Former Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, has described the late former Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan as a visionary leader who revolutionised governance through innovative policies and programmes that improved the lives of residents.
Ogeah, who served as Commissioner for Information during Uduaghan’s second term, said the former governor’s administration demonstrated that state governments could achieve significant development through purposeful leadership and people-oriented policies.
He stated this in a condolence message following Uduaghan’s death in the early hours of Monday, October 19, 2026, at the age of 71.
Ogeah said Uduaghan was primarily concerned with improving the standard of living of Deltans, noting that the former governor introduced several programmes designed to address critical needs in healthcare, education, infrastructure and human capital development.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of this great man. I had the privilege of working closely with him in his second term as Commissioner for Information.
His major preoccupation was always what to do to improve the quality of living of the people and residents of Delta State,” he said.
According to him, Uduaghan’s maternal and child healthcare programme was one of the initiatives closest to the former governor’s heart.
Through the programme, children under five years of age, as well as pregnant and nursing mothers, received free healthcare services.
Ogeah said Uduaghan’s background as a medical practitioner and administrator contributed significantly to the success of the initiative, which he described as innovative and unprecedented at the time.
Education, human capital development
Ogeah also highlighted Uduaghan’s investments in education, including the construction of modern classrooms and well-equipped science laboratories across the state.
He said the former governor introduced the EduMarshal initiative to ensure that children of school age remained in school during school hours.
“Parents of children found hawking wares on the streets during school hours were apprehended and prosecuted. His passion for educational excellence was unparalleled,” he said.
Ogeah also recalled Uduaghan’s scholarship programme for Delta State indigenes who graduated from Nigerian universities with first-class degrees.
He said beneficiaries received up to N5 million to pursue postgraduate studies at institutions of their choice anywhere in the world.
On economic development, Ogeah described Uduaghan’s “Delta Beyond Oil” policy as one of his most visionary initiatives.
He said the programme was designed to reduce Delta State’s dependence on crude oil revenues by developing other sectors of the economy.
“Nigerians got to know that crude oil, which remains the mainstay of the economy, is a finite resource that has a limited lifespan. He began the process of weaning Delta’s economy from dependence on oil and growing other sectors of the economy,” Ogeah said.
He added that Uduaghan’s decision to pursue economic diversification despite leading a state that benefited significantly from oil revenue demonstrated his foresight.
Airport, roads, sports infrastructure
Ogeah listed the construction and operationalisation of the Asaba International Airport among Uduaghan’s major infrastructure achievements, saying the project opened up Delta North to greater economic activity and development.
He recalled that he personally contributed to the process of securing some of the approvals required for the airport’s operationalisation by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
According to him, Uduaghan also constructed the Government House in Asaba, as well as major sporting facilities, including stadiums in Warri and Sapele and the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
He noted that the Stephen Keshi Stadium had hosted international matches and served as the main venue for the 21st National Sports Festival in 2022.
Ogeah also commended Uduaghan’s approach to the distribution of infrastructure across the state, particularly his projects in riverine and less-developed communities.
He cited the Trans-Warri–Ode-Itsekiri Road and Bridge project, which included the construction of several bridges linking communities in the riverine areas.
He also listed major road projects in Ndokwa, including the 18.4-kilometre Ugiliama–Eweshioum–Ogume–Abbi Road and the 42.6-kilometre Iselegu–Utagba Uno–Obiaruku Road.
Healthcare, media development
Ogeah said Uduaghan also strengthened specialist healthcare delivery in the state through investments in tertiary health facilities.
Among the projects he mentioned were specialist facilities at the Mother and Child Hospital in Warri and the Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara.
He further recalled Uduaghan’s investment in professional development for journalists, saying the former governor sponsored batches of print and electronic media practitioners from the state for specialised training at the Thomson Reuters Foundation Institute in London.
According to him, more than 40 practising journalists benefited from the programme.
Ogeah said he was particularly inspired by Uduaghan’s commitment to public service and described the late governor as a boss whose leadership and personal qualities he would continue to cherish.
“I was greatly inspired by Dr Uduaghan’s sense of service to the people. It was a great privilege to have worked closely with him. I commiserate with his wife and children. He was a great boss I will always cherish. May God receive him in His paradise,” he said.