On that blessed Wednesday, 16th December,1964, a true redemption symbol , Francis Chukwuma Ibezim, was delivered in infancy, to Sir and Lady Hezekiah Ibezim(late) of Ezeoke Nsu in Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State.
The environment was thrown into jubilation as mother and child were reported safe, with no complications.
As it’s usual with children of robust parentage, this one, his father was already a storekeeper with the Leventis Stores Ltd and later the Sole Distributor of Coca Cola for Southeast, merriments greeted his arrival.
His growth and development were not devoid of the appreciable massage, petting and exuberant razzmataz of fairly rich homes.
This, informed his smooth graduation in industrial chemistry,1987, from the old Imo State University before acquiring high certificate in computer engineering.
The wonderful cruise however met a rollercoaster when the foam company established for the young Industrial Chemist was gutted by fire, forcing him to embark on a rehabilitation mission to the United States of America,where he engaged in fleet management with the Auto Nation in Houston, Texas and later worked as a Case Manager with the Youth Co-op, Miami, Florida.
Having by dint of hard work successfully reinvented himself, he married his beautiful wife with whom he had his lovely children who are all USA trained professionals in different fields.
With the lubrication and. Mobilization of his many contacts in Nigeria before he travelled and having emerged a dynamic result oriented entrepreneur and seasoned technocrat with diverse experience and expertise in education, technology, operations, finance and management, it was not difficult for him to become a successful strategic planner, consensus builder and decision maker in our fast paced corporate and political environment.
This former Imo State Government Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Managing Director of Imo Poultry, made history by reconstructing and revamping the Avutu Poultry which was again rendered moribund after his exit.
He had become Special Adviser (Political) to the Minister of State for Education, Member of the Governing Council, Federal College of Education, Gombe and Member, Federal Government Committee On Assessment of Needs of Unity Schools before the most unfortunate death of our former representative, Distinguished Senator Ben Uwajumogu, December 2019.
That late Uwajumogu’s replacement was unarguably long and tortous, is to declare the notorious.
And so it came to pass that on April 27th 2021, Sir Frank Ibezim was sworn in as Senator representing Imo North Senatorial District by the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan after the Supreme Court had Friday, April 23rd 2021, quashed the separate judgments of the Federal High Court and Appeal Court, Abuja, which nullified the candidature of Ibezim on grounds of perjury, claiming that Ibezim ” bears two different and irreconcilable names and submitted 3 falsified West Africa Examination Council results.”
Senator Ibezim was not deterred by either his first term status, lateness to the senate or emptiness of the budget in terms of appropriation to Imo North that had no representative since December 2019, rather he swung into action, cultivating relationships and leveraging on the goodwill of Governor Hope Uzodimma and Minister Chukwuemeka Nwajuba with the Senate leadership, to secure plum senate committees that have helped him facilitate different Federal Government Intervention Funding Schemes for the benefit of over 1000 verifiable persons of his Constituency.
The intervention funds are N30,000 Bank of Industry Survival Funds, N60,000 Special Public Works Program, N500,000 Covid 19 Relief Loan and the latest of them all, the N60,000 Job Security Stipends, which payment just started Tuesday 14th December 2021, to put smiles on the faces of Ndi Okigwe in this yuletide.
Apart from what benefits his constituency alone, Senator Ibezim has also moved motions, participated in appropriations, engaged in oversight functions and sponsored a bill of national significance, as a lawmaker of the federal republic.
But for bureaucratic hitches, the Okigwe Power Transmission Station would have taken off since November 2021 by his motion, however, he assured that work must begin in Okigwe by the first quarter of 2022.
Another area of significant exploits by Senator Ibezim is securing employment to his constituents into the various Federal Government Agencies.
It must be recalled that Senator Ibezim’s orgasmic passion for foundational education propelled him to equip not less than 18 Public Schools in Imo North Senatorial District with Classroom Libraries and motivated the teachers with prizes and stipends through the contest organized for same.
The Constituency Office established in each Local Government Area of the zone has activated the collection of data and training of people in different skills of interest including the preparation of our youths for exposure to the international football market via Senator Frank Ibezim Football Academy.
It’s in the light of these eloquent transformative accomplishments within just 8 months in office and doing them with uncommon humility, simplicity and quietude, that this toast has become extremely
imperative.
Indeed, Distinguished Senator Frank Ibezim’s generational commitment to public good remains exceedingly commendable.
It is because these Federal Government Intervention Funds brought to the people of Okigwe zone, have not only positively touched individual beneficiaries, they have given succour to households, started and improved businesses and restored the hope of our people for an Imo North Senatorial District of future growth references, that I most delightfully propose this toast for the sustenance of Senator Ibezim’s underlying principle of competence, compassion and continuity for the well being of Himself, Family, Imo North Senatorial District, Imo State, Nigeria and Humanity.
TO A MOST NOISELESS ACHIEVEMENT SENATOR OF DISTINGUISHED FRANKNESS, CONGRATULATIONS AND HAPPY BIRTH ANNIVERSARY AT 57 !!!!!
To God be all the glory !!!!!!
Hon. Irouno Chukwunonye
( Office of the Distinguished Senator, Imo North Senatorial District, National Assembly, Abuja)