Okowa: Building a new Delta the SMART way

On May 29, 2015, Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, took his oath of office, and right there he laid bare his plan to enthrone a legacy of wealth and prosperity for the people of the state. The plan, outlined as S.M.A.R.T, was a masterclass and a product of deep thinking– and has so far shown to be a catalyst for the monumental achievements recorded by the Dr. Okowa-led administration.

When Dr. Okowa took charge of Delta, the outlook of things was uninspiring, and debt binge put the revenue prospect of the state in a distress. People of the state were in a dilemma of what is to come and the fear of things going even worse filled the atmosphere. But those fears didn't stay too long to fizzle out as Dr. Okowa smartly put in play mechanisms to confront the challenges he inherited.

Knowing so well the bearing of debt overhang on the state's finances, Dr. Okowa renegotiated them and reduced the pressures that creditors exert on the state's resources. This smart move freed up needed resources and was able to bail out local government councils who had for so long find it hard to meet up with some of their obligations.

Few months into office, Dr. Okowa's burning desire to make a difference and change people's perception about governance became so glaring. Every aspect of governance in the state came to life and in a characteristic manner of a performer, Dr. Okowa rekindled hopes of Deltans that a new dawn was here. Dejection left for optimism, and in no time, he was not only able to turn things around but has now positioned Delta in an enviable state.

Take it from his strides in education, and you will marvel at Dr. Okowa's bold investments to give young Deltans the right training that would sustain them tomorrow. In the last six years, Dr. Okowa's administration has invested N10.4 billion in public schools infrastructure– raising new buildings and renovating at least, 5,667 classrooms across Delta state in the process. A similar commitment is demonstrated towards the welfare of teachers, and to further improve their capacity to impact qualitative teaching on students in the state, Dr. Okowa administration established the Teacher's Professional Development Centre (TPDC), which has so far trained 6,504 personnel.

For those in tertiary institutions, the story is not different as Dr. Okowa ensures that they are supported to do well in their studies. For instance, the state government paid a total of N381 million as a bursary to indigent students in the 2018/2019 academic session, and no fewer than 17,000 students across the state benefited. All these commitments of Dr. Okowa to education are already bringing encouraging outcomes as can be noticed in the state's steady progression in external examination ratings and the gradual confidence people are picking in public schools in the state. And even more important, Delta state has seen a sharp drop in its illiteracy tally– a pointer to the fact that the investment of Dr. Okowa in education is paying off.

Upon his assumption of office, Dr. Okowa met a state struggling to put abled and skilled population into productive engagements and promised to change that ugly picture. This commitment, I guessed, was to check the tide of brain drain and guide against young people being enticed to crime as a way of survival. Job openings in government setups soon become a common occurrence in Delta and investments in the agricultural sector also opened up opportunities for numerous young people in the state to get something doing.

Talk of road infrastructure, and I doubt anyone will come near Dr. Okowa in that aspect. In fact, he's famously addressed as 'Road Master' by many Deltans– an acknowledgement of the impressive record set in road construction. In six years, Dr. Okowa's administration has built thousands of kilometers of roads and bridges to facilitate both inter and intrastate transit. Rural roads received facelift and problems usually associated with connecting communities are fast becoming a thing of the past. The horrible experience of people over the frequent occurrence of flooding is fast fading as Dr. Okowa's administration explored technology to tackle the challenge.

Indicative of his deep resolve to make Delta the top destination for investors, Dr. Okowa entered into a reconstruction agreement with a consortium that will bring the Asaba airport to international standard and in turn, ease access to the state. For so long, the Asaba airport was left to rot but this agreement will position it as one of the best airports in the country and bring desired benefits to this state. However, here is the real deal– under the agreement secured by the Dr. Okowa-led government, at least 20 percent of the airport force will be made up of Deltans.

Demonstrating his avowed commitment to keep people safe, Dr. Okowa gave deserved attention to strengthening security in the state. From providing necessary types of equipment to all security agencies in the state to encouraging communal cohesion, Dr. Okowa facilitates a safe and secure Delta– a condition that is encouraging businesses in the state to thrive.

Economic activities in the oil-rich state are rapidly growing considering the various interventions of the Dr. Okowa-led government. Among the various interventions targeted at providing sustainable economic activities, especially for young people in the state, was the creation of the Girl Child Entrepreneurship Development and Empowerment Office. That has increased engagement and participation of women and girls in government-sponsored policies and initiatives, hence, contributing in no small measure to the economic activities of the state. Training and skills acquisition is a regular feature of Dr. Okowa's government, equipping Deltans with the right skills to contribute meaningfully to the economy of the state. At the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Delta state government engaged 300 designers and tailors trained by it to produce 1 million face masks for distribution to residents and citizens.

