Senator Austin Akobundu of Abia Central Senatorial District clinched the coveted Personality of the Year (Excellent Representation) Award by Rapid 96.5 FM, Umuahia.
The award was conferred on Senator Akobundu on Friday after a rigorous selection process that involved detailed scrutiny of his achievements in the areas of representation, empowerment and project execution.
Having assumed office in November 2023, (five months after the 10th Senate was inaugurated) but effectively kicked off his role as Senator in January 2024 because of the Christmas/New Year break that caught up with the National Assembly few days later, Akobundu hit the ground running like a leader in a haste to make up for lost time in his bid to effectively represent his people and provide dividends of democracy for them.
In presenting the award, the organisers acknowledged that Senator Akobundu has indeed met the expectations of his constituents and clearly deserved the award. They reeled out some of his achievements as follows:
- Bills/Motions
- A bill for the establishment of an Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Umuahia
- A bill for the establishment of a Federal College of Health Technology, Ikwuano
iii. A bill for the establishment of National Sport University, Nsulu
- A bill for the establishment of a Federal Institute of Entrepreneurship and Technical Skills Development, Osisioma
- A motion for the Appropriation of sufficient funds in the 2025 budget for the speedy completion of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Federal Road rehabilitation project
- Skills Acquisition and Human Capital Development Programmes
- The official opening of Nostro Communications Media House and Digital Opportunities Centre, otherwise known as the NOSTROCOM House, on January 29, 2024, in Umuahia which is being used for the training of youths in diverse fields including ICT. This was soon followed by a Digital Skills Acquisition Centre that was launched for Abia youths on the 7th of April, 2024
- A scholarship scheme for undergraduates from across the 6 LGAs of Abia Central Senatorial District
iii. Sponsorship of 113 constituents from across the constituency’s 6 LGAs to be trained as teachers at the National Teachers’ Institute.
- A 5-day intensive training of youths from across the senatorial district on sewing and farming.
- Training of over 400 secondary school students from the constituency’s 6 LGAs in Embedded Systems Engineering, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. After the training, the beneficiaries were able to create game apps, animated cartoon characters, built housing and real estate prototypes, including smart homes, prototypes of vehicles including heavy duty vehicles, bulldozers, tractors, fire fighting trucks, SUVs, ambulances, security patrol vehicles among others. The training which held at the NOSTROCOM House was done in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
- Sponsorship of 1000 youths from across the 62 wards of Abia Central Senatorial District in digital skills as follows: UI/UX Design, Web Design, Professional Graphics Design, Cyber Security Systems and Operations, Digital Marketing, and Forex Trading. The training holds at NOSTROCOM HOUSE, Umuahia.
vii. Free training of another 150 youths from the constituency’s 6 LGAs on cosmetology and paint making after which each beneficiary received N100,000 each as support for their start up.
viii. Organised a 2-day capacity building programme for traditional rulers, community, women and youth leaders with requisite knowledge, skills and strategies needed to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts effectively in their respective domains and even beyond.
- Projects
- Remodelling, furnishing, and equipping of Health Centre which was earlier attracted to Ahiaeke Oloko by Hon Sam Onuigbo.
- Ongoing construction of Oloko-Amizi Road and that of Oloko-Ugbuebulle Road both in Ikwuano LGA with similar projects to be executed in other LGAs of the senatorial district.
iii. Installation of solar-powered streetlights in several markets across the 6 LGAs of the senatorial district.
- Construction of 6 Skills Acquisition Centres across the 6 LGAs of his senatorial district. This centres when completed, will bring the various training, skills acquisition, and empowerment programmes nearer and make accessibility easier for the beneficiaries since they will no longer need to travel far distances to benefit from the programmes.
Senator Austin Akobundu has reiterated his commitment to keep sponsoring people-oriented bills and motions, human capital development initiatives, impactful projects and other dividends of democracy.