On July 7th, 2012, Margery Chibogu Chuba-Okadigbo was formally sworn in as the Senator representing Anambra North Senatorial District in the Senate of the Seventh National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This accomplishment was re­corded after a protracted legal battle.
To many Nigerians, her election to occupy the seat which her late husband, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo once occupied, was historic and challenging.
In spite of the distraction which the long litigation over the Anambra North Senatorial seat caused, Senator Okadig­bo swung into action immediately she assumed duty in the Senate. In less than two years, she has made tremendous impact by positively touching the lives of many of her constituents.
This great woman of destiny has made serious and visible efforts to transform the seven Local Government Areas in Anambra North. The Local Government Areas are: Oyi, Ayam­elum, Anambra East, Anambra West, Ogbaru, Onitsha North and Onitsha South.
While campaigning for the Senato­rial seat in 2011, Senator Okadigbo was stunned at the level of poverty, neglect, unemployment and under-development she saw in the entire Anambra North. She was also bothered by the dilapida­tion and absence of critical infrastruc­ture in many areas in the Senatorial District. Several Federal projects which were located in the zone in the past, were neglected and not put into proper use for the benefit of the people. She vowed to reverse this trend and chart a new direction for her people.
Today, Anambra North is witness­ing far-reaching transformation in the health sector, education, empower­ment, employment and infrastructur­al development. Through hard-work, lobbying and mastery of the legislative process, Senator Okadigbo has attracted several Federal projects in many sectors with the aim of freeing her people from the clutches of poverty and under-de­velopment. While most of these projects have been completed, some are still un­der construction and can be verified by anybody. The completed ones are: the building and equipping of PRIMAY HEALTH CARE CENTRES at Anaku (Ayamalum Local Government Area), Aguleri (Anambra East), Ogbunike (Oyi LGA), Awkuzu (Oyi LGA), Nkwelle (Oyi LGA), Fegge (Onitsha South), Federal Housing Estate (Onitsha North) and Nando (Anambra East). New Pri­mary Health Care Centres are still under construction at: Nzam (Anambra West) and Akili Ogidi (Ogbaru).
Senator Okadigbo has also made the Federal Ministry of Health to supply Ambulance vehicles to the Health Cen­tres at Nzam (Anambra West), Anaku (Ayamalum) and Ogbunike (Oyi LGA).
In the education sector, Senator Oka­digbo has equally done much to ensure that the children in her constituency study under conducive atmosphere. She has attracted the construction and equipment of class room blocks in the following areas: Nkwelle (Oyi LGA), Fegge (Onitsha South), Federal Housing Estate (Onitsha North), Nando (Anam­bra East), Ifite Ogwari (Ayamelum), Umueri Obinetiti (Anambra East) and Nteje (Oyi LGA).
In all, she has completed 93 class­room blocks, five Primary Health Care Centres, 45 Solar Light Poles, one ICT Computer Centre and the provision of three automobile ambu­lance vehicles.
To further empower her people, she has consistently paid allowances to 215 men and women comprising, at least, two persons (one man and a woman) from each of the ninety nine wards in the seven Local Government Areas in Anambra North Senatorial District.
The inability of many young gradu­ates in her Constituency to secure employment in Federal Ministries and Departments is one challenging problem Senator Okadigbo is tackling with determination. So far, she has succeeded in securing employment for 39 youths from her Constituency. Most of these youth were unemployed for several years before Senator Okadigbo assumed Office. The job opportunities and projects are spread evenly across the seven Local Government Areas in Anambra North.
At every point, Senator Okadigbo has identified with her constituents. During the 2012 flood disaster, when about half of the communities in her Constituency were submerged under flood, Senator Okadigbo got the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to the affected commu­nities. Most of the Communities were adequately taken care of and have since gone back to normal life.
Senator Okadigbo is also making impact in her legislative functions. She is the initiator of the following Bills: Nigeria Children’s Trust Fund Act, Cap N93 LFN 2011 (Amendment) Bill 2013 (SB.394), Child’s Right Act CAP C50LFN 2011 (Amendment) Bill 2013 (SB.350) and the National Kidney Treatment and Dialysis Centre (EST.etc) Bill 2013 (SB.351). These are in addition to other Bills and various mo­tions she has co-sponsored.
In order to enhance her intellectual capacity, she has in the last two years, undergone training in Harvard Univer­sity, U.S.A and Bujumbura, Burundi where she attended the 5th Retreat of the Association of Senate, Shoora and Equivalent Councils in Africa and the Arab World (ASSECAA).
From all indications, Senator Margery Okadigbo bears the burden of history and fate. She cannot afford to fail. She is keeping the legacy alive.