that the Not-too-young-to-Run bill was actually formulated.

According a youth leader in the area, Emeka Anaenugwu, "Onyendozi is a committed, dedicated and ready-to-serve servant leader. As a cursory look at his policies, projects, motions, bills and empowerment programs show that he's always thinking about the youths, women and families.

What with his multi-million naira annual medical outreach, which records show has benefitted above one million beneficiaries since its debut about fifteen years ago. The free healthcare program kicked off nearly two decades ago with only his Enugwu-ukwu community in Njikoka Council area and environs as beneficiaries. But its popularity and enthusiastic acceptance by the citizens bolstered the benefactor's heart and he continued to expand it to more communities.

The free medical outreach has covered all the communities within the 3-Councils Federal Constituency, and then expanded to the 7-Councils that make up the Central Senatorial district of the state.

Addressing a mammoth crowd of enthusiastic supporters, party faithful and officials at Abatete, Idemili North Council at a reception anchored by a stalwart of APGA in the area and a former House of Representatives aspirant for Idemili North/South Federal Constituency, Chief Ifeanyi Metuh, Nwankwo who was very happy with the excitement shown by the crowd that received him, commended the people for their visible show of love towards him. He acknowledged the ability of other opponents contesting alongside himself for the Anambra Central Senatorial seat in the fast approaching February 25,2023 poll but was quick to admit that all the other have clearly done their bit before now. Hence were now tired, and lethargic, as the assignment has somehow clearly become monotonous and drab to them. He admitted that such was naturally expected, particularly where they had seen the position as "business", and not call to service. It's also usually counterproductive to overstay in the arena.

To him, they are tired hands and feet. " Am here with breathe of fresh air to reinvigorate the people's service. I had done so much to humanity, even as a private citizen.

"My aspiration is for a larger platform to do more -more scholarship to poor and indigent students, poverty alleviation for the poor/less privileged, more tricycles, motor cycles, commuter buses, cars, youth/women empowerment, and micro credit for small/medium businesses.

Others included regular free medical treatment for all. The latest 2022 edition covered no fewer than three hundred thousand (300'000) beneficiaries in more than sixty communities within Njikoka, Dunukofia, Anaocha, Idemili North, Idemili South, Awka North, and Awka South council areas.

The programme covered multiple areas of health including eye(opthalmic treatment and surgeries), laboratory services and general health services. It's now so assuredly regularly anticipated annually that people from neighbouring states, council areas, including those outside the state now plan their annual holidays to fall within the period just to ensure their family members resident in the cities benefited.

These, Nwankwo pointed out that he has been doing for the citizens for more than two decades without any funfair or media razzmatazz, just out of love/concern for the less privileged, and as a way of giving back to the society in appreciation of God Almighty's blessings.

And as the citizens continue to appreciate these programs, Onyendozi has promised to continue sponsoring alongside other such gestures to put smiles on the faces of the residents of the state and environs.

On his achievements in National Assembly in the area of the Bills and Motions he had sponsored over the years showed his people-oriented mindset. For example, he sponsored amongst others, a Bill for an Act to establish the Public Service Institute of Nigeria and for other related Matters, 2020. Another amongst others was a Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Agriculture (Technical) Enugwu-Ukwu, Anambra State, to provide full time courses, Teaching Instruction and Training in Agricultural Technology, Agriculture and carry out its due Administration and Management for Related Matters, 2021.

Just like the Bills he sponsored so far, among the numerous Motions Nwankwo had moved on the floor of the National Assembly these years, was the one calling for the enforcement of Regular Mechanical checks on commercial vehicles to minimize the spate of road crashes involving commercial vehicles and of others across the country. He also moved a Motion for the need to investigate the alleged use of Paracetamol (PCM) and Bleach to tenderize meat and Process cassava in Osun State in particular, and nationwide.

