By Chuks Ugwoke

IN successes and succession, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi has taken Enugu State to the pinnacle. The evidence is there for everyone to see.

Posterity rewards an exemplary achiever. And, in the fullness of time, the full accounts will be rendered and the relevance and coherence of a legacy in performance will be unveiled in validation of the hard work done by the incumbent governor of Enugu State.

Yet, as we celebrate Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary and Enugu’s meteoric progress under Ugwuanyi, we can foresee the opportunities and prosperity ahead because, when one beams the light on his candidate recruitment, it gives the implicit reassurance that continuity will be seamless. 

When he was thrust into the governance spotlight on May 29, 2015, the global economy was at its lowest ebb, no thanks to the rabid recession that introduced into our democratic lexicon that novel word called ‘bailout.’ About five years later, the coronavirus pandemic forced another recession on Nigeria and other countries.

But it is in a time of crisis that well-heeled leaders show exceptional leadership. The pandemic ushered in a new sense of reality and austerity. With workers at home and production at its lowest ebb across many nations, COVID-19 knocked the world economy off its track. Ugwuanyi simply rolled up his sleeves and innovated some ameliorative steps. Today, the results are evident, the cheers are nonstop.

Ugwuanyi’s impeccable conduct in office has been underpinned by his trademark preference not to climb the hilltop to announce his accomplishments. It is constant with his humble persona that makes him consider self-praise as absurd.

It is, however, irresistible not to peep into recent records that have become reference points in some critical sectors of education and health, especially because, even though the successes and transformations may not be easily discernible due to their intangible nature, they say a lot about Ugwuanyi’s successes that are sure to outlast his days in office and outlive his sojourn on earth. 

Very recent reports released by the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that Enugu State was first in Nigeria with 93.9 per cent in the ranking of its public school students who scored over five credits (English and Mathematics inclusive) in the 2021 national examination conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). The report under reference ranked every state with regard to the performance of their public schools in the examinations.

Related News

While the ovation was still loud, Enugu also claimed top spot as the best among the 36 states of Nigeria in primary healthcare service delivery. This was the result of an independent survey conducted by ONE Campaign, a global non-profit advocacy group devoted to the fight against poverty and preventable diseases in Africa. For clarity, the report ranked Enugu highest among the country’s 36 states, bar the Federal Capital Territory, in primary healthcare service delivery for the 2019-2021 period.

An earlier NBS report had indicated that Enugu State finished in the Top 10 in the doctor-patient ratio. In education as well, the state has finished among the Top 10 in the WAEC examinations in the last six years. These scorecards may not necessarily elicit the kind of applause often associated with putting up massive concrete structures, but they point to the huge investments and commitment of the man at the helm of governance to churn out healthy and knowledgeable citizens who are well equipped to compete in tomorrow’s high-tech economy.

It is all down to the Enugu governor’s understanding that investing substantially on improving the quality of public health and education is, perhaps, more vital than building those concrete infrastructure that are, often, less impactful but attract more public acclaim.

The most resounding of it all was the license granted to Enugu State for the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) at Igbo-Eno. The recognition by the National Universities Commission (NUC) adds to Enugu’s growing national profile and lends further credence to Ugwuanyi’s devotion to transform the state. Some six decades ago, the legendary Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe facilitated the founding of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Ugwuanyi has, today, followed in the former’s footsteps by establishing SUMAS. The excitement that it evokes is not only because of the huge job opportunities it presents but also for the doctors and other medical professionals it will churn out in years to come and who shall fill the gap created by the unprecedented migration of doctors and associated health professionals to other countries.

Ugwuanyi has seven months to go. And as the relay race heads to the anchor leg, there are boundless memories to cherish, so many accomplishments to celebrate. The citizens and residents of Enugu do not conceal their collective praise for the solid achievements even as the journey approaches the home curve, and thankfully in a blaze of glory.

The nomination of Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai as the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate and deputy governorship candidate, respectively, resonates well with the overwhelming majority of the people who appraise the duo as an excellent and well-deserved choice.

Luckily, Ndi Enugu can envision the future prosperity that lies in wait and which comes to realization after the 2023 general election. The cheery news is that Ugwuanyi, the giant spider who determines what happens in the web, has taken Enugu to the pinnacle.

As the chips settle in March 2023, Tomorrow is here!

•Ugwoke sent this piece from Enugu