Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has sworn in 28 new
commissioners and 27 Transition Committee Chairmen for the 27 local
government councils in the state.
He charged them to prove their worth in the service of the state and
her people. One of the commissioners sworn in by the governor is his
biological sister, Mrs. Ogechi Ololo (nee Okorocha). She is now the
state’s Commissioner for Happiness and Couples’ Fulfillment.
Ololo, who is married to Chuks, an engineer, was the All Progressives
Congress’ candidate into the House of Representatives for the Owerri
Federal Constituency seat in 2015 and she has served in various
capacities since Okorocha became the state governor in 2011.
She had, before her new appointment, served as her brother’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Special Adviser on Domestic Matters.
Swearing in the new commissioners and the Transition Committee
Chairmen on Monday at the Imo International Convention Centre, Owerri,
the governor charged them to leave their marks in their respective
ministries and local governments.
He urged them to see themselves as men and women on a rescue mission.
The governor added that they had come to be part of the success story of his administration.
Okorocha said, “You are the privileged group that has the opportunity
to make names for yourselves. I want to remind all of you that this
appointment is not business as usual. We shall not tolerate any sharp
practice or corruption of any type. Neither shall we accept indolence or
laziness. You have been called to duty to help us to achieve our vision
in the Rescue Mission Project.
“At this moment, I charge you all to be good ambassadors of the
Rescue Mission wherever you find yourselves. To the Transition Committee
Chairmen, you must ensure that ongoing projects must be completed
especially the schools, chapels etc.”
He reiterated that what his administration had achieved so far had
exceeded all that the previous administrations in the state, both
civilian and military put together, had achieved.
The commissioners sworn in and their portfolios are: Prof. Nnamdi
Obiaraeri (Information); Lady Ugochi Nnana-Okoro (Agric and Food
Security); Gertrude Oduka (Primary and Secondary Education); Dr. Jones
Uzoka (Niger Delta Affairs); Uchendu Mark (Public Utilities); and
Gerald Okolie (Rural Development).
Others are Dr. Cyril Okafor (Tourism); Emmanuel Ojinere (Trade and
Investment); Chief Lasbery Anyanwu (Transport); Onwueyiagwu Valentine
(Youth Development); Mrs. Ngozi Njoku (Gender and Social Development);
Chief Josephine Udoji (Works); Achilike Nwawuike (Internal Resources and
Pension Matters); Prof. Emenalo Chizoba (Tertiary Education);
Nwamerenini Chukwuka (Labour); and Dr. Iyke Njoku (Planning, Budget and
Statistics).
The Transition Committee Chairmen sworn in include Okechukwu
Onyechere(Ideato South); Sir Anyehe Okeneme (Ikeduru); Julius Onyeneho
(Isiala Mbano); Akas Paschal, (Isu); Steve Odoemena (Mbaitoli); Eke
Chidi (Ngor Okpala); Aloysius Onwuegbuchulam (Njaba); and Paschal
Onwukaike (Nkwerre).