Ada Anioma To Discuss "Flight Of Talents: Navigating Nigeria's Brain Drain Predicament" At Year 2024 Edition Of Maris Lecture

Rt. Hon. Joan Onyemaechi, former member representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, will be a discussant at the year 2024 edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture.

Every year, topical issue is chosen for discussion at the annual lecture which is organised by the Maris Trust Council, MTC, and the lecture holds every Wednesday of the Holy Week, that is, the Wednesday before Easter Sunday and for this year's edition, it shall hold on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, Delta State.

The Vice Chancellor, University of Delta, UNIDEL, Agbor, Prof. Stella Chinye Chiemeke,will deliver the lecture and she will speak on the topic, "Flight Of Talents: Navigating Nigeria's Brain Drain Predicament," the member representing Isoko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Pastor Jonathan Ukodhiko, will be the Chairman of Occasion while Dr Barry Gbe, Special Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Chief Philomena Ededey Ugheminaye, have been unveiled as Discussants at the lecture.

In a chat with some journalists on Tuesday, in Asaba, Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, Secretary, Maris Trust Council, said that Rt. Hon. Onyemaechi, who is popularly known as Ada Anioma, has accepted to be a discussant at the lecture.

"As the countdown to March 27 date for this year's edition of Maris Annual Public Service Lecture continues, it is a thing of joy to inform you, my dear wonderful colleagues who are partnering with us in ensuring effective publicity for our events and through you to our regular participants and prospective participants at the lecture that a woman we all know, a down to earth politician who have been active in the political scene since 1999, a woman who has held several appointive and elective positions, a woman who is presently, the Commissioner for Technical Education in Delta State, Rt. Hon. Joan Onyemaechi, is attending the lecture as a Discussant.

"Due to the uniqueness of the topic for discussion, 'Flight Of Talents: Navigating Nigeria's Brain Drain Predicament,' Ada Anioma will be on the panel of discussants with an intelligent, soft-spoken, result-oriented former Commissioner for Economic Planning in Delta State, Dr Barry Gbe, who is now the Special Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and a renowned educationist, Chief Philomena Ededey Ugheminaye, and two other persons. 

"It is a fact that from the inception of this annual lecture, God has made it possible for us to use the platform to collectively, proffer solutions to the challenges of the society, and the Vice Chancellor, University of Delta, UNIDEL, Agbor, Prof. Stella Chinye Chiemeke, is the Guest Speaker at this year's lecture, the acting Chairman, Delta State Civil Service Commission, Lady Roseline Eno Amioku (JP), is the Mother of the Day and Rev. Fr. John Konyeke is the Father of the Day.

"The lecture by the grace of God, shall hold on its traditional date of Wednesday of the Holy Week, a date chosen because of the seriousness of the lecture and its importance to the life of the people and for this year's edition, it shall take place on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba from 12 noon.

"Despite the fact that there is no restriction as to those who will attend the lecture as it is a participatory lecture where we all have a lot to learn from, we will continue to unveil key players as the day draws near.

"On behalf of the Maris Trust Council, I wish to appreciate the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for his interest in enthroning an egalitarian society as a true democrat, a man who sees himself as holding a position in trust for the people; once again, I thank you my colleagues, members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, thank you for believing that with God, nothing is impossible, thank you for your prayers and the support which is coming in several ways, with God using men of goodwill, it can only be better, God bless you," Egugbo said.

About Rt. Hon. Joan Onyemaechi, Discussant, Year 2024 Maris Annual Public Service Lecture:

Rt. Hon. Pastor Joan Onyemaechi (Ada Anioma) was born 57 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 is presently, the Commissioner for Technical Education, Delta State.