A former member of the Federal House of Representatives and one of the polical bigwigs in Delta State, Reps Ned Nwoko, who hails from Idumuje Ugboko, Aniocha North Local Government Area,of the State, has began his 2023 Senatorial race. Ned, an international lawyer of repute, philanthropist, had contested the Senatorial seat two times, but lost due to what one will call ill luck. The first against the incumbent Governor of Delta State, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, and the second against the present Senator, Peter Nwaoboshi. The two appearances he gave good accounts of himself. His coming out again for the 2023 election would make it the third time. Before going into Senatorial race, he had contested the governorship position as APGA candidate against the former jailed governor of Delta State, James Onanefe lbori, but was rigged out.
Ned, being popular did not come from the blues, but from his good representation of his people while in the Federal House of the Representatives. As a member of the House, he attracted lots of Federal projects to Delta State, which included the dualization of Benin/Asaba Express Road, building of the Police Headquarters in Asaba, building of NTA Station, Asaba. Through Ned’s efforts many Primary Schools in Aniocha/Oshimili Constituency were included in the Universal Basic Education Projects. Other projects attracted by Ned while in the office were the renovations and facelift of Abuanor Primary School, Ogwashi-Ugwu, Abuedo Primary School, Ubulu-Uku, Ani-Nshi Primary School, Ogwashi-Uku, Ugwu-Atakpo Primary School, lbusa, Agbogidi Primary School, Akwukwu-lgbo, Eki Primary School, Ukwunzu, Ugboko Primary School, ldumuje-Uboko, Ebune Primary School, lssele-Uku, Anidinma Primary School, Onicha-Ukwu, Nke Eze Primary School, Ugbodu, Asagba Primary School, Asaba.
It was Ned, that initiated the Ogwashi-Uku Dam Project, for both irrigation and water supply to the large part of Delta North. He single handedly financed the study and design of the dam project. Ned facilitated the connections of many communities to the National Grids, which included Ogwashi-Uku, and Ukala-Okpunor. As a Philanthropist, in 1999, he was the first to donate his furniture allowance to indigent students in 32 secondary school students and 32 undergraduates benefited from his scholarship). The students were presented with N30,000 and N60,000 cheques respectively. Today, Ned is proud he has over 270 students in his scholarship scheme and he has continued the programme as more students are being included on regular basis. Because Ned is a factor that cannot be relegated in the political equation of Delta State, in view of his political track records and grassroots supports, the people of Delta North Senatorial Constituency are supporting his 2023 Senatorial ambition. Ned, who was born on December 21, 1960, into the Royal family of Nwoko, had his primary and secondary education in ldumuje-Ugboko, from where he proceeded to Abbot Boys’ High, lhiala, lmo State. He was a student of the school from 1974 to1979, where he passed his School Certificate Examination with very good grade. Arising from his love for education and not wanting to waste time awaiting his life ambition, he went into College of Education, Benin City, Edo State, for the Nigeria Certificate for Education and in his usual characteristics, came out again with flying colours. In his quest for academic excellence and the zeal to excel, he proceeded to obtain his first degree with double honours in Law and History from the University of Keel, London, with subsidiary subjects in Biology and American Studies. He later moved into the prestigious Kings College University of London, here he performed excellently to bag the LL.M degree in Maritime Insurance and commercial Law. He then proceeded to lnns of Court School of Law, London, to obtain his Barrister at Law(BL), to become a member of the International Acclaimed Lincoln’s Inn. He later joined Crown Prosecution Service, London.
