Senator Austin Akobundu of Abia Central says he has attracted over 10 developmental projects to the district within one year of his inauguration last November.
Akobundu stated this at the flag-off of Oloko-Amizi-Ntugbu and Oloko-Ugbuebulle roads in Ahiaeke Oloko in Ikwuano local government, stressing the importance of human capacity development and welfare.
“For an elected or appointed leader to succeed in anywhere, he or she must as a matter of urgency place critical issues of human capital development and welfare on the front burner,” he said.
According to the Senate’s deputy committee chairman on planning and economic affairs, he has also been engage in various financial empowerment of both the youths and the women.
“I’m currently training 113 students at the National Teachers Institute with full payment of their school fees and allowance, some youths on digital marketing, and many others on skill acquisition among other programmes.
“I’m doing these irrespective of where the beneficiaries come from or their political leaning. The most important thing is to equip our people in every areas of human entrepreneurship without segregation,” he said
He further explained that his “Light the markets initiative” aimed at two markets in each of the six local governments had begun, adding that when completed, it would boost the economy of the district.
“I’m attracting interventions that will not only energise the economy, enhance interconnectivity, and make the people self-reliant, but those that will also make the youths employers of labour not job seekers.”
The state chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Amah Abraham, represented by the assistant secretary, Obioma Igwe, said Akobundu has raised the bar in legislative business.
Similarly, a former commissioner for Women Affairs, Kate Onyemachi noted that the senator had accomplished what many others could not do in four years and urged him to sustain the efforts.
In an interview, the site engineer of the construction firm handling the project, Emeka Ukandu said the project has approval of the National Assembly and will be completed within the next four month.
