Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji is the 11th and current Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, in office since June 10, 2019. He was first elected as the Lawmaker representing Umuahia Central State Constituency in 2015, when he served as the Majority Leader, and got re-elected at the 2019 general elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He is also the PDP flagbearer for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency at the 2023 general elections.
Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji was born on December 25, 1970, to the family of a renowned retired civil servant turned politician, former Governor of Abia State and current Senator representing Abia Central at the National Assembly, His Excellency, Theodore Ahamefule Orji and Chief Mrs Odochi Orji of Amaokwe in Ugba village, Ugba Autonomous Community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.
The Speaker attended Ugba Community Primary School, Umuahia Ibeku between 1976 and 1982, from where he proceeded to Government Secondary School, Owerri, between 1982 and 1987. He gained admission to the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1996.
Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji is a Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (MNSE), the umbrella organization for the Engineering Profession in Nigeria.
Before he threw his hat into the ring of politics, Rt Hon Chinedum E. Orji MNSE had carved a niche for himself as a philanthropist extraordinaire who touched the lives of the people through his numerous philanthropic interventions that saw to the execution of projects and donation of items that directly touch the lives of the people through his Direct Touch Initiative, as Speaker and as Lawmaker representing Umuahia Central State Constituency, which also saw to the empowerment of many Abians particularly the youth and women through skills acquisition, attracting several projects and executing several others, for which he has received many awards and commendations.
Such projects and empowerment programmes include:
1. Drilled and Reticulated Water Borehole Projects
i. World Bank Estate, Health Centre Road water project
ii. Finbarrs Road water project
iii. Umuagom water project
iv. Amaokwe Ugba water project
v. School Road Primary School water project
vi. Amuzukwu Mbaraukwu water project
vii. Orie Egwu Okwulaga Afaraukwu water project
viii. Amuzukwu Girls’ Secondary School water project
ix. Ohobo Afaraukwu water project
x. World Bank Primary School water project
xi. Methodist Primary School, Umuwaya Road water project
xii. Umuobasi Ugba water project
xiii. Union Primary School, Afaraukwu water project
xiv. Awolowo Street by Okigwe Road, Urban Ward 3 water project
xv. Ugwunchara Primary School, Urban Ward 3 water project
xvi. St Stephen’s, Urban Ward 2 water project
xvii. Ohokobe Enyiukwu water project
xviii. Umuohu Ndume water project
xix. Mission Hill water project
xx. War Museum junction water project
xxi. Afara Correctional Centre water project
xxii. Holy Rosary Girls’ Secondary School water project
2. Mini Stadiums
i. A mini stadium of 1,000 capacity at St Stephen’s Urban School II
ii. A mini stadium of 1,000 capacity at St William’s Memorial Secondary School, Afugiri
iii. A mini stadium of 1,000 capacity at Umuabali Primary School, Umuopara
iv. A mini stadium of 1,000 capacity at Ubakala Primary School, Old Umuahia
v. A Mini Stadium of 1,000 capacity opposite Santa Crux Secondary School, Olokoro, Umuahia
vi. A mini stadium of 1,000 capacity at Ikwuano Local Government Headquarters
vii. A mini stadium of 1,000 capacity at Isieke Community Model High School, Isieke Ibeku
vii. A mini-stadium of 1,000 capacity at Ariam Usaka
3. Road Projects
i. Afaraukwu Road
ii. Amuzukwu Internal roads
iii. Amuzukwu Umuokoo Road
iv. Umueze Road
v. Ugba Road
vi. Amuzukwu to Umuezeagwu Road
vii. Umuezearota Road
viii. Umuwaya Mbaraukwu Link Road
ix. Umule link road
x. Ekeokwuru-Amaogwugwu link road
xi. Ekeokwuru-Nkata Nkwoegwu road
x. Amaogwugwu Internal road
xi. Michael Okpara internal road, Ofeme
xii. Isingwu-Mbato Road, Ofeme
xiii. Iyita Umuochi internal road, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu
xiv. Ochie Uhu Umuochi internal road, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu
xv. Nkata-Umuokorie internal road, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu
xvi. Ochie Ogbururuaja internal road, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu
xvii. Umuokorie Umunemeze internal road, Okaiuga Nkwoegwu
xviii. Umunwanwa community road
xix. Umuekwule Afugiri – Umuokehi Okpuala link road
xx. Umuhu Ajata Ibeku
