…Hon. Uchenna Okolo Commended for Grassroots Transformation and Visionary Leadership
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In a remarkable display of grassroots transformation and effective leadership, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government, Rural Development, and Chieftaincy Matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, on Tuesday, October 7, and Wednesday, October 8, 2025, embarked on a two-day commissioning and inspection tour of completed and ongoing projects executed by the Executive Chairman of Awgu Local Government Area, Hon. Uchenna Joseph Okolo.
The event, described by residents as a “celebration of visible progress,” drew massive crowds across Awgu communities who turned out to witness the commissioning of key infrastructure projects delivered within just one year of Hon. Okolo’s administration.
Delivering Water, Hope, and Leadership
The tour commenced at Ogugu Community, where a newly completed solar-powered borehole was commissioned under the “Awgu Water for All Initiative” — Hon. Okolo’s flagship program designed to ensure access to clean, sustainable water across the local government.
Speaking during the event, Hon. Okolo, who holds a Master’s Degree in Geology, reiterated his resolve to end the long-standing water scarcity in Awgu.
“Today, in just one year in office, we have successfully drilled 21 solar-powered boreholes — 13 of which are fully completed with overhead tanks, solar systems, and reticulation ready for commissioning. We are a government that delivers on promises,” he affirmed.
The Chairman expressed profound appreciation to Governor Mbah for his visionary leadership and infrastructural revolution across the state, noting that Awgu’s local initiatives are modeled to complement the Governor’s transformative agenda.
“Governor Mbah has done over 100 boreholes across Enugu State. We are proud to follow in his footsteps and replicate his model of results-driven leadership,” he added.
State Government Commends Grassroots Excellence
Commissioning the Ogugu Solar-Powered Borehole, Deacon Okey Ogbodo lauded Hon. Okolo’s commitment to effective local governance, describing him as “a true example of the Mbah administration’s model of transformative leadership at the grassroots.”
He noted that under Governor Mbah’s watch, Enugu State has witnessed peace, stability, and unprecedented development, stressing that Awgu’s rapid progress under Hon. Okolo mirrors that vision.
“Hon. Uchenna Okolo has done excellently well within just one year in office. His projects are not only massive but equitably distributed across communities. This is what true leadership looks like,” Ogbodo stated.
The Commissioner also inaugurated several SatoPan toilets, part of Hon. Okolo’s initiative to end open defecation through the distribution of 2,000 modern toilets and training of artisans on proper installation and maintenance. He appealed to beneficiaries to safeguard and sustain the facilities as valuable community assets.
A Tour of Impact and Innovation
The delegation’s tour spanned multiple communities, including Owelle Court, Ihe, Ogbaku, Ituku, Isuawa, Mgbowo, Awgu Town, Ugwueme, Awgunta, Obeagu, and Agbogugu, where projects such as solar-powered boreholes, transformers, SatoPan toilets, road networks, and street lights were commissioned and inspected.
Highlights of the tour included a visit to the ongoing Sexual Harassment and Abuse Response Centre, the first of its kind in Enugu State, and the nearly completed 3.6km Agbogugu Access Road, leading to the Smart Green School, complete with double drainage and pedestrian walkways.
Hon. Okolo announced that the project would be completed by November 2025, attributing minor delays to adverse weather conditions.
Other key highlights included the commissioning of the 1.5km Awgu–Ndeaboh Road (Awgu end) and inspection of the 3.5km Awgu–Ugwueme Road and other Smart Green School access routes currently under construction across all 11 wards of the LGA.
Additionally, 600 solar-powered streetlights, distributed at 20 per community across Awgu’s 25 communities, were commissioned to improve security and night-time visibility.
At the Awgu Local Government Secretariat, the Commissioner also commissioned the rehabilitated and beautified Secretariat Headquarters, commending Hon. Okolo for transforming it into a world-class administrative facility. He further inspected the Chairman’s new office complex, the newly installed council transformer, and the solar-powered water system within the premises.
In an interview after the tour, Commissioner Ogbodo hailed Hon. Okolo as “the best-performing Local Government Chairman in Enugu State,” describing his leadership as innovative, transparent, and people-oriented.
“The scope, scale, and spread of projects in Awgu are remarkable. Hon. Okolo’s leadership is a model for local governance — practical, transparent, and people-centered,” he said.
Okolo Reaffirms Commitment to Governor Mbah’s Vision
In his closing remarks, Hon. Uchenna Okolo expressed gratitude to Governor Mbah and the visiting delegation, pledging continued alignment with the state government’s vision of inclusive development and disruptive innovation.
“Governor Mbah has turned Enugu into a construction site, and we at the grassroots are proud to replicate that same drive. Enugu State is now the pride of the South East, a hub of development, innovation, and peace. We will keep doing our best to complement his vision for inclusive governance,” Okolo stated.
The two-day event ended amid cheers, cultural displays, and expressions of gratitude from community leaders, stakeholders, and traditional rulers.
“In just one year, Hon. Okolo has changed the face of Awgu,” said HRH Igwe Kingsley Okeke, a community leader. “We thank Governor Mbah for his leadership and Hon. Okolo for replicating that developmental energy here in Awgu.”
Reported by:
Hon. Tochukwu Chukwu
Special Adviser on General Media and Publicity to the Executive Chairman, Awgu LGA