Anambra State House of Assembly during plenary on Thursday, confirmed the nomination of Hon. Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche and Mr. Izuchukwu Okafor, as Commissioners in Anambra State. Hon. Beverly, it is expected, would replace Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa resigned his position as Commissioner for Special Duties, upon his election as the APGA National Chairman, a few months ago. While Mr. Izuchukwu Okafor is expected to replace Ifeatu Onejeme, who resigned from his position as Commissioner for Finance, about two weeks ago.
Before their confirmation by the House, the nominees had been screened by Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Screening, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Okoye. According to the report of the Committee read and presented to the House by its chairman, the nominees are qualified and ready to serve the people and government of Anambra State. The submission of the Committee’s report was followed quickly by a resolution of the House into an electoral college to assess the nominees. During this exercise, Hon. Patrick Udoba representing Anambra West asked Izuchukwu Okafor to explain how he intends to block leakages, if he is appointed Commissioner of Finance. In response, the nominee said he is not aware of any leakages in Anambra State. “I don’t know about any leakage in Anambra state”, he said. However, “as a financial control expert”, he explained, ’I should be able to advise the governor appropriately”.
But for Hon. Beverly, the House unanimously agreed that she should take a bow and leave because it is not in doubt that she is qualified for any position in Anambra state. In a motion moved by Hon. Noble Nonso Igwe, a member representing Ogbaru I, he urged the House to allow Hon. Beverly to take a bow and go. “She is eminently qualified to fit into any position in Anambra State. Therefore, she should take a bow”, Hon. Igwe said. Attesting to Hon. Beverly’s suitability to be commissioner, Hon. Jude Umennajiego, a member representing Onitsha South II constituency said that when she occupied the seat, she did well for the people of Onitsha South II constituency. This was also the submission of Hon. Ejike Okechukwu, a member representing Anaocha II constituency. According to Hon. Okechukwu, “We are asking the 3-star general to take a small bow and go. She has participated in clearing and over-sighting commissioners in the past 12 years. What else are we looking for? Hon. Beverly is eminently qualified for any position in the state”, he concluded. The two nominees were then cleared and confirmed.
The 39-year-old Mr. Izuchukwu Okafor is a financial control expert and a Central Banker, with about ten years of experience in central banking. Before leaving Central Bank in 2022 to serve as Senior Special Assistant- SSA, to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Finance and Audit, he was a Deputy Director in Central Bank. In addition, he is a Chartered Accountant and holds a master’s degree in Finance.
On her part, Hon. Beverly is a lawyer and public servant of outstanding quality. She has served in the House of Assembly of Anambra State for three terms of twelve years as a member representing the Onitsha South II constituency. She served in the 5th, 6th, and 7th Assembly meritoriously to the admiration of her colleagues, staff of the Assembly, and constituents.
As expected, in the next Anambra State Executive Council meeting next week, the two new commissioners will take the oath of office as Commissioners in Anambra State.
He is a Technical Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano’s Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, whoonce was a Special Adviser to a former Deputy Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly. Ebuka is a second class upper division graduate of Political Science from University of Calabar, Calabar Nigeria and holds a Masters Degree in Political Science with specialization in Government and Development Studies, from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria
