Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Thursday announced the creation of six new ministries, as he reshuffled his cabinet to meet the yearnings of the people
The new ministries are, Basic and Secondary Education, Tertiary Education, Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Labour and Productivity, Industry and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Culture and Creative Economy.
This is as he also replaced Ngozi Okoronkwo, his former Commissioner of Health and Chima Oriaku, immediate past Commissioner for Science and Technology, who recently resigned from their portfolios.
In their places are David Kalu, who will now serve as the new commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, while Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, a professor, takes over from Okoronkwo, as the new commissioner for Health.
However, Monica Ironkwe, the immediate past commissioner for Agriculture, who also resigned recently, is yet to be replaced.
In a reshufflement, Otti appointed Goodluck Ubochi, as commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, while Uche Eme Uche, a former commissioner for Education, was appointed, as the new commissioner for Tertiary Education.
Blessing Ngozi Felix, a former commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Poverty Alleviation was moved to the new Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, while Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa, replaced her in the Ministry of Women Affairs.
Mike Akpara, former commissioner for Finance, was appointed as the new commissioner for Industry and SMEs, while Uwaoma Ukandu, replaced him, as the new Commissioner for Finance.
Sunny Onwuma, a former commissioner for Transport was appointed as the commissioner for Labour and Productivity. Chimezie Ukaegbu was removed from the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Industry to the Ministry of Transport, as the new commissioner there, while Kingsley Chibueze Nwokocha was appointed as the new commissioner for Trade and Commerce.
Ikechukwu Uwanna retained his position, as the attorney general and commissioner For Justice, Uzo Nwachukwu remains the commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Kingsley Anosike remains the commissioner for Budget and Planning,
Philemon Ogbonna retained his position, as the commissioner for Environment, Joel Ogbonna, a professor, also remains the commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, while Okey Kanu retained his position, as commissioner for Information.
Others, who retained their positions include Nwaobilor Ananaba, commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mathew Ekwuruibe, commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Chaka Chukwumerije, commissioner for Lands and Housing, Don Oti, commissioner for Works and Ikechukwu Monday, commissioner for Power and Public Utilities.
The full list of the Commissioners and their portfolios, as contained in a press statement signed, by Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, chief press secretary to the Abia State Governor is as follows:
- Ikechukwu Uwanna – Attorney general and commissioner for Justice
- Uzo Nwachukwu – Commissioner Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs
- Uwaoma Ukandu – Commissioner for Finance
- Kingsley Anosike – Commissioner for Budget and Planning
- Okey Kanu – Commissioner for Information
- Goodluck Ubochi – Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education
- Uche Eme Uche – Commissioner for Tertiary Education
- Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, a professor – Commissioner for Health
- Maureen Ijeoma Aghukwa – Commissioner for Women Affairs
- Blessing Ngozi Felix – Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection
- Philemon A. Ogbonna – Commissioner for Environment
- Joel F. Ogbonna, a professor – Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources
- Kingsley Chibueze Nwokocha – Commissioner for Trade and Commerce
- Mike Akpara – Commissioner for Industry and SMEs
- Nwaobilor Ananaba – Commissioner for Youth and Sports
- Mathew Ekwuruibe – Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy
- David Kalu – Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation
- Chaka Chukwumerije – Commissioner for Lands and Housing
- Don Otumchere Oti – Commissioner for Works
- Chimezie Ukaegbu – Commissioner for Transport
- Ikechukwu Monday – Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities
- Sunny A. Onwuma – Commissioner for Labour and Productivity.
