Maris Trust Council (MTC), has celebrated Rt. Hon. Joan Onyemaechi, popularly known as Ada Anioma on her 59th birthday, describing her as a goal-getter.
MTC in a birthday message signed by its Secretary, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, described Ada Anioma, the immediate past Commissioner for Technical Education, Delta State, who clocked 59 on Monday as an individual who has recorded successes due to hard work.
MTC recalled that Ada Anioma was a cynosure of all eyes when she discussed the topic, “Flight Of Talents: Navigating Nigeria’s Brain Drain Predicament,” at year 2024 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.
“The Maris Trust Council, MTC, today, celebrate an Amazon, a trailblazer and goal-getter, Hon. Joan Onyemaechi, who we popularly know as Ada Anioma, a former member of House of Representatives and the immediate past Commissioner for Technical Education, Delta State.
“It would be recalled that in 2024, Ada Anioma was a cynosure of all eyes when she attended the Maris Annual Public Service Lecture as a Discussant.
“At that lecture, the Vice Chancellor, University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor, Prof. Chinye Chiemeke spoke on the topic, ‘Flight Of Talents: Navigating Nigeria’s Brain Drain Predicament,’ and Ada Anioma with Dr Barry Gbe, the Chief Economic Adviser to Delta State Government, a renowned politician, Chief Philomena Ededey Ugheminiaye, the Senior Special Adviser to Delta State Government, Chief Tony Amechi, and a legal expert, Fred Erelu-Ede, Esq discussed the topic while a University Don, Prof. Kemi Emina who is the OdiEga of Ebu Kingdom, moderated the lecture. The Chairman, Delta State Civil Service Commission, Lady Rosaline Amioku was Mother of the Day and Very Revd. Fr. John Konyeke was Father of the Day at the lecture which took place on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba
“Maris Annual Public Service Lecture holds every Wednesday before Easter Sunday and the next edition shall hold on April 1, 2026 where societal problems are identified and solutions proffered for a better society.
“As Ada Anioma celebrates 59 years on Planet Earth, Maris Trust Council wish her many more years in good health, sound frame of mind and may God grant her the means to be happy and to keep making contributions for a better society to be achieved,” Egugbo said.
About Rt. Hon. Joan Onyemaechi, Discussant, Year 2024 Maris Annual Public Service Lecture:
Rt. Hon. Pastor Joan Onyemaechi (Ada Anioma) was born 59 years ago to the family of Hon. Augustine Okeleke Chukwuweike Ugbah of Abuedo Quarters, Ubulu-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area, Delta State.
She attended her primary school education at Church Missionary (CMS) School, Ubulu-Uku from 1970-1976 before gaining admission into Itohan Girls Grammar School, Benin-City where she obtained WASCE from 1977-1982.
She proceeded to study English and obtained Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Jos, Plateau State. She did her NYSC in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State before moving to Lagos State as an Insurance Broker.
Later, she acquired a postgraduate diploma (Pgd) from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
Rt. Hon Onyemaechi Joan went on to secure a professional certificate from Thames Valley University and Manchester Business School, both in the UK.
Also, she earned a certificate in leadership from the University of California, Berkley, USA and another certificate in Parliamentary Studies from Oxford University, England.
Between 1999-2000, she worked as Personal Assistant in the Government of Chief James Ibori. Then from 2001-2003, she served as a Director, Delta State Building Society, before she was appointed into the Local Government Service Commission, Delta State from 2004 to 2006.
She thereafter, resigned to run for the Delta State House of Assembly. In 2007, she was elected as Honourable member representing Aniocha South Constituency at the Delta State House of Assembly where she served for two terms of eight years from 2007 to 2015.
Her phenomenal performance in these years as a State Assembly member prompted the then Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to raise a song in her honour, at the commissioning of one of her constituency projects, the Ubulu-Uku General Hospital. And the other projects round her local government which took two days to commission.
In 2015, she was deservedly elected to represent Aniocha/Oshimli Federal Constituency of Delta State at the House of Representatives winning all the wards of the Federal Constituency. Once again, she performed exceedingly well with her constituency projects, touching the four local governments of the Federal Constituency. These, amongst others too numerous to mention, is the Amenity Ward, thirty-four apartments for medical professionals, modern x-rays etc – all at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba. Ada-Anioma as she is fondly called would go on to sponsor many bills, which included the Nigerians in Diaspora bill which was passed and signed into law by President Muhamadu Buhari.
In 2019, she was appointed the Director-General, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, and Asaba was transformed to a beautiful city to behold which expectedly gave her a new name, “the face of modern Asaba.”
She is one of the only five women listed in the publication, “Ubulu-Uku who is who” a title that documented great achievers from her hometown in the last 100 years.
She is the first woman from Ubulu-Uku to represent the local government in the State Assembly and she was the Commissioner for Technical Education, Delta State.
