Thread by @abangdove

I’ll be tweeting some achievements of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the last 7 years as Governor of Delta State. I’ll also be narrowing this down to 7 key sectors and I’ll be as detailed as possible.

A #Thread!

Between 2015 and 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa;
- Renovated and upgraded a total of 209 primary healthcare centres.
- Renovated and upgraded 65 hospitals.
- Ensured full accreditation of 7 health training institutions in the state.

Between 2015 and 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa;
- Expanded the number of training institutions offering Nursing Degree Programs in Delta State.
- Completed the construction of the General Hospital in Asaba and upgraded its physical infrastructure to enhance service delivery.

Between 2015 and 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa;
- Ensured that the Routine Immunization Coverage offered in the various primary health centres has consistently stayed above the national recommended target of 80 percent.

Between 2015 and 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa;
- Constructed lecture halls at the School of Midwifery, Sapele, and
- Constructed an 80 bedded ward at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara.

In 2016, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa signed into law the bill establishing the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) to implement and regulate the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme.

So far, as of February 2022, the scheme has provided services to 1,094,871 enrollees in the state and currently has 496 accredited healthcare facilities in which enrollees can access medical care with 17 financial facilities for its operation.

In 2017, Gov. Okowa approved the evaluation of existing health facilities in the state and subsequently recommended their appropriate classification. This resulted in;
- 485 Pri Healthcare Centres
- 269 Private Health Facilities
- 64 Pub Secondary HFs and
- 2 Tertiary HFs.

All 820 health facilities submit their data on the web-based District Health Information System (DHIS) to boost a solid database in the state.

In 2018, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa launched the Emergency Ambulance Service to provide pre-hospital acute medical care and transport to definitive points of care in Delta State.

Between 2019 and 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa recruited;
- 142 Health Professionals at DELSUTH Oghara,
- 155 Health Professionals at the Asaba Specialist Hospital (ASH),
- 255 Health Professionals at the Hospital Management Board (HMB)

Between 2019 and 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa also recruited;
- 40 Pharmacists to bridge the manpower deficiency of pharmaceutical personnel in Government Hospitals in Delta State.

In 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa secured life insurance schemes for 2,557 healthcare workers working on the frontlines during the COVID19 pandemic.

Currently, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is constructing and renovating;
- The Advanced Diagnostic Medical Complex, Owa-Alero, Delta State.
- 3 Mother and Child Medical Centres in Delta State and
- A Clinical Building at DELSUTH Oghara, Delta State.

HEALTH SECTOR ☝🏽☝🏽☝🏽☝🏽

2.JOB CREATION SECTOR

In the last 7 years, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration — through Six Ministries, Departments, and Agencies established 12,000 entrepreneurs, created 100,000 direct jobs, and catalyzed over 1,000,000 indirect jobs.

These achievements in the Job Creation sector started in 2015, when Gov. Okowa created the Office of the Chief Job Creation Officer, as a Special Purpose Vehicle to initiate strategic wealth creation programs & provision of Jobs for all Deltans as captured in his SMART agenda.

The wealth creation schemes and intervention programmes initiated include:
1. Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP)
2. Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP)
3. Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP)

4. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development programmes
5. Special Programmes for Persons with Disabilities
6. Graduate Employment Enhancement Programme (GEEP)
7. Rural Youth Skill Acquisition (RYSA) Programme
8. Women Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme (WESAP)

9. Information and Communications Technology Youth Empowerment Programme (ICT-YEP) and,
10. Girls Entrepreneurship and Skills Training (GEST) Programme.

In 2015, a total of;
- 1,329 beneficiaries were trained and empowered in YAGEP and STEP.
- 3,600 smallholder farmers and agro-processors were supported in the agricultural value chain support programme under PPSP.

Also in 215;
- 2,563 MSMEs benefited from the N428,130,000 loan disbursed by Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (DMSMA).

Between 2016 to 2019, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa;
- Trained 850 women in confectionery and industrial production, and
- Empowered 500 women with cassava processing machines, oil extractors, and fish dryers.

