MBAH APPOINTS ONYIA NWOKEABIA, OTHERS AS OJI RIVER GETS FOUR DEVELOPMENT CENTRES Charles Okoroafor, Okwu Nnabuike Emmanuel, Ifeanyi Chibueze also emerge as Development Centre Administrators

By De Accolade

ENUGU — Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has approved the appointment of administrators, secretaries and members of four Development Centres in Oji River Local Government Area, in a move aimed at strengthening grassroots participation and bringing governance closer to the people. The appointments, contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, form part of the state government’s decision to fill existing vacancies across Development Centres in the state. The state government said the initiative was designed to promote inclusivity and broad-based representation, provide communities with effective channels to contribute to government programmes and policies, and deepen government’s reach at the grassroots. In Oji River, the four Development Centres are Mmamu Development Centre, Oji River Central Development Centre, Oji River East Development Centre and Oji South Development Centre. For Mmamu Development Centre, Charles Okoroafor from Inyi 2 was appointed Administrator, while Ugomsi Blossom Chimnaza of Awlaw was appointed Secretary. The members are Charity Ifeoma Okonkwo and Justice Onyekwere from Awlaw and Inyi 1 respectively, alongside Maduabuchi Onwumere, Amaka Onuigwe, Echezona Timothy Ezi, Christian Obinna Onwubuko, Cyril Chukwuedozie and Gabriel Nwekenzenagu, representing Inyi 1, Inyi 4, Inyi 3 and Akpugoeze communities. At the Oji River Central Development Centre, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike Emmanuel of Achi Uno 3 was named Administrator, while Ugonna Agba of Achi Uno 2 became Secretary. The membership comprises Ngozi Mba and Elisha Obiri, Anthonia Azuka, Jonas Orji, Ifeanyi Okolo, Anurika Ude, Ekene Edwin Ozoemena and Ekene Dirichukwu, representing various communities within Achi Uno. The Oji River East Development Centre has Onyii Nwokeabia of Oji Urban 4 as Administrator, with Malachy Chukwu of Achi Agu 3 appointed Secretary. Other members of the centre are Agunwenyi Kingsley, Okenna Jonas Egwuchineke, Eziama Alloysius, Ikechukwu Romanus Ume, Sunday Onwudiwe, Ikechukwu Kenechukwu, Mbaekwe Mercy Nkeiruka and Cyril Akason, representing Achi Agu and Oji Urban communities. For the Oji South Development Centre, Ifeanyi Chibueze of Oji Urban 2 was appointed Administrator, while Hon. Ifeanyi Nwozor of Ugwuoba 1 was named Secretary. The members are Anayo Ikeh, Afam Ejimofor, Hon. Obum Anya, Vitus Maduka, Anigbogu Chibuzor, Catherine Okechukwu, Alli Marazu and Jude Chukwu, representing Ugwuoba and Oji Urban communities. The appointments give representation to a broad spread of communities across Oji River, including Inyi, Awlaw, Akpugoeze, Achi Uno, Achi Agu, Oji Urban and Ugwuoba. The appointment of Onyia Nwokeabia as Administrator of Oji River East is also notable, coming after his previous role as Chief Security Officer of Oji River Local Government Area. In June 2026, Nwokeabia was identified as one of the beneficiaries of an Enugu State Government security training programme focused on technology-driven policing, data gathering and digital investigation. Nwokeabia had said that knowledge gained from the training helped him identify suspects linked to a threatening telephone call, with one of the suspects subsequently taken into police custody. The state government explained that the Development Centres are expected to enhance effective coordination of grassroots development initiatives, facilitate greater community engagement and responsiveness, and ensure that the administration’s development agenda is implemented with meaningful participation from the people. The Secretary to the State Government further urged the appointees to bring their experience, commitment and understanding of their respective communities to bear in the discharge of their responsibilities. They are also expected to work collaboratively with relevant government institutions and stakeholders in advancing the development objectives of Enugu State. The Oji River appointments are part of a wider arrangement covering Development Centres across all 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State.