HON. Anthony Elekeokwuri, is the member representing Ika North-East Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly. On Wednesday, March 31, 2021, he will be among those to discuss the topic, “Effective Tax Administration For The Delivery Of Democratic Dividends” at the 2021 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture series holding at the Government House Asaba, the state capital.
According to Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, Secretary, Maris Trust Council, Elekeokwuri would be discussing the topic with Mr Peter Mrakpor (SAN), the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State; the Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Emeka Anthony Odo; the Accountant-General of Lagos State, Dr. Shefiu Abiodun Muritala; the Executive Secretary, Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency (DEMSA), Hon. (Barr.) Orezi Esievo and it will have Dr Kemi Emina, a renowned journalist and lecturer as Moderator.
“We must note that our Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, as a democrat who believes in an egalitarian society and has utilised tax payers money to deliver unprecedented dividends of democracy to the people, will be the Chief Guest of Honour.
“Also, Chief Kennedy Kanma of Kanma Properties Development Company is the Chairman of the occasion while Dr. Mrs Comfort Omon-Irabor of Hellyncom Eye Clinic, Warri will be the Mother of the Day and Very Rev. John Konyeke, will be the Spiritual Father of the Day.
“In continuation of our profiling series designed to feed the public with basic information about the key actors in this year’s edition of the lecture, which holds annually on the Wednesday preceding Easter Sunday, we hereby unveil Hon. Anthony Elekeokwuri, a gentlemanly lawmaker.
“Previously, we unveiled the profiles of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief Monday Onyeme, Chief Kennedy Kanma, Dr (Mrs) Omon-Irabor, Very Rev. Fr. Konyeke and Dr Shefiu Abiodun Muritala. ”
THE MAN ANTHONY EMEKA ELEKEOKWURI,
HONOURABLE MEMBER REPRESENTING IKA NORTH-EAST STATE CONSTITUENCY IN THE DELTA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY.
EARLY LIFE
Every age, every generation produces an eccentric and unusual figure, connotatively speaking, who nevertheless represents the measure, the values, and indeed, the essence of that age and becomes the icon of that generation.
Denis Whitley once stated that “there are two primary choices in life, to accept conditions as they exist or accept the responsibility for changing them”. Such is the life of the member representing the wonderful people of Ika North-East State in the State House of Assembly (DTHA), Hon. Anthony Emeka Elekeokwuri.
He was born on the 18th day of November, 1969 at Agbor in the then Ika Local Government Area into a dedicated Christian family of late Pa Emmanuel and Mrs. Deborah Elekeokwuri Ewoh of Umunede Kingdom in the present-day Ika North East. He lost his father at a tender age of six but that did not deter him and his siblings from acquiring a decent Christian upbringing aided and guided by their mother who, against all odds, laboured through thick and thin to ensure that the demise of the breadwinner of the family, did not rob the children of the core values of life.
Hon. Elekeokwuri is a dedicated member of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and he has been committed to godly activities since his days as a young boy, a value he has held to his heart and cherished till date. He is married to his heartthrob, Barr. Mrs. Adenike Elekeokwuri, and the marriage is blessed with four children.
Tony, as he is fondly called, is vibrant, principled, purpose-driven and selfless. He is a passionate and effective youth leader, a technocrat who has excelled in business. His sojourn into the murky political terrain was propelled by a strong passion to avail his people of quality and purposeful representation in government, particularly via the Delta State House of Assembly.
EDUCATION
Hon. Elekeokwuri had his primary education at Onyeagwu Primary School, Umunede. Hallmarked for stellar academic performance, he proceeded to Ede Grammar School, Umunede where he brought his excellent trademark to bear from 1982 through 1988. He outdid his peers in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) of 1988 by emerging as one of the best students in the School. Thereafter, he proceeded to Edo State University (EDSU) now Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma where he bagged his Bachelor of Science (B.SC) degree in Economics in 1997. He had his mandatory National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) with Central Bank of Nigeria, Lagos in 1998.
Still hungry for more academic excellence, he proceeded to the prestigious University of Lagos (Unilag) where he enrolled for and bagged a Master’s Degree in Economics (M.S.C Economics) in the year 2000. He worked at Daninno Projects Nig. Ltd., a property development company where he acquired the skills that prepared him for his own private practice. He has diversified into Hospitality, Real Estate Management and Consultancy Services.
Hon. Elekeokwuri belongs to various professional bodies, including Fellow of Institute of Professional Recruitment Consultants (IPRC), Chartered Member of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and a pioneer member of Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria (CPIN).
LEADERSHIP AND POLITICS
His leadership qualities could be traced back to his days at the University where he served as a students leader in various capacities, notably as Director of Socials of Nigerian Economics Students Association (NESA) and Director of Welfare of the Rotaract Club, EDSU branch. He has also served as President of Umunede Youths Association, the youth wing of Umunede Progressive Union in Lagos.
However, before venturing into politics, he had performed meritoriously in other chosen fields of endeavour. His uncompromising attitude endears him to a lot of people, thus making him one of the new trusted faces in the emerging political dispensation in Delta State. His antecedents demonstrate that he is a man who matches his words with action. In 2015 he contested elections into the Delta State House of Assembly under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to represent the people of Ika North-East State Constituency, an election he won overwhelmingly.
Upon inauguration of the sixth Assembly, Hon. Anthony Emeka Elekeokwuri was appointed as the Chairman of Public Account, a position he holds till date. In his first tenure as a Legislator, he moved and supported many motions, among which is the motion against the Abuse of Narcotic Drugs and other Psychotropic Subtances in the State, this is the first HOUSE MOTION ON NOTICE (HM1) in the Sixth Assembly. He had, also within this short period, sponsored many people-oriented bills, including Delta State Administration of Criminal Justice, the first member bill to be passed and assented by the Governor in the Sixth Assembly; also Delta State Environmental Management Agency Bill, Delta State Equipment Leasing Bill, Delta State Infrastructure Bill and others.
As an advocate of grassroots development, Hon. Elekeokwuri has executed numerous development projects across his constituency. The projects range from education, community development, human capital development through his various empowerment programmes, which include overseas training programme, provision of students and teachers desk, tables and chairs to schools, youths entrepreneurship programme, students assistance scheme, women empowerment programme and others.
He has delivered many papers including, Alternative to Militancy and Grazing Reserve Proposals at the joint parliamentary sitting of South/South East Houses of Assembly, Imo State; Empowering Youths for Sustainable Development at the youth retreat organized by office of the SSA to Delta State Governor on Youth mobilization for positive change; The Role of the Legislature in the SMART Agenda Success Story, on the occasion of one day lecture organized by Team Smart for Okowa tagged “The SMART Agenda: Successes, Challenges and the Way Forward, Regulatory Agencies and Financial Probity in Local Government Administration on the occasion of a two-day seminar by Directorate of Local Government Affairs in collaboration with KEFEMO for Local Government Area Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Secretaries, Leaders, Deputy Leaders, Majority Leaders in the Legislative Arms and Supervisory Councilors; Accountability and Transparency in Governance on the Occasion of the Delta State Anti- Corruption Summit, among others.
He has bagged several awards of excellence, including the most outstanding legislator of the year in Delta State from the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Niger Delta Legislator of the year by the “Niger Delta Awards”, and Lawmaker of the Year from the Students Union Government (SUG) of Delta State University Abraka in affiliation with College of Education Agbor; Ambassador for Peace from the Universal Peace Federation; Outstanding Grassroots Political Representative of the Year by Nigeria Media Nite-out Award; Delta Icon Merit Award by Corporate & Media Africa Communications Ltd with Delta State Directorate of Culture and The; Episcopal Merit Award by Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Ika and others.
As part of the oversight functions of the State Legislature, Hon. Elekeokwuri has effectively chaired the Joint Committee of Public Accounts/Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that investigated the twenty-five (25) local government councils in Delta State, the Joint Committee of Public Account and Appropriation, that looked into the accounting books of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of the same, and also chaired the House Committee On Public Account that worked on the Delta State Procurement Bill 2016. These efforts have helped to enshrine accountability, transparency and probity in the governance of the State. It is on this note that he was honoured in the 2017 Transparency, Accountability and Good Governance Integrity Heroes Awards and Decorated as Anti-Corruption Ambassador by Foundation for Transparency and Accountability Nigeria in conjunction with ICPC.
Hon. Elekeokwuri is a man that is characterized with professional excellence, laudable achievements, operational efficiency and administrative fastidiousness. His benevolence in awarding scholarships to indigent students has touched many lives, making him an emerging philanthropist. Due to his charisma and antecedents, Hon. Anthony Emeka Elekeokwuri enjoys great love and acceptance from his constituents as they have great confidence in his ability to effectively represent and speak for them.
