By Steve Oko

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has announced the renaming of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, in honor of the late first civilian Governor of the state, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu.

The Governor made the announcement during an interdenominational church service held at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia on Thursday, dedicated to the memory of the late Governor.

Otti explained that the renaming was a tribute to Onu’s significant contributions and legacies in the state.

It is worth noting that Abia Polytechnic Aba was among the institutions established by Onu during his tenure as Governor from January 1992 to November 1993, before the military truncated the Second Republic.

Otti stated, “We, as a state, have decided to immortalize him by renaming Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, after him. Henceforth, the Polytechnic will be known as ‘Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.'”

The Governor described Onu as a great leader whose legacies would continue to endure. “Onu passed on the torch of the higher ideals and values he lived by to us. Our task as his children, mentees, and associates is to preserve his legacy of public service by dedicating ourselves to working for the good of present and future generations.”

Otti further praised Onu’s leadership qualities, stating, “Our former Governor taught us unforgettable lessons in the power of dreaming big, consistency, and broad-mindedness in our interactions. These are values that inspire nations to greatness. Now, it is time for us to embrace these ideals and live them out, just as our patriarch and father did.”

Dr. Onu, Otti said, was a leader who believed in the importance of building institutions that provide young people with the knowledge and skills to be productive and competitive, especially in the fields of technology, science, education, and agriculture.

“Onu did not only prioritize education as the key industry in the state, he also made a groundbreaking move by abolishing the indigene/non-indigene dichotomy in the State’s civil service. He made it clear that if you have the skills and competencies to serve our people, you are an Abian, no matter where you were born or where you started from. This philosophy, which we have since adopted in this administration, made the civil service more competitive.”

Governor Otti highlighted several historic legacies of Onu, including his role in establishing the Abia State Polytechnic Aba, the Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, and the National Ambassador Newspaper. Additionally, it was during Onu’s tenure that the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike (now Michael Okpara University of Agriculture – MOUAU) was established.

“The simultaneous creation of these institutions in the three senatorial districts of the state reflects Dr. Onu’s visionary leadership. He understood the critical role of educational institutions in fostering the human capital necessary for widespread economic development,” Otti said.

Eminent personalities, including the immediate past Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, and former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Emma Nwaka, attended the service to honor Onu’s legacy.