BY AUSTIN OYIBODE
In June 2023, the people of Delta North Senatorial District in Nigeria elected Prince Ned Nwoko to represent them in the 10th Senate. A businessman, philanthropist, and advocate for social justice, Nwoko entered the National Assembly with a clear mandate: to deliver not just rhetoric, but tangible results rooted in foresight, vision, and responsibility.
Two years later, his tenure stands as a testament to proactive representation. Focusing on legislative reforms, community development, and empowerment, Senator Nwoko has channeled his efforts to uplift Delta North, comprising nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the Anioma region, while contributing to Nigeria’s broader progress.
Steering National Policy Through Committee Leadership
At the heart of legislative impact lies committee work, often the unsung engine of governance. Senator Nwoko has positioned Delta North’s interests at the forefront by assuming key roles in over 15 committees, ensuring the region’s voice resonates in critical national discussions.
As Chairman of the Committee on Reparations and Repatriation, Nwoko has pioneered initiatives with far-reaching implications. He drafted the Heritage Protection Bill to safeguard Nigeria’s cultural assets and hosted the country’s first Pan-African Hearings on reparations, engaging global bodies like UNESCO and the African Union (AU).
Additionally, he established the Nigerian Heritage Recovery Fund, aimed at reclaiming artifacts and fostering cultural pride. For Delta North, this work underscores a commitment to historical justice, particularly in addressing past injustices like the 1967 Asaba Massacre, which he has highlighted in related motions.
In his role as Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Nwoko conducted on-the-ground investigations that exposed collusions in oil bunkering, a rampant issue in the Niger Delta. He advocated for digital tracking of crude oil and proposed the creation of a National Oil Security Task Force. These efforts directly benefit Delta North by combating economic sabotage in oil-rich areas like Ndokwa, reducing environmental degradation from theft-related activities, and promoting resource accountability.
As Vice Chairman of the Sports and Youth Development Committee, Nwoko has championed grassroots sports programs, athlete mentorship, and youth innovation hubs, fostering talent and economic opportunities in a region with a young, vibrant population.
His memberships in committees on Finance, Defence, Works, Police Affairs, Anti-Corruption, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Healthcare, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and Gas Resources have enabled contributions to reforms that indirectly bolster Delta North. For instance, his input on NDDC projects ensures equitable resource allocation to the region, while healthcare committee work supports improved medical access in underserved areas. Through these roles, Nwoko has ensured Delta North is “never absent at the table,” translating committee deliberations into policies that address local challenges like infrastructure deficits and security concerns.
Sponsoring 33 Bills: Bold Reforms for National and Local Progress
Legislative productivity is often measured by bills sponsored, and Senator Nwoko’s record of 33 bills in two years reflects a deliberate focus on urgent issues. These are not mere proposals but comprehensive interventions designed to empower citizens, modernize the economy, and promote equity, many with direct benefits for Delta North.
Key highlights include the Nigerian Youth Entrepreneurship Grant Bill, which establishes funding, mentorship, and oversight to combat youth unemployment. In Delta North, where joblessness affects many young people, this bill promises to ignite innovation and self-reliance. The Waste Management and Malaria Eradication Agency Bill integrates sanitation and health strategies to curb malaria, a prevalent issue in the region’s tropical climate, while promoting cleaner urban environments in places like Asaba.
Housing reforms feature prominently in the One-Month Rent Limitation and Landlord Registry Act, which caps advance rent payments and ensures fair practices, easing financial burdens on Delta North residents amid rising living costs. The Electoral Courts Establishment Act aims to expedite election disputes, strengthening democratic processes in a politically active district.
The Compulsory Professional Indemnity Act mandates insurance for professionals to protect consumers, while the Cashless Asset Acquisition Act promotes accountability in high-value transactions, deterring corruption. The Diaspora Voting Bill extends electoral rights to Nigerians abroad, including Anioma descendants, fostering inclusivity.
Senator Nwoko’s push for regional equity shines in the Constitutional Alteration for the Creation of Anioma State, addressing geopolitical imbalances in the South-East and South-South zones. He has also sponsored amendments to establish institutions in Delta North, such as the Federal College of Agriculture in Idumuje-Ugboko, the Federal University of Technology in Asaba, the Orthopedic Hospital in Onicha-Ugbo, and the Federal College of Education in Akwukwu-Igbo. These would enhance education, healthcare, and agriculture, creating jobs and infrastructure tailored to the region’s agrarian and urban needs.
Each bill embodies “people-centered representation,” with Nwoko’s foresight ensuring they tackle immediate problems while building long-term resilience for Delta North.
21 Motions: Amplifying Voices from Local to Global Arenas
Motions are tools for urgent advocacy, and Nwoko’s 21 sponsored motions demonstrate his commitment to justice and welfare. These address Delta North’s specific concerns while extending to national and African issues.
Locally, motions have demanded investigations into oil theft in the Niger Delta and an end to gas flaring in Ndokwa, protecting the environment and health of Delta North communities. He has advocated for flood relief in flood-prone areas, improved security in Abuja (benefiting Delta North migrants) and the district itself, and enhanced emergency medical care nationwide, with ripple effects on rural health centers.
On a broader scale, Nwoko has pushed for Africa’s stronger representation at the UN Security Council, reparations for colonial injustices, and national redress for the Asaba Massacre, a poignant issue for Anioma people. Economic motions include establishing tech platform offices in Nigeria for job creation and tax reforms, as well as banning non-essential imports to bolster local industries like agriculture in Delta North. These motions embody “fearless advocacy,” giving Delta North a platform to influence Nigeria’s trajectory and affirm Africa’s global role.
