... Eze Joins Millions of Associates of Orji to Celebrate A Dogged Media Czar, a Patriot, a Workaholic, Loyalty Redefined, Commitment in Action, the Voice and Orator of Ebonyi Politics

Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP) and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka has offered a heartfelt felicitation in commemoration of the birth of Uchenna Orji, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and Orientation who added another year to his age some days ago.

In a statement made available to media houses, the party Chief described the Commissioner as a rare breed, a composite gentleman, an intellectual giant and a personification of service whose antecedents distinguishes him from his peers in the public and private sectors.

Excerpts from the statement read “with great joy and happiness, I join the people of Ebonyi State and millions of Associates of Barr Uchenna Orji the indefatigable Commissioner for information and Orientation of Ebonyi State to celebrate the birthday of a man of class, a dogged Media Czar, a Patriot, a Workaholic, loyalty redefined, commitment in action, the Voice and Orator of Ebonyi Politics.

A Salesman of great repute who has redefined media participation in the politics of Ebonyi State. A rare gen who pursues any cause he believes in with such an appeal that get one convinced no matter his political leaning. I have watched this man very closely in some of my trips to Ebonyi State and most of the time he sleeps in his office in order to get any given task executed to perfection.

More Facts About This Enigma:

Honorable Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji’s disposition to Life-Service could better be enwrapped in the wise words of Donatella Versace; and I Quote:

“I Have Worked With Wool All My Life As A Designer. There's So Much More To It Than Knitwear - It's An Amazingly Versatile Material And Can Be Used In So Many Different Ways, From Chic To Rustic’’

Orji Uchenna Orji Francis was born on 3rd February, 1976 into the family of Orji Okoro at Amaedim Ngwogwo Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. His Philosophy of Service is; ‘Integrity and Hard work, Anchored on Team Work and Personal Initiative. Orji’s Academic journey started at Ngwogwo Primary School, Ishiagu in 1983, where he bagged his First School leaving certificate, FSLC in 1989. He went to Ishiagu High School, Ishiagu between, 1990 – 1995.

Orji then Proceeded to the Abia State University, Uturu where he enrolled to study law in 1997 and bagged an LLB {Hons} in 2002.

The young and intelligent Orji Uchenna Orji was invited to the Prestigious Nigerian Law School, Abuja in 2003 and was called to Bar in 2004, after bagging a Barrister at Law BL.

His Work Experience:

His work experience stretched across many spheres, ranging from Government and Non-Governmental Administration, Law Making, Legal Practice, National Youth Service Corps as well as Chamber Attachment. For example, between 2015 – 2017, Orji Served as Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ebonyi State; between 2017 – 2019, he served as Commissioner Ministry of Economic Empowerment and Job Creation Ebonyi State (now known as Ministry of Human Capital Development and Monitoring).

Orji was a Member, WAEC Board as Presidential Nominee (Covering Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone) between 2014 – 2015 Member/Chief Whip, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, 2007 – 2011.
Legal Attaché: Marcus Baboye Chambers, No 23 Igbosere Road, Lagos Island, Lagos State, 2005 – 2006.

National Youth Service Corps at Atiba Local Government Area, Oyo State. 2004 – 2005.

Chamber Attachment: The Office of the Honorable Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Federal Secretariat, Abuja. May – June, 2003.

Succinctly Put: Barr Orji Uchenna Orji’s Public Service life could best be likened to that of an ‘’ALL Sphere Master Servant’’ having perfectly held several positions, even outside his area of Profession and Training, with good Strides & Marks.

POSITIONS HELD
Honourable Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Job Creation Ebonyi State (now known as Ministry of Human Capital Development and Monitoring). 2017 – 2019

Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ebonyi State. 2015 – 2017

Founder/Facilitator, Governor Umahi Empowerment Beneficiaries Association (GUMEBA) 2017.

Founder/Facilitator, AkubaraohaCare Movement.

Secretary, Divine Mandate Committee on Information and ICT (Pre-administration Reform Committee). 2015

Administrative Secretary, Divine Mandate Campaign Organisation, Ivo Local Government Area Chapter for 2015 General Election. 2015

Council Member, West African Examination Council (International, i.e.
Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone). 2014-2015

Board Member, West African Examination Council (National) 2014 – 2015
Member, Administrative and Finance Committee
(National and International) WAEC 2014-2015.

Member, International and National Tenders Board, WAEC 2014 – 2015

Member, Appointment Committee, WAEC (International) 2014 – 2015

Member, Ebonyi State Committee on Collation of Ebonyi State
Customary Laws 2013

Chairman, PDP Monitoring and Strategy Committee on Ivo Local
Government Council Election 2010

Chairman, Ebonyi State Committee on the Review of the 1999
Constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria 2009

Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation 2009 – 2011

Chairman, House Committee on Justice and Judiciary 2007 – 2011

Chief Whip, Ebonyi State House of Assembly 2007 – 2011
Pioneer Vice President, National Association of Ebonyi State Students,
National Council 2001

President, National Association of Ebonyi State Students,
Abia State University Chapter 2000

Secretary General, Federated Union of Ishiagu
Undergraduates, (FEDUNIERS) 1999 -2000

Senior Prefect, Ishiagu High School, Ishiagu 1994 – 1995

PROFESSIONAL GROUPS:

The versatile Orji, is a Member of numerous Professional, Political and Social Bodies. These, among others include:
Member, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abakaliki Branch, Member, Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Ebonyi State Chapter
Old Member, Common Wealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)

Orji On The Feats Of Governor Umahi:

To Orji, If we are talking of leadership in Africa, Ebonyi State is a reference point. It is the centre of excellence. Our governor is known for accountability, transparency and probity. I’m just pretty sure that the critics, who are envious of what the governor is doing, chose to rely on abstractions. We want to tell them that the people of Ebonyi State are in total support and appreciation of the governor for what he has done. Before 2015, Ebonyi was the least developed state, but today, we are the shining light, not to the Southeast alone, but the entire federation. And anybody who likes good things will curse the man who speaks against the governor. The man has sleepless nights to make Ebonyi an emerging city. Today, we are proud that the governor has removed our inferiority complex and made us have a sense of self-worth and actualisation. We are all happy everywhere we go. We have a blessing in the person of our governor.

We are happy and grateful to God for giving us a world-class leader – a man who came, saw and conquered. We have the best network of roads, just within seven years, beating every other state in the Southeast. We have about 13 to 14 flyovers, coming first after Abuja and Lagos. Come to Ebonyi state, you will see Africa’s biggest shopping mall, housing about 5,000 shops, which are being redistributed to our people and investors who come to the state.

Today, the governor has launched us into the comity of the best 10 states in the federation in education. In 2017, NUC made an education analysis about the local governments in the whole federation with the highest number of people getting admission into university. A local government in Ebonyi State came first. In the same year, NUC made an assessment of medical students that took JAMB and somebody that came from Ebonyi came first in the whole federation. In the area of education, we have done quite a lot. An Ebonyi student can compete fantastically well with any other person from other states.

The idea of the governor is to create fascinating economic facilities that will create jobs to give our people the opportunity for self-reliance and sufficiency. The shopping mall is going to give not less than 10, 000 direct and indirect jobs to our people. And it is the best shopping mall in Africa. The airport is under construction and by the power of God, it will be completed and commissioned before we hnd over the reins of Governance to the incoming APC Government . It is going to give a lot of jobs to our people. It is not just going to be an ordinary airport. It is fashioned after Abuja and Lagos international airports and our concept is Ethiopian air business. It will be generating a lot of revenues, employment and wealth.

The University of Medical Sciences is going to be a centre of excellence for the treatment of liver problems, cancer and heart diseases. It is going to be a centre of excellence for the management of dialysis, which we don’t have anywhere in Africa. Incidentally, it has been handed over to the Catholic Bishops conference for ownership and management. We believe in the discipline of these organised private sectors. We believe in the best standard that they can give.

