Unveils University Scholarship Scheme And Comprehensive Empowerment For Skilled Men And Women
Celebrates New Yam Festival With Constituents.
The ranking Member representing Orsu State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Agriculture, Rt Hon. Engr Uche Francis Agabige (Ifechukwukwuru ) has assured the people of Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State that time has come for implementation his numerous life changing and transformative projects and programs which could successfully be carried out under the present circumstances in the Council Area following the return of peace and normalcy for active socioeconomic activities.
He reiterated that when he indicated interest to return to the State parliament in 2023, he was motivated by his love for the people despite the feverish height of insecurity as at then which prompted most of his friends and well wishers to discourage him not to run for the election under such tensed and unconducive atmosphere which he ignored such fear instilling counsels.
Agabige revealed that he went ahead to contest the election in which his campaign was anchored on his hope and abiding faith in God for restoration of peace and normalcy if elected into office. According to him, that faith in God and hope for divine intervention spurred him to contest and indeed made him to christen his campaign organization as Peace Again Campaign Organization and concentrated his campaign message on restoration of peace as a cardinal objective if reelected as the people’s representative.
The declaration was made penultimate Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 on the occasion of Hon Agabige’s Constituency Program Flag Off Ceremony which held jointly with his 2025 New yam Festival in his Owerri residence.
The ebullient lawmaker remembered with nostalgic feelings how he trained and equipped hundreds of Orsu indigenes in various skill programs through his flagship Empowerment Initiative,Orsu Scheme For Empowerment and Development (OSED) during his first parliamentary outing between 2015 and 2019.
He regretted that the program suffered a setback when he could not return in 2019 for his second missionary journey and subsequent reign of insecurity that ravaged the Area within the period which according to him dislocated the well thought out initiative and dislodged majority of the beneficiaries who lost everything to the protracted insecurity.He said that when he decided to contest again in 2023,he promised to join hands with stakeholders to fight insecurity and restore peace and normalcy when he returns to the the parliament believing that restoration of peace must be prioritized before one can now unfold development and Empowerment Initiatives that can impact positively on people since no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of insecurity and lawlessness.
The House Member further stated that despite deliberate mischief of burning down and destroying his country home to intimidate and discourage him from going ahead with the election,he remained adamant because he was inspired by his vision and mission of restoring peace to the Homeland and thanked God that at last peace has been restored as he promised. He went on to inform that since peace has been restored in Orsu and normal life for active socioeconomic activities have returned that he deemed it necessary to flag off his Constituency Program which is anchored on a double barrel projects that are rooted in transforming and empowering his constitutents.
He announced continuing with the OSED program which under the new arrangement will take a novel dimension under OSED Phase 2 program.He also said that he has introduced another segment of his transformative program for his beloved Constituents which is Peace Again University Scholarship scheme for Orsu Students in the University and other tertiary institutions of learning.Under the scholarship scheme,five entry forms were sent to every ward in the eleven Council wards of the Local Government Area.In the area of OSED Phase 2,ten forms were also distributed to all the eleven political wards.
Hon Agabige disclosed that his Empowerment Initiative is all about identifying people who are already skilled that are in need of tools and grants to return to work instead of roaming around the street claiming to be unemployed. According to him, the over politicization of skill acquisition program with little or no impacts made him to narrow the second phase of OSED program to scouting for already skilled people that needed assistance to takeoff or rehabilitate those who lost their working tools to the protracted insecurity.He revealed that a Steering Committee that will screen both Scholarship and Empowerment applicants will be discreetly put in place to ensure that deserving members of the public in the Council Area are selected.
According to the Orsu lawmaker, the era of giving Empowerment materials and equipment to the wrong people is over. He added that the Empowerment Program will be launched in December, while the Scholarship scheme will kick off by January 2026.
Also speaking, Hon Agabige welcomed his Constituents to his 2025 New yam Festival which according to him has remained an annual family ritual since he was born. He assured his Constituents that he will continue to carry them along in everything he does and solicited for more support for the Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Odidika Uzodimma and his 3R Shared Prosperity government which he said has helped to fight insecurity and restore peace in Orsu.
On the issue of rehabilitation of destroyed infrastructure in the homeland, the Orsu House Member disclosed that he had discussed with the Governor on the issue of immediate government intervention to rehabilitate the destroyed infrastructure, especially roads, Health Centers and Schools and promised that the State government will soon do something.
In their separate remarks,some prominent indigenes from the Area who spoke during the event which include;Hon. Chief Cyril Odinaka Okafor (Cympok),Hon Chief Emma Dike(Mmirioma Orsu) former Member of the Imo State House of Assembly,Hon Barrister Remigius Agwudozie,Chief Friday Ibekaeme, the Executive Chairman of Orsu Local Government Area, extolled the virtues of Hon Agabige whom they described as a polite, reliable,calm and performing lawmaker that deserves the support of all and sundry.They congratulated him on the successful flag off and unveiling of his Constituency Program and assured him that they will continue to support him and further ensure that the program succeeds by identifying the right people that deserve the scholarship and empowerment program.
Highpoints of the program were the cutting of new yam and distribution of the forms after the House Member formally handed it over the Orsu LGA APC party Chairman,Hon Prince Innocent Obidike (Ugwunwanne).The invited guests and dignitaries present were entertained with sumptuous meals and exotic drinks to commemorate the colourful event that was held in dual capacity.Transport fund was also made available to everyone in attendance.
The event attracted many dignitaries which included but not limited to following;Hon Chief Cyril Odinaka Okafor (Cympok), former Executive Chairman of Orsu Local Government Area, former Commissioner For Tourism,who chaired the occasion,Hon Emma Dike (Mmirioma Orsu) former Member of the Imo State House of Assembly,Hon Prince Innocent Obidike (Ugwunwanne),Orsu APC Chairman,Hon Chief Engr Friday Ibekaeme, Executive Chairman of Orsu Local Government Area, Hon Uchenna Osigwe, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Door to Door, Hon Chief Greg Obioha, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Chief Terrence Onyejiaku, DG Imo Data Center, Hon Chief Emma Uguru, Director General Peace Again Campaign Organization,Hon Nze Eddy Mbagwu, Secretary of Orsu APC,Hon Chinenye Eruo, Secretary to Orsu Local Government Council,Hon Ezikeojiaku,Vice Chairman Orsu LGA,Hon Chinedu Ezeoma, former Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment Promotion,Hon Ichie Clifford Mazi and host of others