In the health sector, Dr. Okowa's imprints are incredible. From the dejected state that he met most health facilities in the state, Dr. Okowa has turned things around, and now, Deltans enjoys one of the best health infrastructures in the country. Even impressive is the fact that Dr. Okowa's administration enrolled over 630,000 Deltans in the Contributory Health Scheme, which has deepened access to healthcare and promote healthy living among the people. Dr. Okowa prioritizes the welfare of personnel in the health sector, and their safety is something he doesn't joke with, which explains the provision of life insurance policies to them. All these investments in the health sector came to bear in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which leaves the state with lower casualties compared to other states.

And to cap it all, Dr. Okowa is turning the state into a top sporting centre in the country with the investment in necessary infrastructure and establishment of several competitive centres across Delta. Apart from the opportunities that the facilities will bring for athletes in the state, the revenue prospects that hosting sporting events offer to the state and local businesses cannot be overemphasized.

Without mincing words, Dr. Okowa is transforming Delta state and his giant strides since taking charge of the state is heartwarming. With a strong desire for a new thing and hard work, Dr. Okowa is redefining governance in the oil-producing Niger Delta state, promising to leave an enduring legacy when he concludes his term in office. Even for his adversaries, it will be hard to dismiss the broad changes he is effecting in the state, and in the minds of Deltans, his impressive achievements will stay forever.


By Oke Umurhohwo. He tweets via @OkeStalyf and can be reached on oke.umu@gmail.com

https://leaders.ng/okowa-building-a-new-delta-the-smart-way-by-okestalyf/

Hummm

"Okowa is redefining governance in the oil-producing Niger Delta state, promising to leave an enduring legacy when he concludes his term in office. Even for his adversaries, it will be hard to dismiss the broad changes he is effecting in the state, and in the minds of Deltans, his impressive achievements will stay forever"

- Oke Umurhohwo

You must understand something, all Southern politicians are driven by untold degree of selfishness. While in office, they are all aspiring for the next office. The strategy to get on the ladder is to sacrifice their people, their towns and villages and their region. They do everything possible to please the Hausa Fulani Northerners in order to be favoured. We can go back a little to pull out some examples.

(1). Governor Peter Odili wanted to run for presidency, he squandered River State money on Northern Emirs and Northern Opinion leaders. At the end, he failed.

(2). General Olusegun Obasanjo held up all development programmes in the South and promoted infrastructure development in the North in order to get the 3rd term agenda through. At the end, he failed.

(3). James Ibori wanted to be a Vice President to President Yar’dua, in place of Jonathan. Delta State Liaison office in Abuja, became an ATM for all the Northern PDP members. At the end, not only did he fail, he was sent to prison.

(4). Jonathan Goodluck postponed South South development to his anticipated second tenure and put in all resources to the rehabilitation of the Almajiris, Emirs Palace from Sokoto to Maiduguri. Built Abuja-Kaduna Rail line when Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was impassable, East-West Road was a mere historical concept; built and completed Federal Universities in Katsina, Jigawa, etc but did foundation ground breaking for the the Federal University in Bayelsa. At the end, he was sent out of the Villa by the Northern INEC Chairman he appointed.

(5). Under Jonathan, the then Minister for Aviation, Stella Odua, funded in full, the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Kano, Sokoto, Katsina Airports but Port Harcourt Airport operated from a Tarpaulin, Enugu completely short down. At the end, AMCON took over all her assets and currently facing EFCC.

(6). Our brother Ibe Kachukwu was the Chairman of NNPC BOT and Petroleum Minister at the same time. He promoted the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline. He rehabilitated the Petroleum institute in Kaduna when the Petroleum Institute in Warri was not captured in the budget. He was humiliated out of office.

(7). Obono Obla, SAN was appointed the Chairman of Government Asset Recovery Committee. His target was only all past office holders from the South South and South East. At the end, he was framed and arrested.

( 8 ). The immediate past Managing Director of NDDC and Akwa Ibom State APC Governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere gave out emergency jobs (contracts) only to Southern Contractors fronting for Northerners. NDDC became an ATM for “the Villa Boys”. Where is he now?

