The spirit of Enterprise, is a rare endowment that few people are gifted with. As a latent opportunity that needs to be activated before it becomes useful. Some enterprising endowments are activated at a very early stage of its host’s life; some develop at the middle of life’s stage, while others become manifest at a later stage of life.
The indisputable fact inherent in the aforementioned stages of development, is that: the stage at which each activation/development takes place, determines the magnitude and volume of impact it will have on the society. The stage 1 (the early stage), has the greatest potentiality of having a wider reach, greater effect and long-lasting impactful development on the society. THIS IS THE STAGE WHERE UCHE OGAH FALLS IN.
Born with a humble beginning in the Ogah family of Onuaku, Uturu of Isuikwuato local government area of Abia state, the young Ogah was enrolled in the citadels of learning. As a brilliant chap, he didn’t waste time in obtaining his FIRST SCHOOL LEAVING and WAEC certificates, OND, HND and Bsc as well as MBA degrees, all from indigenous institutions.
After a brief stint with the banking sector, where he, meteorically rose to one of the pinnacles of the job, he voluntarily resigned and ventured into the private sector for the activation of the Enterprising quest, lying fallow in him. This decision, led to the birth of the, now famous, Masters Energy Conglomerates; majoring in oil and gas services; Aero and Marine services; household equipment; agro industrial services, etc. As a visionary entrepreneur, who sees every rural dwelling as a potential urban settlement, Ogah established the Onuaku Industrial City in his remote abode in Uturu; a gesture to lay credence to the saying, “charity begins at home”. Here, numerous household items are fabricated.
The wide ovation that greeted his brief peep into the political amphitheater of Abia politics in 2015 and 2019, is a clear confirmation that Ogah is a golden fish that can neither hide nor be hidden. His membership of the ruling party, APC, saw to the speedy growth and wider acceptability of the party, not only in abia state, but the entire east of the Niger; a region that was hitherto, a hostile ground for the party.
In one of his political outings as the gubernatorial flag bearer of the ruling party in the state, Uche Ogah had the ample opportunity to use upper hand to manipulate the electoral process in his favor, but as a man of honesty, probity, due process and humility, he frowned at the opportunity, even to the consternation of some of his supporters.
It is, therefore, not surprising when his name popped up for the Abia state’s slot in the federal executive council. Going by the barrage of technical questions thrown to him during the screening exercise and the handy responses from him, it’s no longer doubtful that the choice of Ogah as a member of the federal executive council led by president Muhammadu Buhari, is a clear manifestation of the determination of the present administration to achieve success, using the homegrown technocrats in the system. Worthy of note is one of his statements during the screening exercise, thus: “with the right agricultural economic policy on ground, Nigeria will feed the world”. This reassuring promise, has since gone viral, and has became a quotable quote.
On the petroleum sector, Ogah chipped in this: “with a strong legislative backing, all the bureaucractic bottlenecks hampering the resuscitation of the nation’s refineries, could be removed and the 3 oil refineries be restored to full operational capacity.
Using his success in the private sector investment (which saw/sees him as one of the leading and highest employers of labor) as a parameter to measure his capability to perform as a minister, the hope of Ogah succeeding where others failed, is inarguable. It is no gain saying that, when given the opportunity to oversee any ministry, Ogah will work his talks; as his popular admonition to people remains “keep your eyes on the ball”.
Mgbemele Anthony Onyeaghale, writes from Umuahia, Abia State.