The ecumenical centre is like heaven on earth. It is a multifunctional centre. Apart from providing for the spiritual enrichment of our people, it is going to be a money-spinner because it is going to be hosting international conferences and corporate meetings. The interesting thing about this is that our people who have spiritual issues, when they go to the ecumenical centre to seek the face of God, God will hear their prayers. So, it is one of our best legacies.

The governor made us have an 80 metric tonne capacity fertilizer blending plant, the biggest in the Southeast. It has engaged not less than 2,000 workers – direct and indirect jobs. And it is participating in the presidential rice initiative. Ebonyi is one of the three largest producers of rice, all of these empowered by our dear governor’s programmes on agriculture.

How His 2023 Birthday was celebrated

On the felicitous occasion of the birthday celebration of the Hon. Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, which held at Osborn La Palms resort Abakaliki.

It was a gathering of young men of goodwill who took him by surprise to appreciate God for gifting him to us. Lots of testimonies of how the Hon. Commissioner transforms lives of young people with service, discipline and good fortunes abound as almost every one has something good to say about him.

In his description, the APC candidate for Abakaliki North Constituency, Hon. Maxwell Umahi, described the Hon. Commissioner as a man of genuine service. “This is a man that can perform effectively anywhere he is being assigned to. He is known for undertaking difficult tasks and delivering as at when due; even beyond our expectations. Haven served as the commissioner for Agriculture, Human Capital Development & Monitoring and now Information & State Orientation, with maximum impact in the various ministries. We thank God for the grace of God in his life and pray that God will continue to lift him higher.”

Also in his words, Hon. Onyekachi Nwoba (Bone) described the Hon. Commissioner as a result oriented man who takes pleasure in defending the defenceless. “Each time I watched his argument with Barr. Mudi and how the commissioner proved to the entire world that light will always subdue darkness, I feel enthused. He is creative and always passionate about his job and such zeal has kept him above his contemporaries.”

The Council Chairman of Ivo LGA, Hon. Ajah Emmanuel, thanked the Hon. Commissioner for being a defender of the oppressed. “He is a voice to the voiceless and is why the people of Ishiagu crowned him Okwuru Oha 1 of Ishiagu kingdom. He is a great humanitarian who takes pleasure in defending the defenceless. What we owe him is prayer as we are sure that he is still going to higher places.”

Summarily, the wife, Mrs. Sylvia Ijeoma Orji described the husband as a man blessed with the spirit of servitude. He derives pleasure in delivering on the areas of his assignment and one outstanding feature of him is that he love fighting for others. He is always contented with what he has and above all, he has the fear of God. As a wife, I am happy with the person and character of my husband and I pray that God in his infinite mercy will continue to bless him with good health, long life and prosperity.

His Appreciation

In his words of appreciation, He thanked God for making it possible for him to be alive, healthy and dutiful. He counted it as a rare privilege to serve under His Excellency Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi FNSE FNATE CON. He is the man whom God has been using to do the diverse wonders in my life. I discovered Him in 2007 when we were at the House of Assembly and I fell in love with everything about Him. Ever since then, He has been wonderful to me and my family. He made me a WAEC board member and grafted me to serve in different committees which has equipped politically to stand the taste of time. He paraded me in the ministries of Agriculture, Human Capital Development & Monitoring and currently Information and State Orientation as a commissioner. In all these, the experience was wonderful and only God will bless Him. I thank God for the kind of wife God has blessed me with. So full of encouragement, love and always standing by my side in the thick and thins of life. The testimonies share by you all are like strength to my marrows. I am encouraged never to relent in doing good as I now know that all my steps are captured in the minds of people around me. As for the organisers of this program, I can't thank you enough. Thank You all for sharing in my Joy and may the good Lord bless.

Conclusion

Barr. Uchenna Orji has proved himself as a worthy Orator of this dispensation and need to be celebrated.

May God not only bless his new age but grant him more fruitful years ahead for better services to humanity IJN.

Honourable Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji Francis is married to Pretty, Mrs. Ijeoma Sylvia Orji, and the Union is gloriously blessed with kids.