(9). Rotimi Amaechi is lobbying to be the next Vice President, in 2023. His first action is to sell the South and became a saboteur. No wonder why as a Transport Minister, he found it very necessary to build the Lagos-Ibadan- Abuja-Kaduna-Kano-Katsina Rail line, Calabar-Maiduguri Rail line, Transport University in Katsina. The Great Eastern Railway line From Port Harcourt via Aba, Onitsha to Enugu to Okene in his books, is not feasible.
The minister is completing the biggest rail and road line into Niger Republic and towards the border of Niger Republic and other countries while the roads in the south are impassable. What Niger Republic has benefited in this Administration is bigger that all that South-South and South-East combined. Who are the Managing Directors of Nigerian Ports Authority and NIMASA?

(10). The current Petroleum Minister, Chief Timipre Sylva, has initiated the construction of the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline to facilitate the building of a Gas Power Station in Abuja and Kaduna and “to turn Kano into an Industrial Head Quarters”. The man is from Bayelsa State where there is over 90% unemployment and no electricity from National Grid.

(11). Ahmed Tinubu, for his desire to rule Nigeria practically sold the South and with his bullion vans rigged Buhari to power. History will tell of him soon like others.

(12). The number of appointments of people from Niger Republic in Buhari Administration is bigger than all south combined and all the National Assembly members are aware but keep quiet because of future ambition and to avoid probe.

The story is long!

Wetin be Zokowa

Okowa mo kover eh
Pictures or you know the drill though

AnonPoet:
Okowa: Building a new Delta the SMART way


https://leaders.ng/okowa-building-a-new-delta-the-smart-way-by-okestalyf/

the same Delta I live in or this is another one

Pictures or...

My friend you start your campaign very early...ooo. Ask Your darling Okowa how's the stadium that has been under construction for the past 25 years...

Ekugbeh:
the same Delta I live in or this is another one

They said he is a road master.

So idiots full this thread like dis.... some body go open mouth dey support okowa.... with him teeth wen be like horse own....

just wen we think say Uduaghan bad... okowa come be the icy on the cake of corrupt and clueless governors ever to rule....

which road him do 80% of Uduaghan commissioned projects an Iboru own.... now okowa projects na invisible project... work nor dey Delta State. if Delta State get better idiottas to gov the state, by now no diff for there between Delta and Lagos.... even with corruption

Guy na better mama born.. God go forever bless u for this hard truth way u talk now... Any mumu way go bash or insult u... Thunder go fire the person ... Chai. My people na mumu o

LordLugard1:
You must understand something, all Southern politicians are driven by untold degree of selfishness. While in office, they are all aspiring for the next office. The strategy to get on the ladder is to sacrifice their people, their towns and villages and their region. They do everything possible to please the Hausa Fulani Northerners in order to be favoured. We can go back a little to pull out some examples.

(1). Governor Peter Odili wanted to run for presidency, he squandered River State money on Northern Emirs and Northern Opinion leaders. At the end, he failed.

(2). General Olusegun Obasanjo held up all development programmes in the South and promoted infrastructure development in the North in order to get the 3rd term agenda through. At the end, he failed.

(3). James Ibori wanted to be a Vice President to President Yar’dua, in place of Jonathan. Delta State Liaison office in Abuja, became an ATM for all the Northern PDP members. At the end, not only did he fail, he was sent to prison.

(4). Jonathan Goodluck postponed South South development to his anticipated second tenure and put in all resources to the rehabilitation of the Almajiris, Emirs Palace from Sokoto to Maiduguri. Built Abuja-Kaduna Rail line when Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was impassable, East-West Road was a mere historical concept; built and completed Federal Universities in Katsina, Jigawa, etc but did foundation ground breaking for the the Federal University in Bayelsa. At the end, he was sent out of the Villa by the Northern INEC Chairman he appointed.

(5). Under Jonathan, the then Minister for Aviation, Stella Odua, funded in full, the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Kano, Sokoto, Katsina Airports but Port Harcourt Airport operated from a Tarpaulin, Enugu completely short down. At the end, AMCON took over all her assets and currently facing EFCC.

(6). Our brother Ibe Kachukwu was the Chairman of NNPC BOT and Petroleum Minister at the same time. He promoted the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline. He rehabilitated the Petroleum institute in Kaduna when the Petroleum Institute in Warri was not captured in the budget. He was humiliated out of office.

(7). Obono Obla, SAN was appointed the Chairman of Government Asset Recovery Committee. His target was only all past office holders from the South South and South East. At the end, he was framed and arrested.

( 8 ). The immediate past Managing Director of NDDC and Akwa Ibom State APC Governorship candidate, Nsima Ekere gave out emergency jobs (contracts) only to Southern Contractors fronting for Northerners. NDDC became an ATM for “the Villa Boys”. Where is he now?

