By Fred Akpewe

The Senator representing the Delta North Senatorial district, Senator Ned Nwoko is just 13 months in office, yet he has set a very high benchmark for people representation in Nigeria.

The very first thing that endeared him to his constituents was his early notice that he was not ready, and not even wired to be a contractor, the way his immediate predecessor was in office,

To this end, Senator Nwoko completely distanced himself from personally executing his constituency projects and not even directly influencing who executed them.

As at the last count Senator Ned Nwoko has sponsored about 24 bills and 18 motions in the Senate.
His Bills and motions deal with virtually every facet of our national life ranging from economy to security, agriculture, education, health,our national currency and even good governance.

Within one year in office the Senator has done two entrepreneurial schemes for his constituents; while the first recorded 300 participants, the second recorded 500 participants. Participants received entrepreneurial instruments ranging from cash gifts to starter packs.

Senator Ned Nwoko has been very passionate about infrastructure development in his constituency. To this end, he has taken more pass a passing interest in the 132KV transmission line project at Okpai. Aside from visiting the project site to see things for himself he also visited the Minister of Power and the Managing Director of Transmission Comoany of Nigeria (TCN) to seek their intervention in the prompt delivery of the project which has the potential of supplying light to the whole of Delta North when completed.

Senator Ned has also visited the Ogwashi Dam project which started about 18 years ago to find out how best to remove the bottleneck and ensure its prompt delivery. Mention must also be made that another dam earmarked for Idumuje Ugboko is now in the 2024 Federal budget courtesy of Senator Ned Nwoko

Senator Ned Nwoko has been tackling the issue of unemployment by facilitating direct employment of qualified ANIOMA indigenes into Federal Ministries and Parastatals. Out of the more than 100 requests from the Senator,s constituents for employment, many have already received their appointment letters.

The Senator has fashioned out a holistic approach to empowerment of his constituents and also improving the infrastructure landscape of Delta North.

He has started living to his words which reads: “When I stand as Senator on the floor of the Red Chambers, ANIOMA voice will resonate loud loud and clear with good tidings for the present and future generations “ He also stated that “My agenda in the 10th Senate will be to make quality laws for the good governance of Nigeria, particularly for the benefit of ANIOMA people under the Delta North Senatorial district “.

The Senator has pledged to sponsor Students of ANIOMA extraction to selected schools on short term retreats in the United Kingdom,America and South Africa amongst other countries.

He has also pledged to give scholarship grants to bright and indigent students in Delta North while also motivating adult education by providing opportunities for adults learners to attend classes at designated Adult education centers in three zones of his constituency.

The Senator is also striving for an official re-introduction of Social and Extra-Mural studies in school Curricular in the Delta North Senatorial district. Senator Ned is also working towards sustainable disbursement of dividends accruing to oil producing communities in Delta North while also focusing on promotion of Agricultural potentials of ANIOMA land and the harnessing of solid mineral deposits in the district, especially the kaolin deposit currently being mined at Ozanogogo.

More fascinating is the Senators strong resolve to deploy resources for the development of an “ANIOMA Silicon Valley “ where training in ICT and software development and production of computer chips and gadgets will be taken to the next level. The Senator also aims to introduce skill acquisition programmes for ANIOMA youths where they would gain training and experience in welding and fabrication, marine technology, electronics repairs, fashion design, tiling, painting and a host of other skills.

Senator Nwoko has concluded plans to establish an ANIOMA Museum to give impetus to historical lyrics , artifacts and letters of various clans and communities in ANIOMA.

The superlative of all of Senator Nwoko,s attempt to lift the soul of the ANIOMA land to a higher level is his giant and highly successful advocacy for the creation of ANIOMA state. His bill for the creation of the state has passed first reading in the Senate . He has caused his research and media team to accelerate strategic discussions , sensitizations and negotiations that would enable the state to be created in no distant time.

Senator Ned Nwoko has become a role model, a high flier in terms of representation such that any one who succeeds him in future as Senator representing Delta North will be stepping into very big shoes