Hon. Ugwunta, David Okelue PhD

Notification on 2023/2024 FGN .

The Federal Ministry of Education invites interested and qualified Nigerians to participate in the 2023/2024 Nigerian Scholarship Award (NSA) and Education Bursary Award (EBA) tenable in Nigerian Public Tertiary Institutions.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA IS AS FOLLOWS:
1. Applicants for Postgraduate studies should possess a minimum of first degree with Second Class Honours in the Upper Division. Applicants must be registered Full-Time students of Federal or State Universities.
2. All other applicants (UG, HND & NCE) must be registered full-time students in their second year or above, in Federal or State Universities, Polytechnics, Monotechnics or Colleges of Education. All undergraduate Scholarship applicants including Persons with disabilities must have at least 4.0 Cumulative Grade Points Aggregate (CGPA) on a five (5) point scale or 5.0 on a 7 point scale or its equivalent.
All NCE and HND applicants must have a CGPA of 3.5 and above on a scale of 4.0

FIELD OF STUDY TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THE AWARD ARE AS FOLLOWS:
Science and Technology
Medicine and Medical Sciences
Education
Agriculture
Liberal Arts/Social/Management Sciences
Entrepreneural Studies,
Information and Communication Technology
Environmental Sciences
Law
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METHOD OF APPLICATION:
All qualified candidates are advised to visit Federal Ministry of Education’s website www.education.gov.ng. and click on Federal Scholarship Board ICON on the Home Page;

I was in Auchi, Edo State on 29th January, 2022 in solidarity as the Hon. Minister for State, Budget and National Planning Prince Clem Ikanede Agba received the Customary title of Oduma of Auchi Sacred Kingdom. Prince Clem Ikanede Agba doubles as the Leader of Community of Practice (COP). The Community of Practice is a Forum for Hon. Commissioners of Budget & Planning across the 36 States of Nigeria of which I serve as the Vice Chairman. In the delegation of members of the COP are my colleagues from Taraba and Delta States who are the Chairman & Secretary of the COP respectively.

I can not thank my Boss, His Excellency, Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi enough for the opportunity he gave to me to serve the good people of Enugu State & Nigeria at large in the capacity of Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Enugu State.

Hearty congratulations to Prince Clem Ikanede Agba, Hon. Minister of State Budget and National Planning.

To God be all glory!

Citizens engagement in governance in Enugu state is a top priority.

Enugu 2022 Budget: State Govt Engages Stakeholders Across All Sectors Enugu state government says it will sustain citizens' participation in the budget provision. This is with a view to earning the trust of citizens on governme...

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*How My Year Started*

I led my team *(Mba N'Ato Connect)* to the country home of our brother and father *Hon. Okeluemeka David Ugwunta Ph.D.* to celebrate the New Year with him and present to him an Award for his Outstanding Humanitian Services to Mba N'Ato Land. On getting there, I saw humanity, communal living & philanthropy in display.

While people gathered and merrying in his home, Our brother was busy putting smiles on the faces of women in his Community. I said to myself that really the award of *Outstanding Humanitian Service Award* that was offered to him by *Mba N'Ato Connect* was well-timed.

*Mandy Hale* ones said *"There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others."*

Even with the hardship and trials, you went out of you way to perform this kind gesture, God will continue to bless you Sir.

I conclude with the words of *Anne Frank*

*"No one has ever become poor by giving."*

Keep doing good Sir, God will keep growing and lifting you higher and higher. Amen.

✍🏿
*Chidera Madubueze*
*_(MacCaleb)_*
President Mba N'Ato

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://dailypost.ng/2021/11/25/gov-ugwuanyi-reiterates-commitment-to-open-government-partnership-all-inclusive-budgeting-process/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwi-95mnr7X0AhXOS_EDHXrJDaUQFnoECAkQAg&usg=AOvVaw1gOYQ05OThV258geyQ1ns9

Gov. Ugwuanyi reiterates commitment to open government partnership, all inclusive budgeting process The administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, through the State Ministry of Budget and Planning, yesterday, held a One Day Citizens’

ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT INTENSIFIES EFFORTS TO CURB MALNUTRITION
………. State ranks amongst the 15 states in Nigeria that recorded improvements in more than one commitment area on nutrition.

