Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has announced the Special Adviser on Diaspora and Special Duties, Dr Ngozi Ogbonna- Erondu as the Acting Executive Secretary of the Abia Diaspora Commission.
According to the governor, the appointment is part of his promises to create a platform for everyone in the state to participate in government.
“For us in Abia, if you had followed my comments from 2015, you’d realise that I promised to create a platform that will enable every Abian irrespective of their political or religious persuasion or location across the Globe to participate in government and governance of the State.
”I’m of the firm belief that the greatest asset God has blessed us with in Abia is the people. We are a people of great capacity in all fields of endeavour”, he said.
The governor also signed into Law the Abia Diaspora Commission (ADCOM) Bill which was recently passed by the State’s House of Assembly.
The Governor, while giving assent to the bill, charged Abians in Diaspora to sustain their support towards the overall development of the State.
Ikpeazu, who signed the Bill into Law at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Umuahia, as presented by the Clerk and Permanent Secretary of the Abia State House of Assembly, Sir John-Pedro Irokansi said the intervention of Abians in Diaspora in key sectors of the State economy was commendable.
Upon assent, Abia becomes the first State to create the Diaspora Law among the 36 States of the Federation.
The Governor noted that the Abia State Geriatric Outreach, the Tele-Health Initiative among others are all being managed by Abians in Diaspora, adding that Abia will by October this year become the first state to commence digital learning in its primary and post-primary schools.
He also announced that the Pediatric Hospital being championed by the Diasporans will soon be functional as the state government has taken delivery of two out of four containers of medical equipments shipped in by Abians in Diaspora.
Governor Ikpeazu noted that the development is in line with his resolve since 2015 to create a platform for all Abians irrespective of their location to be part of the developmental narratives of the state.