Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, Onyekwere Akym Uche (OAU), has promised to make education, infrastructure and youth development, part of the main focus of his administration if elected in the March 11 governorship poll.
Uche who made the promise while speaking with Ikengaonline said he would give conscious attention to the education sector from primary to tertiary institutions and promote vocational studies.
He also promised to introduce a student loan scheme to enable indigent students realise their academic ambition.
He decried “lack of proper urban planning” in Abia which he attributed to leadership ineptitude and lack of vision, promising to change the narrative.
The AA governorship hopeful said that “Abia suffers from infrastructural decay due to misplacement of priorities on the part of the leaders of the state.”
He promised to “re-set” the state if voted into power in the forthcoming governorship poll, and also said that he is coming on board to lay the foundation for a new Abia.
“Abia State lacks proper urban planning and suffers infrastructural decay. My mission is to restore confidence on Abians by ensuring transparent and productive transaction between government and contractors.
On healthcare, the Isuikwuato-born politician promised to provide accessible and quality healthcare service to residents, expressing worry over the deplorable condition of the health sector in the state.
He said he would motivate health workers and provide healthcare facilities; partner private sectors on healthcare programs; and make provision for people living with disability.
On his economic blueprint, the US-based Economist said he would promote made-in Abia products and set up an online trade like the America Amazon and China Wish.
“I will support small business that will also create jobs by empowering such businesses,” he added.
He equally promised to invest heavily in the creative industry and entertainment, saying the sector has become a lucrative ground to be responsibly explored.
“The objective will be to invest in it, build a film village and organise talent shows. My government will organise writing workshop to discover budding writers with aim to revive reading culture and wipe out ignorance.”
Continuing he said: “ICT/Digital economy is another sector we will explore. Information and communication is the face of the future.
“Local technology will be encouraged with funds for innovation and research. An e-commerce hub and computer village will be established within the state.”
On youth empowerment and development, the governorship hopeful said: “we will encourage the youths to take charge of their lives by addressing their needs and challenges.”
“We are working on providing training and resource centers across the state for capacity building and orientation.
“Job creation Is top on the list, however, in the spirit of transparency we acknowledge the openings for jobs are very minimal due to the incompetence and neglect b my previous administrations which has led to a massive number of applicants.
“The task is enormous but achievable. We are going to concentrate on human capital development. No society develops without the right caliber of people, ” he said.
The governorship candidate also promised to invest in agricultural value chain by advancing investment in the processing of finished products.
“We shall introduce mechanized farming and create a subsidy to alleviate the hurdles farmers face; and revive the agriculture banking sector to grant loans with moderate interest rate.”