In 2017, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa;
- Trained and established 999 YAGEP, STEP beneficiaries including PWDs.
- Contributed N600,000 as counterpart fund under the State Employment and Expenditure For Results (SEEFOR) project.

Also in 2017;
- Disbursed N835.7 Million Naira to 593 cooperative societies with a total of 6,252 beneficiaries from across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state, under the Delta State Micro-credit Scheme.

In 2018 and 2019 respectively, a total of 745 and 1,201 YAGEP and STEP beneficiaries — including PWDs were trained and empowered in the state.

In 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa empowered;
- 450 GESTpreneurs through the Girl Child Empowerment Office,
- 810 rural youths through the Ministry of Youth Development; and
- 460 women through the Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs.

450 Girls Entrepreneurship and Skills Training (GEST) Programme beneficiaries in the 2020/2021 cycle.

810 Rural Youth Skill Acquisition (RYSA) Programme beneficiaries in in the 2020/2021 cycle.

Women Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme (WESAP) beneficiaries in 2020.

In 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa approved the commencement of a new cycle for
- 810 youths under the RYSA programme,
- 900 girls under the GEST programme and
- 630 youths under ICT-YEP

In 2022, a total of;
- 593 successful ICT-YEP beneficiaries were empowered with starter packs,
- 1,000 STEP, YAGEP beneficiaries including PWDs were empowered through the Job Creation office, and
- 817 successful GEST beneficiaries were empowered with starter packs.

These programmes have so far;
1.Improved economic/trade skills and activities in vulnerable groups like the Women, the Girl Child, PWDs, PLWAs, etc.
2.Improved youth engagement in economic activities
3.Improved Delta State’s position in the index of poor states in Nigeria

4.Improved the state’s GDP
5.Improved participation in Graduate Certificate Holders in Agro-prenuership
6.Built a new generation of entrepreneurs, and
7.Secured sustainable prosperity for all Deltans

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's administration — through the establishment of entrepreneurs and the development of MSMEs, has built a stronger economy for Delta State.

3. EDUCATION SECTOR
In the last 7 years, Governor Okowa through massive infrastructural upgrades and policy formulation in the educational sector has improved literacy, expanded the quality of education and developed skilled human resources in Delta State.

These remarkable accomplishments started in 2015 when Gov. Okowa created the Delta State Ministry of Technical Education to institutionalize technical and vocational education to empower Deltans with the requisite knowledge & entrepreneurial skills for business, trade & commerce.

In the same year, Governor Okowa also provided state-of-the-art technologies as teaching aids for use in the Technical/Vocational Institutions and Introduced the use of Support Staff for Technical/Vocational Institutions.

Arising from the interventions of the Technical and Vocational Education and Agricultural Training institutions in Delta State, students' enrolment in the state increased by 22%, and the pass rate in technical subjects improved by 59%.

In his first tenure — leading to the 2018/2019 academic year, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa approved the sum of N381 Million naira under the bursary scheme for students in higher institutions across the country — with over 17,000 students from Delta State benefiting from the scheme.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in his first tenure also paid a total of N5.2billion naira in counterpart funds for the Universal Basic Education Fund (for the years 2013-2017) and accessed marching grants of N5.2billion naira.

In the same period, he procured 140,478 students’ furniture and 22,440 teachers’ furniture.

In 2019, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa approved the construction of 19 new technical colleges across Delta State — with 9 of the colleges already completed.

(A video of Government Model Technical College, Asaba.)

In 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa established the Teachers Professional Development Centre to ensure the recruitment and continuous training of teaching staff. Through this centre, a total of 6,504 personnel in Delta State have been trained under the:

- Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education,
- Post-Primary Education Board (PPEB),
- Technical and Vocational Education Board (TVEB),
- State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB),
- Agency for Adult and Non-Formal Education (AANFE) and
- N-Power.

In 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa established three new universities in the state namely;
- Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba from former Anwai Campus of Delta State University,
- University of Delta, Agbor from former College of Education, Agbor, and

- Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro from former Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa also Upgraded over 80% of public schools in Delta State and Established 79 additional schools in the state — which include 16 Primary Schools, 43 Secondary schools, 8 Vocational schools, 9 Technical Schools and 3 Tertiary Institutions.