In a State Policy Dialogue and Engagement of State Executives and Legislative Councils on Investment in Nutrition meeting held at BON Sunshine Hotel, Enugu which was hosted by the Ministry of Budget and Planning in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund; the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr. Ugwunta, David Okelue disclosed that the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has done so much and is committed to doing many more to promote nutrition in the state.

He noted that the State government has seen to the setting up and inauguration of the Enugu State Committee on Food and Nutrition made up of MDAs involved in Nutrition and Food Systems which is under the State Ministry of Budget and Planning; adopted the National Food and Nutrition Policy as well as the domestication of the Multi-Sectoral Strategic Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition.

Dr. Ugwunta added that the State government still in the bid to curb all forms of issues related to malnutrition in the state, hosted the South-East regional dialogue of the United Nations Food Systems Summit in April 2021; sees to the participation of Enugu State in the ongoing UNICEF Progressive Action on Resilient Systems for Nutrition through Innovation and Partnership (PARSNIP); as well as funded the sensitization of the public on the health benefits of exclusive breast feeding through the Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency in the commemoration of the World Breastfeeding Week.

Further in his address, Dr. Ugwunta noted the doggedness and commitment in prioritizing nutrition in the State by Enugu State Government under the leadership of his Excellency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is already been noticed as Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Nutrition Scorecard ranked Enugu State amongst the 15 states that recorded improvements in more than one commitment areas on nutrition in the 2nd quarter (April-June) 2021. In the latest NGF Nutrition Scorcard, Dr Chinekwu Oreh, Health Specialist, NGF Secretariat noted “A total of 15 states (Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kano, Kwara, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Rivers) recorded improvements in at least one indicator, with four states (Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Kano, and Niger) recording improvements in more than one commitment area”.

Also speaking at the event themed, “Prioritizing Investment in Maternal, Child and Adolescent Nutrition”, the UNICEF, Planning and Monitoring Specialist Enugu, Mrs Zubbie-Okolo noted that the essence of the meeting was to have the Executive and Legislative arms of the State government come together to ensure that nutrition is placed on the agenda.

She also stated that the meeting was in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goals agenda to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030 as Nigeria is one of the nations in the world with a high record of ravaging malnutrition.
Mrs Okolo noted that UNICEF in a bid to boost nutrition in the state recently rolled out Micro Nutrients powder to three Senatorial Zones (Udenu, Nkanu West and Udi) in Enugu state.

In her keynote speech, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Lady Chizoba Steve-Edemba disclosed that nutrition investment increases early school completion by one year; raise adult wages by 5-50%; brings about 33% escape from poverty in children who escaped stunting; improve maternal and child health of the country thus a significant boost in the annual GDP by 11%.
During a panel discussion at the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development in Enugu State, Princess Peace Nnaji reiterated that the wife of the Executive Governor, Her Excellency Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi has intensified the fight against malnutrition through her support to Maternal, Newborn And Child Health Week (MNCHW) with nutrition commodities as well as the sensitization/promotion of exclusive breastfeeding as she consistently holds awareness programme for women in the State regarding this issue on a monthly basis at Okpara Square, Enugu.

Speaking on the State Legislative strategic plan to implement investment in nutrition in the state, Hon. Sam Ngene, the House Committee Chairman on Health noted that the House will make a collaborative effort to provide not just an enabling environment for nutrition investment to thrive but will make sure that adequate fund is appropriated to bring about desired result.
In a wrap up, the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr. Ugwunta disclosed that the State Government plans to sustain all the commendable efforts being made to improve nutrition in the State; especially by development of proper costed work plan and release of fund for the delivery of food and Nutrition Programmes in the year 2022 through participating MDAs. Adding that the State Government also commits to providing for the PARSNIP Match-funding in the 2022 Budget and facilitate the approval and release of fund to match fund the UNICEF-PARSNIP for the procurement of RUTF for continuous treatment of SAM across the State.
Other dignitaries present at the engagement were: Honourable Commissioner for Health; Dr. Obi Ikechukwu Emmanuel, Education; Prof. Uche Eze, Permanent Secretaries: Finance; Dr. Ben Ezenwa, Information; Chris Mba, Health; Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi, SSG’s Office; Barr. May Anayo Enechukwu, Executive Secretary, Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. George Ugwu and a host.