(9). Rotimi Amaechi is lobbying to be the next Vice President, in 2023. His first action is to sell the South and became a saboteur. No wonder why as a Transport Minister, he found it very necessary to build the Lagos-Ibadan- Abuja-Kaduna-Kano-Katsina Rail line, Calabar-Maiduguri Rail line, Transport University in Katsina. The Great Eastern Railway line From Port Harcourt via Aba, Onitsha to Enugu to Okene in his books, is not feasible.
The minister is completing the biggest rail and road line into Niger Republic and towards the border of Niger Republic and other countries while the roads in the south are impassable. What Niger Republic has benefited in this Administration is bigger that all that South-South and South-East combined. Who are the Managing Directors of Nigerian Ports Authority and NIMASA?

(10). The current Petroleum Minister, Chief Timipre Sylva, has initiated the construction of the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline to facilitate the building of a Gas Power Station in Abuja and Kaduna and “to turn Kano into an Industrial Head Quarters”. The man is from Bayelsa State where there is over 90% unemployment and no electricity from National Grid.

(11). Ahmed Tinubu, for his desire to rule Nigeria practically sold the South and with his bullion vans rigged Buhari to power. History will tell of him soon like others.

(12). The number of appointments of people from Niger Republic in Buhari Administration is bigger than all south combined and all the National Assembly members are aware but keep quiet because of future ambition and to avoid probe.

The story is long!

OK

Okowa is not fair to all tribes in delta especially Ndokwa and Urhobo

Emmanuel Uduaghan is the worst governor that has ever ruled Delta state, he failed woefully because he is clueless and has no vision or plans for Delta state he came to steal. Unlike Okowa who has a vision and mission to develop Delta state. If not for huge debt left behind by Uduaghan and the dwindling revenue Okowa would have done much more than this. More power to his elbows

No be only smart city what of smart phone

Delta na state?

favour32:

They said he is a road master.

who are they? I want to hear or even see one economic viable road initiated and completed by okowa in these past years till now

Mandela89:
OK

Okowa is not fair to all tribes in delta especially Ndokwa and Urhobo

You are just being mischievous.
Are you a sadist?

Ekugbeh:
who are they? I want to hear or even see one economic viable road initiated and completed by okowa in these past years till now

Are you typing from a prison yard?
You must have been there since 2015, of course.

OKUCHI11:
My friend you start your campaign very early...ooo. Ask Your darling Okowa how's the stadium that has been under construction for the past 25 years...

Which stadium are you talking about?
Be a bit specific

Alright. . . . . . .Aje

Abeg i want make you tell me one single project wen Okowa do for d full Ukwuani nation.



Abeg

How do you guys even measure development and growth?

Akwa Ibom has power plant, International airport, International airline, International stadium, International library, very good road infrastructures across the state, clean and serene environment, building deep seaport, what do we have in Delta who has been collecting second to the highest allocation for the last 10 years, nothing to show, except smart-talking audio projects.
We are very backward in Delta. Talk true make Devil shame.
The only thing I know Okowa is good at, is politics, he is good at politicking and politicking without developmental result is irrelevant.
Na God go judge all of una.

xpool:

You are just being mischievous.
Are you a sadist?

the truth is there, by the distribution of project across the state and appointment, even your conscious tells you the truth but as per online paid praise singer you are blinded

Am in delta state and can tell you for free that Okowa is a road master. Na wetin I dey sure of, I dey talk

AzuNas:
Alright. . . . . . .Aje

Abeg i want make you tell me one single project wen Okowa do for d full Ukwuani nation.



Abeg

Umuebu road na your papa tile am?
ABI this technical college he dea build behind council na your village elders dea build am?
Guy if we see truth make we try dea talk am

Dis pple sabi lie oooo, nothing like dat going on here... Una go just dey talk anyhow

Oke Umurhohwo is drunk to have allowed himself to be paid to pen this nonsense. The same Delta I grew up in is what he is alleging that Okowa is developing? Has he been to big ghetto that is called Warri? Compare Delta with Akwa-Ibom nau?

Yes he is the road master. I am a living witness. Yes he trained young people in different skills to become entrepreneurs, my former colleague is a beneficiary of his fish farming training while my sister in-law learnt sewing. The new general hospital was completed by his administration too. He has done well for Delta state.

Drsnives:

Umuebu road na your papa tile am?
ABI this technical college he dea build behind council na your village elders dea build am?
Guy if we see truth make we try dea talk am

compare that to his local government area, the truth is clear Okowa hate Ndokwa and Urhobo with passion

Good