xxi. Ajata Okwuru Ibeku
4. Schools Either Renovated Or Reconstructed
i. Ugba Primary School
ii. Urban Mission Hill Nursery/Primary School
iii. Union Primary School, Afaraukwu
iv. School Road Primary School
v. St Stephen’s Primary School
vi. World Bank Primary School
vii. Amuzukwu Girls’ Secondary School
viii. School of the Blind, Afaraukwu
ix. Urban Primary School 2
x. Ugwunchara Primary School
xi. Umuwaya Primary School
xii. City Nursery/Primary School
xiii. St Michael’s Primary School
xiv. Methodist Girls’ High School
xv. Afara Techincal School
5. Electric Transformers Installed and Energized for the following Communities/Institutions
i. Isieke Ibeku
ii. MbaraUkwu Amuzukwu
iii. St Stephen’s Cathedral
iv. Umuobasi Ugba
v. Nkata Ibeku
vi. Ubakala Street
vii. Uwalaka Street by Enugu Road
viii. Igbo Street by Uzuakoli Road
ix. UmuUkwu
x. Afara Technical School
xi. Electrification project at Palm Lane Extension, Urban Ward 3
xii. Ariam Usaka
xiii. Amizi Olokoro
xiv. War Museum/Umuagu (Big Man) Estate
xv. Umuguru Ipupe Ubakala
xvi. Umuajiji Isieke
xvii. Amaogwugwu Ohuhu
xviii. Umuagom Ugba
xix. Amaoba Ikputu Oboro Ikwuano
xx. Nkata
xxi. Umuizu Okwulaga
xxii. Umuana Alaocha
xxiii. Okwuta
xxiv. Umuda Isingwu, and still counting.
xxv. Umuosu Umuegwu Afugiri
xxvi. Agbama Housing Estate, Umuahia
xxvii. Umuosu Umuegwu Obiohuru Afugiri
xxviii. Refurbishment of Dysfunctional Electric Transformers at:
a. Awolowo Street by Owerri Rd
b. Kaduna Street by Umuwaya Rd
c. Item Street by Niger Rd
d. Isieke
e. Ugba na Nkata
6. Medical
i. Free Eye/Medical Outreach
ii. World Bank Health Centre
7. Abia State House Of Assembly
i. Renovation of House of Assembly Complex
8. Empowerment Programmes
i. Free ICT Traiining Of Abia Youths
ia. Sponsorship of over 500 youths trained in the following ICT areas:
✅Website Development
✅Graphics Design
✅Digital Marketing
✅Computer Appreciation
✅Mobile Application Development
ii. Scholarships awarded to indigent students
iii. Start-up capital given to young entrepreneurs
iv. MSME operators empowered with needed work tools like power generating sets, barbing kits, grinding machines, hairdressing equipment etc
v. Vehicles/tricycles gifted youths
vi. Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji has given out several Toyota Sienna minivans to various youths and leaders of his Constituency and beyond for their empowerment.
Also, laws passed under his leadership of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly include but not limited to the following:
1. H.A.B. 1: The Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission, 16th July 2019.
This is to promote the true Independence of the Legislature as practised in advanced democracies
2. H.A.B. 3: The Abia State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2019, 3rd December, 2019
3. H.A.B. 4: The Abia State University Teaching Hospital Management Board Bill 2019, 17th November, 2020
4. H.A.B. 5: The Abia State Donor Agency Trust Fund, 10th February, 2020
5. H.A.B. 6: The Abia State Consumer Protection Agency Law 2019, 17th November, 2020
6. H.A.B. 8: The Abia State of Nigeria 2019 Supplementary Appropriation Law, 10th December, 2019
7. H.A.B 9: Local Government Councils of Abia State Appropriation Law 2019, 10th December, 2019
8. H.A.B. 10: The Local Government Health Authorities of Abia State Appropriation Law 2019, 24th December, 2019
9. H.A.B. 11: The Abia State of Nigeria 2020 Appropriation Law, 24th December, 2019
10. H.A.B. 13: The Abia State Orientation Agency Law, 4th January, 2020
11. H.A.B. 16: The Abia State Agency for Free Home Healthcare Services for the Elderly, 17th November, 2020
12. H.A.B. 17: The Abia State Security Fund, 23rd March, 2020
13. H.A.B. 18: The Abia State of Nigeria 2020 Local Government Councils Approoriation Bill for a By-Law, 17th November, 2020
14. H.A.B 21: The Abia State Diaspora Commission Law, 22nd March, 2021
15. H.A.B. 30: The Abia State Water and Sewage Development Law, 16th March, 2021
16. H.A.B. 34: The Abia State of Nigeria Supplementary Apprpropriation Law 2020, 7th December, 2020
17. H.A.B. 37: The Abia State of Nigeria 2021 Appropriation Law, 29th December, 2020
18. H.A.B. 41: The Abia State Audit Law 2021 (A Law to Provide for the Appointment of a State Auditor General and an Auditor General for Local Governments in Abia State), 28th June, 2021
19. H.A.B. 42: Abia State Judiciary Fund Management Law, 2021, 5th July, 2021
20. H.A.B. 49: Abia State Government of Nigeria Supplementary Law 2021, 22nd March, 2021
21. H.A.B. 57: A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Fifth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution, 8th June, 2022.