As a result of these, Education GDP has been on a steady rise since 2015 recording 37% growth from 2015 to 2019 and 14% growth in 2020.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration continues to invest in quality education in Delta State as part of his #StrongerDelta agenda and vision — as his administration works towards finishing strong.

4. URBAN RENEWAL & INFRASTRUCTURE

In the last 7 years, Gov. Okowa has massively upgraded infrastructures which has stimulated growth in the economy, attracted tourists, investors and public-private partnerships and has also advanced the architectural beauty of Delta State.

Through the urban renewal and infrastructure sector, in 2015, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa set up a Project Steering Committee to transform the Asaba International Airport into a regional economic hub through a robust public-private partnership.

Before signing a 30 years concession agreement with Halcrow Infrastructure Consortium in 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa;
1. Fully rehabilitated/reconstructed the runway, taxiway and other ancillary works,
2. Completed the perimeter fence,

3. Evacuated the hill beside the airport to provide an obstacle-free zone for the runway as demanded by regulatory authority.
4. Completed the installation of Instrument Landing System & the Airfield Ground Lighting System. As a result, the airport can now handle night operations

5. Established a medical center,
6. Completed the Fire-fighting Station with a Watchtower for firefighters,
7. Rehabilitated the unserviceable Automatic Weather Observation System and the Low-Level Wind Shear Alert System which has improved the overall safety of the airport.

Subsequently, the airport was upgraded from a category 3 to Category 6 airport, which enables aircraft as large as the Boeing 737 to land.

Since 2015 till date, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has constructed over 883 road projects, covering over 1,814.85 kilometers and 109179.66 meters of drainage channels across Delta State through the;

1. Ministry of Works;
2. Ministry of Urban Renewal,

3. Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC);
4. Direct Labour Agency,
5. Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Areas Development Agency (WUEDA); and
6. Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DCTDA).

Some roads and drainages commissioned by the @OfficialPDPNig National Chairman @iyorchiayu in Delta State.

In the same period, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa completed six (6) bridges in his effort to improve the road network in the state, and currently, the construction of 15 bridges is ongoing.

The completed bridges are;
1. The bridge over rail crossing at Agbor;
2. The Ovwor/Effurun-Otto bridge;
3. 2 Pedestrian bridges in Asaba;
4. The Agbarho/Orherhe bridge; and
5. The Oha/Orerokpe bridge.

In 2016, Governor Okowa established the Delta State Investment Development Agency (DIDA). A body charged with harnessing available natural resources in the state to:
1. Promote inflow of investments
2. Diversify the state’s economy from over-dependence on petroleum revenue

3. Liaise with the organized private sector, embassies, and investors to utilize investment opportunities and
4. Grow the state’s economy.

In 2018, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa completed the Stephen Keshi Stadium — 16 years after the foundation was laid by previous administration and hosted its first international march between Nigeria and Uganda in the same year.

Subsequently the stadium is set to host the 21st National Sport's Festival in November 2022 housing over 15,000 athletes and team officials.

In 2019, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa;
- Approved the reconstruction of water schemes in some riverside communities, particularly in Warri North LGA.

In 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa approved the establishment of the Film Village and Leisure Park at Ugbolu, in Oshimili North Local Government under a public-private partnership.

In 2020, Governor Okowa completed and inaugurated;
- The 17th Court of Appeal division — a state of the art architecture in Asaba, Delta State.
- The ‘Smart Delta Food Arena’ across various locations in Asaba through the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA)

Governor Okowa also completed and inaugurated;
- A 720-capacity hostel for NYSC members at the Permanent Orientation Camp in Issele-Uku.
-  28 internal roads in Okpanam.

Gov. Okowa also;
- Approved the construction & rehabilitation of 13 roads across the state and a flyover along Ibusa Road at Koka Junction in Asaba.
- Implemented a public-private partnership for the establishment & operation of an Agro-Industrial Park in Aboh Ogwashi-Uku, Delta

In 2021, Gov. Okowa;
-  Commissioned the Multi-Billion Naira Ultra Modern Secretariat Complex adding to the architectural beauty of Asaba, the state capital.
- Signed an MoU with USAID for the implementation of effective water sanitation and hygiene services across Delta State.

The Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat was commissioned by the Vice-President of Nigeria, His Excellency, @ProfOsinbajo.

In 2021, Gov. Okowa also;
- Approved the widening & rehabilitation of the 2.1 km Orhuwhorun Road in Udu LGA of the state.
- Completed & commissioned the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat in Asaba and;

Traditional Rulers Secretariat

In 2021, Gov. Okowa also;
- Inaugurated Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Training School, Owa-Oyibu in Ika N/E LGA.

FRSC Training School, Owa-Oyibu in Ika N/E LGA.

As Governor Okowa’s administration draws closer to the finish line, its political will to bring development to various parts of Delta State, improve its rating on transparency and accountability, and foster rural-urban integration remains pivotal in his drive to finish strong.

5. PUBLIC SERVICE SECTOR

In the last 7 years, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s impact on the Delta State public service — through policy formulation and infrastructure upgrade has created a more conducive and enabling working environment for citizens and residents of the state.

This great impact of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration in the public service sector started in 2017, when Governor Ifeanyi Okowa supported local government councils with the payment of salaries that ran into an excess of N5 billion naira.

Additionally, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa — over the years, has consistently spent over N1.3 billion naira in servicing pension obligations to retirees in Delta State.

Currently, Delta State has over 50 thousand regularly paid workers in the state civil service, making the state one of the largest employers of labour in Nigeria. Yet, it's among the very few states that have continued to run the contributory pension scheme.

In 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa unveiled the Delta State Civil Service Commission Regulation (2019) with a pledge to establish a strong civil service anchored on professionalism.

In 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa commissioned the Multi-Billion Naira Ultra Modern Secretariat Complex, Asaba to ensure better coordination and synergy among the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

As of 2022, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has released over 40 billion Naira, for the payment of retirees in the state public service.

According to the authorities of the State Pension Bureau, the Okowa administration had cleared the pension debts accrued over the years, from level 1 to 7 junior retirees up till 2020, while the entitlements of level 8 and above senior pensioners had been handled to 2017.

In 2022, the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration applied for a 150 billion naira bridging finance facility as an advance from the N270 billion naira discounting receivables owed Delta State by the Federal Government for Petroleum Subsidy payments.

Out of the N150billion facility, N20billion will be spent for state pensions outstanding past dues, and N10billion will be channelled to the Bureau of Local Governments as a grant to enable them reduce outstanding payments to local government pensioners.

nannews.ng/2022/06/14/del…

As Governor Okowa’s led-administration draws closer to its final days, we can confidently say that, in the last 7 years, this administration has largely met the needs of the public service sector and that of pensioners and will continue to do so until its final day.

6. AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

In the last 7 years, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa through small and medium farm holder programmes, Public/Private Partnerships and agricultural value chain development, has created an enabling environment for increased agricultural production in Delta State.

In 2015, Governor Okowa through the Production and Processing Support Programme (PPSP);
1. Supported a total of 3,600 Small Holder Farmers and agro-processors in Delta State,
2. Distributed tractors to 39 cooperative societies

3. Distributed melon shelling machines to 106 cooperative societies,
4. Distributed outboard engines and fishing gear support packages to 18 cooperative societies, and
5. Assisted 815 farmers with support packages in poultry, fishery, piggery, and crop production.

In 2017, Governor Okowa;
- Enrolled over 4,000 participants in the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme to benefit from the production of commodities with comparative advantages in Delta State, such as rice, aquaculture and cassava.

In the same year, Governor Okowa also;
- Empowered 999 beneficiaries of Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Programme (YAGEP) in poultry, piggery, fishery and crop production; and admitted them for participation in the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

In 2019, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, through the Delta State Foods Export Initiative;
- Increased export opportunities in Delta State,
- Actualized significant achievement in human resource capacity for the production of high-quality garri in the state,

In the same year, Governor Okowa also;
- Upgraded and accredited four processing mills at Oroakpor, Ute-Enugu, Owa-Alero and Abavo; and
- Established an automated High-Quality Garri Export Packaging Factory with a Food Quality Laboratory in Issele-Uku, Delta State.