GOVERNOR UGWUANYI REITERATES COMMITMENT TO OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP.

In fulfillment of the 8 points agenda, the Enugu State Citizen friendly Governor, has reiterated his commitment to open government partnership during the occasion of the One Day Citizens Engagement on the 2022 Budget convened by the Ministry of Budget and Planning at Nike Lake Resort.

In a Keynote address, the Peoples Governor, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Uchenna Eze Ortuanya reiterated that his administration from inception signed up to the open government partnership which transcends into openness, inclusiveness and transparency in the State's budgetary procedure. Thus, the need for Citizens Engagement which creates a platform during the budget season for Citizens in the state to make inputs on developmental projects they want the government to execute in the next fiscal year.

Prof. Ortuanya noted that the administration of his Excellency put an end to the era where the people were treated with a catalogue of budget which was never executed. Hence, the government has always taken practical steps in identifying people oriented projects that are achievable in line with Section 14 subsection 2 of the Nigerian Constitution.

However, he emphasized the government's effort to place the welfare and security of lives and properties above every other consideration.

Also at the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Dr. David Okelue Ugwunta in his address thanked the Governor Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his transparency and accountability in governance. He pointed out that the essence of the citizens' engagement was to carry the citizens who are the sole beneficiaries of all the government projects along in all the activities of the government.

Dr. Ugwunta added that in preparation for the 2022 budget, it was expedient to elicit inputs from the citizens of what they want the government to do in the next fiscal year and beyond.

He noted that despite the dwindling revenue witnessed in the 3rd Quarter of 2021; the State government has been committed to appropriate utilization of available resources towards human, capital and infrastructural development of the State.

Present at the event were the Honourable Commissioners for Finance; AdaOnah Kene-Uyanwune, Health; Ass. Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, Education; Prof. Uche Eze, Science and Technology; Sir Obi K**a, Youth and Sports; Manfred Nzekwe, Former Accountant General and SPA to the Governor on Financial Matters; Dr.Sir, Pascal Okolie ,PG Town Union ; Sir, Paully Eze, Permanent Secretaries and a host of others.

Other dignitaries at the event include the Council of Traditional Rulers led by Igwe Amb. Agubuzo, Women Group led by Mrs. Vera Ezeugwu, Civil Society Organizations led by Barr. Cromwell, Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria Enugu State Chapter; Rev. Emmanuel Edeh National Youth Council of Enugu State Students, Nigerian Youth Parliament, NANs, National Youth Council of Nigeria led by Him. Barth Okoh , Enugu State Female Comrades, National Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Heroine Foundation, Chairman Lead Network Africa; Mr. Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa, AmakaChinwuba Foundation, ConnectedDevelopment, Chairman National Union of Journalists Enugu Chapter, Mr. Rex Arum.

Enugu State is in the Hands of God.
To God be the Glory ❤

On 6/10/2021, I participated in a Policy Dialogue on Increasing Budgetary Allocation & Access to Youth Development Programs in Enugu State held in Bon Sunshine Hotel, Enugu. The policy dialogue is part of Yiaga Africa and ActionAid Nigeria’s implementation of the Youth Organizing and Leadership (YOL) project.

The policy dialogue provided a platform for strategic engagement between youth groups, lawmakers, policy makers, youth groups and representatives of ministries, departments, and agencies where youth focused projects are domiciled in the state.

I reiterated that Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is committed to Youth focused projects and the inauguration of 2 Tech Hubs in the state in 2021 is a clear demonstration of this. However, I opined that development of Youth focused projects must not be left for Government alone. As such, Youth groups can co-create youth focused projects & programmes with relevant MDAs (Youth & Sports, SME, Gender Affairs, Human Capital Development & Poverty Alleviation) for inclusion in the budget & funded by Government.

Co-creation presents opportunities for buy-in into such programmes / projects & for successful implementation. Youth Organizing & Leadership is indeed a tool to mobilize young people & their organizations for progressive social change. Thank you Yiaga Africa for the opportunity.

When God empowers you, try and empower others.
Thanking God for his Grace and mercy.