22. H.A.B. 14: The Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency Law 2019
23. The Abia State Homeland Security Watch Law 2020
24. H.A.B 23: A Law to Establish The Abia State Commission for Disabled Persons, 31st August, 2022
25. H.A.B. 61: Female Persons Right of Inheritance of Property Law
26. 2023 Abia State Appropriation Law
Other Bills being considered by the Assembly and which are at various stages of completion are:
24. H.A.B. 12: The Abia State Electricity Power Authority (ABSEPA) and Power Stations Bill, 2019
25. H.A.B. 15: The Abia State Number Plate Production Authority Bill 2019
26. H.A.B 24: The Abia State Industrial Cluster Establishment Bill 2020 (A Bill to Establish Industrial Clusters in the three Senatorial Districts of Abia State)
27. H.A.B. 28: The Abia State Public Procurement (Amendment No 1) Bill 2020 (A Bill for a Law to Amend the Abia State Public Procurement Law No 5 of 2012)
28. H.A.B. 29: The Abia State Secret Cult and Similar Activities (Abolition and Prohibition) Bill 2020
29. H.A.B. 36: The Abia State Watershed Management Bill 2021
30. H.A.B. 38: The Abia State Safety Management and Building Control Agency Bill 2021
31. H.A.B. 43: The Abia State Registration of Industries Operational Permit Bill
32. H.A.B. 45: The Abia State Debt Management Office Bill 2021
33. H.A.B. 46: A Bill for a Law to Establish the Abia State Education for Employment Agency
34. H.A.B. 51: A Bill for a Law to Provide for the Establishment of Abia State Economic Planning Board
35. H.A.B. 53: A Bill for the Establishment of the Abia State University of Medical and Health Management Technology.
36. H.A.B. 55: The Abia State Tele-Health Care Agency Bill 2022
37. H.A.B. 56: The Abia State Food Banks Bill 2022
Since he became Speaker of the 7th Abia State House of Assembly, the Assembly complex has been renovated to a world class complex and the Members have been working together in peace and harmony among themselves and also with the Executive Arm leading to a calm political atmosphere in the State.
Twelve modern restrooms were also constructed for the senior management staff of the Assembly, including a flood control project to ensure that the Assembly is insulated from the damage caused by floods that ravage the world every raining season.
Under his leadership, the Abia State House of Assembly passed the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Budgets right in time before the beginning of the New Year, for the first time in the history of the State, thereby giving the Executive Arm the impetus to implement its vision without any inhibition.
The 7th Abia State House of Assembly is also the first House of Assembly in the entire federation to pass the Diaspora Commission Law thereby drawing global accolades including from The Presidency.
The Speaker also ensured that the House passed into Law the financial autonomy bills for both the legislature and the judiciary to further deepen practice of democracy in the state.
These and many more of such people-oriented Bills and Motions are why the 7th Abia State House of Assembly is called an “Assembly of Many Firsts”.
In recognition of these feats and several others, Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji was honoured as winner of The Sun Newspaper Public Service Award 2020 at an epoch making event held on October 16, 2021 at the Expo Convention Centre of the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Also, for his support to the youths, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, honoured him as Patron of the PDP National Youth Movement, PDP NYM, on the 29th of January, 2022, at the Party’s national headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
A friend of the media as to everyone else, the Abia Speaker was honoured as “Distinguished Fridnd of the Media” by the national body of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and also as “Best Speaker in Southeast Nigeria” by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Enugu Chapter.
Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, fondly called Ikukuoma Abia by his admirers because of his renowned generousity and kind gestures to humanity, will be conferred with Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) in February 2023. He has also been bestowed with chieftaincy titles among which is ‘Ubazuoke Nke Ndi Abia’ by the Eze Amara 1 of Eziama Ntigha Ancient Kingdom and Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, Eze Ndubuisi J. Nwabeke. He is a Knight of the Anglican Communion, happily married and blessed with children.
