In recent times one name that has reverberated in the world of financial management expertise is Mr. Obinna Oriaku.

He is the immediate past commissioner for Finance Abia state in the Gov. lkpeazu’s administration, an Abian who has mastered the country’s financial terrain and he is experienced in management of Resources and corporate administration.

Before his debut in government, Mr. Oriaku has worked in various capacities with different financial institutions before he rose to the post of a Regional Manager with First Bank PLC prior to his being appointed as Economic adviser to the Abia state governor on secondment.

The graduate of Government and Public Administration from Abia state university Uturu, was a pioneer appointee of the Okezie Ikpeazu administration whose financial expertise has brought in steady and robust Economic growth and stability into the state’s financial dealings.

His prudent management of the state resources and firm belief in due process in all government transactions has placed the state in a clean slate despite her accruable lean resources.

His headship of the committee on disbursement of the bailout fund ensured the judicious utilization of the Funds accessed from the federal Government by the state and his insistence on the fund being appropriately channeled for the purpose it was meant to serve brought commendations and accolades to the state from financial watchdogs.

Hon. Oriaku introduced the Biometric process which curbed the activities of Economic saboteurs and fraudsters, it also succeeded in pruning down the wage Bill as well as eliminate padding of salaries, double billing and other dubious activities that was a regular practice within the system.

He also put structures in place for improved collection of internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state by screening all Revenue Consultants to ensure that the state gets the best. This has helped the state achieve over 80% authorization of what constitutes the core IGR, PAYE, income tax, Ground rent etc. The state now has data of all the number of shops and markets in Abia which helps her hit the targeted mark of IGR development and expectations in the state.

Under his watch the state maintained a convivial Economic relationship with all counterpart Donor Agencies which highly assisted the state in assessing various Intervention Funds to meet the financial obligations of the state in specific Areas of her developmental goals.

As the Ikpeazu administration enters into her second term, it is expected that the reorganization, reforms and restructuring models initiated by Mr. Oriaku be consolidated upon in the state civil service system to permanently eliminate discrepancies within the system which will in turn put an end to the perennial problems of non- payment of salaries as at when due and clear all backlog of pensioners allowances which hitherto were inherited by the present administration.

In a nutshell, Mr. Oriaku was an engine room of the present administration's economic drive and an epitome of Economic mastery whose prowess is a necessity for the effective growth and stabilization of the state’s economy.