And apparently irked by the frequent industrial disputes/actions plaguing the nation's public universities, the concerned lawmaker sponsored a Motion calling on the need for the Federal Government to urgently address the frequent reoccurrence of strike actions in the nation's public universities by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

His litany of life-enhancing projects that benefited all communities within his Federal constituency in multiples, including provision of solar-powered street lights, solar-powered boreholes, roads construction/erosion control projects, and intervention in schools, especially secondary schools within the Federal Constituency.

There was also his world class signature project, a two-storey 250-computer set ICT training centre at Enugwu-Ukwu; -for Training and Consultancy. And baring any last minute changes, this master piece of a training centre would kick start operations in few days from now. It is secured, adequately fenced, protected and well fitted with state-of-the-art facilities to make teaching and learning a delight for all participants. Records show that the great enthusiasm elicited by the project, as the first of its kind anywhere in Nigeria, seats have been over-booked for the next three years. Yet more interested participants are still surging in!

Dozie Nwankwo is certainly in a class of his own, standing out as a lawmaker who came prepared about what he want to do for the constituents. Because besides about thirty-five major projects scattered all over the 3-Council Federal Constituency so far, he has provided many motorized boreholes, classroom blocks, Primary Health Centres, NYSC Corpers Lodge, among many others in all communities in the Federal Constituency.

In the area of empowerment/assistance to alleviate hardship being faced by the citizens due to the general downturn of the nation's economy and weaker currency, Nwankwo had quickly organized training and financial support for 110 youths on diverse skills. He also introduced Education support/scholarship scheme. He secured Agricultural incentives for above 100 hundred persons through the Nigeria Incentive Base Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending(NISRAL. He attracted the National Social Investment Program of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to his constituency for the GEEP loans through *Trader Moni, *Market Moni and *Farmer Moni. He however brought in the Strategic Empowerment Programme for the benefit of Youths of the constituency.

There was also the Widow support Programme for more than five thousand (5,000) widows from the area. He has at moments of need, especially during festivities of Christmas, New year and Easter provided them and other people incentives.

These and many other incentives that he ensured went round the entire families and communities withing the three councils 9f the Federal constituency made him very popular and a delight to all mothers, fathers and youths of the state.

The suave lawmaker has for the interest of his constituents availed himself to the State government, Traditional institution and Town union leaderships for promotion of peace in the area and effective governance. He has done so much in assisting his constituents enlisted in the Army, NYSC and other employment. It was trough his intervention that the creation of a new campus of the Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu, was granted and sited at Enugwu-Ukwu. The school has been billed to take off next academic session. No citizen of the Federal constituency would forget Nwankwo's timely intervention during the global pandemic of Covid-19 and other emergencies when he quickly rose to the occasion with a lot of palliatives.

Chief Dozie Nwankwo has truly been a big blessing to the Njikoka/Dunukofia/Anaocha Federal Constituency and Anambra State in general because he intervenes even outside his immediate constituency.

On February 25, 2023 Nwankwo would be slugging it out three tested heavyweights including Sen Uche Ekwunife of the Peoples Democratic Party who is seeking a passport for her third term in the senate. Many were of the view that she new to rest for another person of Nwankwo's class step in with new sharper ideas.

Sen Victor Umeh who is flying the flag of the Labour Party is a known name with APGA, not LP. His presence in LP, even with its presidential candidate's (Peter Obi)sweeping popularity would not help him.
Ducking behind Obi who he had a long time axe to grind for dumping APGA will rather a minus for him. Nwankwo is balling whichever ways one looks at the contest, because "nkea bu nkeanyi"

Also on the card is also Chief Okwy Okelekwe of the All Progressives Congress(APC) whose body language resembles one with other motives other than contesting to win. He started late, surrounded himself with mainly people from Awka South, Obizi political enclave in particular, out of the seven council areas of the Central senatorial district.

It's clear that Nwankwo will sweep the stakes on Feb 25,2023 as he did at the APGA primaries. He's young, able and capable and all those trying to pelt him with mud are merely chasing the wind!

Yes, because he's a man of all seasons, it's not surprising to see opponents try to throw stones at him. But who would curse who God has blessed.

#Ndlifeatudios