Not satisfied as a Prosecutor, he re qualifies as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, having gone through to the Qualifying Law Transfer Test(QLGL). He was Legal Assistant in Kummarz Solicitors, Ealing, London. He was partner in Pascaldies and Co Solicitors, London, where he was in charged of Commercial and Civil Litigations. Today, he is Principal Legal Practitioner in Ned Nwoko Chamber, London, one of the leading foremost prestigious chambers in London. As a legal practitioner, hear made his landmark in the field of law. Hence in 1995, he was awarded the best black lawyer of the year. Besides this, he received many other awards amongst which were: National Awards of Excellency by Law Students Association of Nigeria(LAWSAN),2003, Distinguished Leadership Role Award by People, State and Resources (PRS) Magazine, 2003
He further received African Leadership Excellence Gold Award 2002 by Leadership Watch lnternational, Certificate of Merit/Award by Aniocha North Local Government Council, Delta State,2002, Certificate of Endorsement by Anioma Youth Forum, Grand National Distinction Achievements Award by PDP National Grassroot Forum, Certificate of Endorsement by National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS). As a result of his distinguished performance he was at various times appointed or elected Secretary General, Nigeria Legal Practitioners, United Kingdom, elected member of the Law Society, England and Wales, Legal Adviser to Nigerian Liberal Party, Europe, Visiting Adviser , Citizens Advise Bureau, London, Legal Adviser to Nigerian Government at the United Nation/ lnternational Court of Justice on Bakassi Boundary Dispute and at the Human Rights Commission Geneva, Adviser to Executive Secretary, ECOWAS, Adviser to Ghana Government, Political Adviser to Malian Embassy, Political Adviser to Gambian Embassy, Political Adviser to Moroccan Embassy, Political Adviser to Liberian Embassy, Political Adviser to lvorian Embassy. Also he is a Legal Consultant to many government parastatals and agencies. As a believer in knowledge and achievement of human understanding, he wrote two books entitled-TIME FOR ALL HANDS TO BE ON DECK and CRIMINAL LAW PROCEDURE IN ENGLAND and WALES. Furthermore, he has authored more than twenty articles for the advancement of knowledge and capacity building of the populace.
Amongst these articles were: THE JURY SYSTEM, A CASE FOR NIGERIA, RACE DISCRIMINATION LAW IN ENGLAND, REVIEW OF THE PROVISION OF THE POLICE AND CRIMINAL EVIDENT ACT 1984, ADVICE ON ARREST, DETENTION, APPEALS, PROCEDURE, JUDICIAL REVIEW AND DEPORTATION, LEGAL AID etc However he was the Leader of the Millinium Group. Consequent upon his performance in the House, President Olusegun Obasanjo then was always proud to have him in his entourage during most of his foreign tours. He was the most travelled member of the House with Obasanjo. As a member of the house, Ned served in various House Committees, amongst which were: Chairman, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, member, Defence Committee, member Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Standing Committee that drafted the House Rules. As a House member, he was the 2nd highest sponsor of bills, amongst which were Minimum Wage Bill,Monetization Bill(which Federal and State workers are enjoying today), Anti _ Corruption Bill, that gave rise to EFCC, which today is adjudged to be sanitising the society, Bill for the regulation of the activities of Motorcycle riders(Okada) in Nigeria, a bill for the prohibition of expensive burial rites in Nigeria, Federal Road Modification bills etc. On Federal projects, Ned Nwoko worked tenaciously to attract a lot of projects to his constituency.
During his tenure in office, he took traditional rulers and leaders from his constituency to meet with President Obasanjo then, to make a case for his constituency to be included in the Oil Producing Communities of the Niger Delta, because it has been proven that oil was abundant in that area. This gesture has given rise to the approvals for the establishments of the School of Technology and Refinery in Isheagu, Aniocha South Local Area, Delta State. It is imperative to mention here that inspite of the above contributions, he made to enhance the quality of life of the people in his constituency, he also used his personal resources in the advancement of peoples’ welfare irrespective of tribes or religion. Little wonder the youths nicknamed him ” HONOURABLE AKA HAUSA”. An acronym for unbridled generosity. In his altruistic and philanthropic nature, he made several donations to many churches, religious organizations, clubs, development unions. For instance, he donated N350,000 to St Michael’s Catholic Church, Okpanam, N500,000 to Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, Ogwashi-Uku, N500,000 to St Patrick’s Catholic Church, Ogwashi-Uku, N500,000 to St Charles’s Catholic Church, Ubulu-Uku, N500,000 to St Mark’s Anglican Church, Ubulu-Uku, N1Million to St Paul’s Catholic Cathedral, lssele- Uku, N500,000 to St Leo Meriscodiac Catholic Church, Ashaka, 500,000 to Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Kwale, N500,000 to St John the Baptist’s Catholic church, Boji-Boji, Agbor, N500,000 to Christ De Lord’s Catholic Church, ldumuje-Ugboko, N500,000 to St Matthew’s Anglican Church, ldumuje-Ugboko, Nlmillion to Central Mosque, Asaba, Nlmillion to St Joseph Pro-Cathedral Catholic Church, Asaba, N200,000 to Cherubim and Seraphim Church, ldumuje-Ugboko, N1million for the building of a befitting Palace for the Obi of ldumuje- Ugboko.