Over 113 Constituency Projects: Bringing Federal Presence to Every Corner
True representation extends beyond Abuja, and Nwoko has delivered over 113 verified constituency projects across Delta North’s nine LGAs, ensuring balanced development from urban Asaba to rural villages. These span infrastructure (asphalt roads, erosion control, flood mitigation), education (classroom renovations, ICT hubs), healthcare (health centers, maternity wards), empowerment (vocational training for women and youth), agriculture (boreholes), and energy (transformers for stable electricity).
In places like Idumuje-Ugboko, Ogwashi-Uku, Okpai, Owa-Alero, and Obiaruku, these projects have improved daily life, reducing isolation and fostering equity. By embedding federal resources in every community, Nwoko is reshaping Anioma land into a model of inclusive development.
Leveraging Presidential Collaboration for ₦30 Billion Interventions
Aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nwoko secured ₦30 billion in special intervention projects for Delta North. These include dams in Ogwashi-Uku and Idumuje for water supply and irrigation, agricultural support like fertilizers and equipment for smallholder farmers, and community initiatives such as electrification, flood control, and microgrants for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The outcomes, clean water, food security, and economic resilience, directly address Delta North’s vulnerabilities, enhancing federal visibility and sustainable growth.
Empowerment Programs: Building Skills and Livelihoods
Empowerment is a cornerstone of Nwoko’s agenda, with phased programs reaching all 98 wards. The first phase provided ₦150,000 grants and training to beneficiaries. The second trained over 500 in agriculture and digital skills, each receiving ₦100,000. The third focused on women and youth with similar support.
Healthcare outreaches offered free services to over 500 rural residents, while agricultural aid included 1,000 bags of fertilizer distributed across LGAs. These blend financial aid, skills, and health support, empowering families and boosting productivity.
Investing in Youth: 90 Scholarships at the Sports University
To nurture future leaders, Nwoko awarded 90 full scholarships, 10 per LGA at the Sports University of Nigeria in Idumuje-Ugboko. Covering tuition, accommodation, sports facilities, and digital resources, these prepare scholar-athletes for global success, embedding Anioma excellence in education and sports.
Facilitating Over 100 Job Opportunities
Addressing unemployment, Nwoko recommended over 100 Delta North youths for federal jobs in sectors like the Police, Immigration, Navy, Air Force, Army, NOTAP, Federal Civil Service (including 54 appointments), and the Senate President’s Office. This restores hope and creates pathways to stability.
Special Intervention Programmes for Delta North
Economic empowerment and skills development remain at the heart of his legislative vision. To this end, Nwoko has facilitated access to multiple Special Intervention Programmes tailored to equip Delta North people with the tools needed to thrive in a competitive economy.
Through strategic collaboration with key national institutions, Nwoko has opened new frontiers for constituents:
Bank of Industry (BOI): providing business financing and entrepreneurship support.
Industrial Training Fund (ITF): driving capacity-building, vocational training, and workforce development.
NATEP Programme: creating targeted empowerment opportunities for youth and women.
LEEP Programme: advancing livelihood support, enterprise growth, and community-based empowerment.
These interventions are designed not just to provide temporary relief but to stimulate enterprise, build sustainable livelihoods, and chart long-term pathways to prosperity. Delta North must not only participate in national development opportunities but also lead in shaping them.
Public Hearings & Petitions: Championing Justice and Accountability
Every petition Nwoko brought before the Senate is more than paperwork, it is a cry for help from constituents. Nwoko’s duty has been to amplify those voices and ensure justice is delivered.
In just two years, he has used Senate petitions to turn tears into reform and accountability:
Secured ₦200 million compensation for the family of 2-year-old Ivan Onose Omhonrina, killed during an NDLEA raid in Okpanam, Oshimili North. The Senate not only ordered prosecution of the responsible officer but also honoured Ivan with a minute of silence.
Facilitated the release of the Ewu King, unjustly detained.
Defended innocent citizens falsely implicated in the Onicha-Olona gun factory case.
Presented dozens of petitions on pensions, land disputes, wrongful dismissals, and other injustices faced by Anioma people.
Strategic Engagements: Leadership Beyond Borders
In the words of Senator Nwoko, “True leadership goes beyond local concerns, it extends to how we position ourselves on the global stage. That is why I have championed Africa’s call for justice, reparations, and restoration.
In my letter to the British Prime Minister, I demanded:
A formal apology and $5 trillion in reparations for slavery and colonial exploitation.
The repatriation of stolen African artifacts.
The recognition of our true identity as Africans not merely “blacks.”
This is about more than history. It is about restoring dignity, correcting centuries of injustice, and reasserting Nigeria and Africa’s rightful place in the global order.
A Mandate of Service
From empowering businesses in Delta North to seeking justice for victims of abuse, and from defending constituents to demanding global reparations, my mandate remains clear: representation that delivers results.
Delta North deserves nothing less than a leadership that creates opportunities, secures justice, and amplifies our voice on the global stage. Together, we will continue to build a future where our people not only survive but prosper.
In two years, Senator Ned Nwoko has redefined representation for Delta North, blending legislative prowess with grassroots impact. From committee leadership and bills to projects and empowerment, his work has fostered equity, opportunity, and dignity. As Delta North transforms, Nwoko’s journey inspires a model of responsible governance, promising even greater strides ahead.
