The immediate past Provost of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu ( ASCETA) Dr Philips Nto has described Senator TA Orji as the real father of modern Abia through his transformative policies as governor.
He said Orji,fondly called Ochendo Global, used his eight years as governor between 2007 and 2015 to impact positively on the infrastructural landscape of the state and human capital development.
In a goodwill message he sent to the former governor and two time Senator on the occasion of his 75th birthday anniversary, Nto insisted that Abia people owe Ochendo a debt of gratitude for his developmental strides while in office.
According to him, it was during the tenure of Ochendo that there was a massive youth empowerment that saw thousands of Abia youths taken off the unemployment market.
He noted that Senator Orji went ahead to leave enduring legacies, including a modern State Secretariat, Timber, and Ubani modern markets, as well as hundreds of urban and rural roads.
Nto who served as the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development under the iconic former governor, commended him for also identifying young talents during him time.
Said he ,” His Excellency picked some of at a very young age and gave us the opportunity to serve Abia State. Never in the history of the state has a leader embarked upon such human capital development “
He said it was a testament to Ochendo’s goodwill that nine years after he left office, he is still relevant in the socioeconomic and political affairs of the state.
Nto expressed gratitude to God for keeping the former governor in good health and sound mind to watch the rapid growth of the state in which he laid a solid foundation.
” Your Excellency, as you metamorphose into a Statesman, be assured that people like us will always think kindly of you for your sacrifices to the growth of our dear State “, he submitted.