The Unknown Story of OUK, Abia, and Abians!!"

By Shirley Ikonne E.

According to former President of the United States, Barrack Obama, true leadership is not about seeking the limelight, making speeches, or holding power at the top. It is about identifying the potential in other people and unleashing it. Orji Uzor Kalu is a remarkable leader who embodies this philosophy. Even before he became the governor of Abia State and served two terms in office, Dr. Kalu was already a successful businessman and was highly respected by many people, particularly in his home state of Abia, where he was eventually elected governor. His dedication to the community and his tireless efforts to improve the lives of Abians made him a prominent public figure and eventually led him to become a renowned politician across the country.

Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu was a highly visible and charismatic Governor of the South East until 2007. His leadership abilities and personality were readily apparent!

Let me highlight why Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu deserves our admiration and respect. When he assumed office on May 29, 1999, as the executive governor of Abia State, the infrastructure was practically non-existent, workers were demoralized due to two months of unpaid salaries, and pensions and gratuities of retired workers were several years in arrears. He inherited an N8 billion debt accumulated by past regimes, comprising arrears of salaries, pensions, gratuities, contractual obligations, and other matters relating to the administration of government, which made it challenging for any incoming governor to govern smoothly. However, as a leader who understood the enormous task ahead, he was passionate about building and transforming Abia state. His administration inherited a foreign debt worth $680 million US dollars, which had been secured during the NPP/NPN era to build the Enyimba Hotel and Glass Industry, both in Aba, Ogwe Chicken Farm in Ukwa, and the Metallurgical factory at Olokoro, Umuahia. They were made to repay the loan by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo before the end of their administration. Dr. Kalu's response to the challenging situation exemplifies strong leadership and integrity. The few days he spent in the state before his inauguration revealed the depth of the problems in the state and the urgent need to hit the ground running smoothly. From the first day of his administration, he was focused on transforming Abia State, and he remained committed to that goal until the end of his tenure on May 28, 2007.

Great leaders are never self-serving. Unlike star employees, they are not focused on proving themselves but are unconditionally focused on what is best for the organization. Dr. Kalu's administration had a clear vision of what Abia State could be and was dedicated to delivering quality services to the people. Before May 29, 1999, hundreds of communities in Abia had no access to electricity or clean water, school buildings were in a state of disrepair, and health facilities were inadequate, with staff and equipment shortages. The State Teaching Hospital was more like a cottage hospital, and crime rates were alarmingly high.

During his tenure as governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu built all major roads in Abia State, introduced a poverty eradication scheme, and drastically reduced tuition fees for students at Abia State University to ₦35,000. He was passionate about creating a conducive learning environment for students and teachers in the state's schools and significantly increased funding to the Abia State University, Uturu; Abia State Polytechnic, Aba; and the College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu. The same could be said of infrastructure and other facilities that enhanced cognitive capacity in the citadels of learning. The rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools by his administration demonstrates his transformational leadership and visionary approach to public education. It is also worth mentioning that during Dr. Kalu's tenure as executive governor, there was no industrial action by workers in the state because of the harmonious relationship between the workers and the government. The only time workers went on strike was when the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on a national strike. Academic activities were not disrupted in any of the tertiary institutions in the state during his administration, and students graduated on time. All these were made possible because Orji Uzor Kalu went to Abia State University and negotiated with the state’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and they agreed to join their colleagues in the strike but withdrew after two days. And they kept to their words. The philanthropist owns a foundation that provides scholarships for undergraduates, as well as anti-malaria treatments. To date, Dr. Kalu continues to provide scholarships to many students, and many individuals are under educational scholarships from the Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation.

In summary, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu's leadership qualities and dedication to transforming Abia State earned him the respect and admiration of many. His legacy as a successful businessman, politician, and philanthropist will continue to inspire future generations in Nigeria and beyond.

These kind of youths are one of the major reasons the old politicians don’t take the youths serious in Nigeria ,because they become daft once they receive peanuts from them to sing their praises….

Which of the projects did he do with his personal money…these are things if you don’t do in a sane society,you go in for it but in Africa they pay some monkeys to sing their praises on media….

What’s the reason for this topic now ,if I may ask; ….

All your post is about Orji Uzor Kalu
Are you working for him?


Did you go to Government college Umuahia
It seems I know you

Inconsequential.....