In addition to these Governor Okowa through;
- The Oil Palm Development Programme has nursed and distributed One Million, Five Hundred Thousand improved oil palm seedlings to 1,200 Small Holder Farmers (SHF) leading to the cultivation of additional 10,000 hectares of farmland.

Gov. Okowa through;
- The Rice Development Programme supported a total of 258 Small Holder Farmers selected and trained to cultivate 242 hectares of rice. To this effect, three multi-level rice mills were procured and given to three co-operators across the 3 senatorial districts.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa through;
- The Cassava Development Programme has empowered 676 Small Holder Farmers with improved cassava cuttings and other agriculture inputs to cultivate 6,800 hectares.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa through;
- The Delta Agriculture Rural Development Authority (DARDA) has conducted over 20 capacity building workshops to reposition the frontline extension staff.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa through;
- The Delta Agriculture Rural Development Authority (DARDA) has conducted over 20 capacity building workshops to reposition the frontline extension staff.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) supported the cultivation of additional Two million, five hundred thousand hectares of forest land.

In 2021, Gov Okowa kicked off the Agro-industrial park project to transform the agricultural value chain towards achieving economic diversification, food sufficiency, job and wealth creation, & sustainable growth for the well-being of the present & future generations of Deltans.

As a result of these notable efforts; Delta State’s Agriculture GDP rose from N432 billion naira in 2015 to N584 billion naira in 2020, which is a 35% increase.

In line with the stronger Delta agenda, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration remains unwavering in its efforts to diversify the state’s economy beyond oil and also guarantee a more prosperous Delta for all.

7. PEACE & SECURITY

In the last 7 years, Gov. Okowa has promoted Peace & Security within Delta State through the provision of security apparatuses which have greatly improved the state’s security system and ensured the protection of lives and properties of citizens & residents.

In 2015, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa inaugurated the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council. A 42-man council that was built to strengthen the base for peace and unity among different ethnic groups, and to foster inter and intra-community relations in the State.

In 2016, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa established a 9-man Advocacy Committee Against Vandalism of Oil and Gas facilities following the resurgence of breaches of oil and gas assets with consequential damage to the economy.

The committee dialogued with several communities in the creeks to seek better understanding and eventually halted the unpleasant situation.

In October of the same year, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa presented Ten Hilux Vans to the then state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Zanna to assist security agencies in check-mating criminal activities ahead of the 2016 yuletide season.

In 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa inaugurated two committees on Community Policing in the state — in response to the yearnings of citizens to have a local policing unit to checkmate the rising insecurity challenges within the state.

These committees are; State Community Policing Advisory Committee (SCPAC), and State Community Policing Committee (SCPC).

Gov. Okowa also created ‘Operation Delta Hawk’, a joint security outfit comprising operatives from the Nigerian Army, @PoliceNG, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps — to better ensure the security of the lives & properties of Deltans.

In the same year, Governor Okowa also inaugurated an 8-member Judicial Panel of Enquiry to investigate the allegations of police brutality and extra-judicial killings in the State.

(Video of the #EndSARS protest in Asaba in 2020)

In total, the Panel received 86 petitions. 49 were heard on merit while 37 were struck out for not meeting the criteria.

10 petitions received by the panel sought the enforcement of judgments of various High Courts of the state against the Police for acts of Police brutality and extra-judicial killings.

https://twitter.com/dsgovernment/status/1491047126339502083

Also in 2020, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa donated 35 pick-up vans to security agencies in the state to strengthen their operations and enable ease of movement.

In 2021, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa inaugurated a 6-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the Intra-Communal Crisis in Evwreni Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

In 2022, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa donated three armoured personnel carriers to the 63 Brigade of the Nigerian Army and two security vehicles to the State Police Command to strengthen their operations.

As he approaches his last days in office, it is pertinent to note that, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration remains committed to bolstering peace and security in the state and ensuring that Delta State remains safe as well as open to investors.