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Former Delta State Information Commissioner describes late governor as visionary leader who transformed healthcare, education, and infrastructure

By Our Reporter, October 19, 2026

Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, former governor of Delta State, has been described as a leader who revolutionized governance at the subregional level through innovative policies and programmes that demonstrated the capacity of states to significantly impact citizens’ lives.

Chike Ogeah, Esq, who served as Commissioner for Information during Dr. Uduaghan’s second term, made this assertion while reacting to the transition of the former governor in the early hours of Monday.

“I am deeply saddened by the passing of this great man,” Ogeah stated. “I had the privilege of working closely with him in his second term as Commissioner for Information. His major pre-occupation was always what to do to improve the quality of living of the people and residents of Delta State.”

Ogeah emphasized that the late governor measured societal development primarily through the living standards of the people, which drove him to evolve innovative programmes aimed at making life worthwhile for residents.

Healthcare Legacy

One of the programmes Ogeah described as “very dear” to the former governor was the maternal and child care initiative, through which children under five and all pregnant and nursing mothers enjoyed free healthcare.

“The initiative revolutionized health services in Nigeria because it was unknown in the country,” Ogeah said. “His background as an accomplished medical practitioner and administrator equipped him for the project and he drove it with immense passion.”

Dr. Uduaghan also established tertiary health institutions with specialist facilities, including scan machines at the Mother and Child Hospital in Warri and Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara.

Education Reforms

In education, the former governor embarked on building modern classrooms across the state with well-equipped science laboratories. The EduMarshal project gave effect to his policy that every school-age child should be in the classroom during school hours.

“Parents of children found hawking wares on the streets during school hours were apprehended and prosecuted,” Ogeah recalled. “His passion for educational excellence was unparalleled. He instituted a special scholarship scheme for graduates of Nigerian universities of Delta State origin with first class. Everyone of them got N5 million to study in any part of the world.”

Delta Beyond Oil Initiative

Ogeah highlighted the “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative as demonstrating the vision of a leader who saw beyond his immediate time and environment.

“Nigerians got to know that crude oil which remains the mainstay of the economy is a finite resource that has a limited life span,” he said. “He began the process of weaning Delta’s economy from dependence on oil and growing other sectors of the economy.”

The former commissioner noted that it was significant that the consciousness of oil’s eventual depletion came from a governor whose state receives substantial revenue from crude oil.

Infrastructure Development

Among Dr. Uduaghan’s signature projects, Ogeah listed the construction and operationalization of Asaba International Airport, which opened up Delta North to unprecedented development.

“I had the privilege of being personally involved in its delivery having just left Sahcol as managing director,” Ogeah said. “It afforded me the opportunity to liaise with some of my former colleagues in other aviation agencies in securing some of the necessary approvals for the operationalization of the airport by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.”

The former governor also built the current Government House in Asaba, described as one of the most modern in the country, in addition to state-of-the-art stadiums in Warri and Sapele, including the Stephen Keshi Stadium, which hosted international matches and served as the main venue for the 21st National Sports Festival in 2022.

Ogeah noted that Dr. Uduaghan displayed fairness in project execution, starting the Trans-Warri-Ode-Itsekiri Road and Bridge project, which led to the completion of six bridges, including Bridges 1 through 7 in the Ifiekporo community. He also built numerous roads in the Ndokwa area, including the 18.4-kilometre Ugiliama-Eweshioum-Ogume-Abbi Road and the 42.6-kilometre Iselegu-Utagba Uno-Obiaruku Road.

Media Development

The late governor also invested in human capital development for the media, sponsoring batches of journalists from print and electronic media in Delta State for specialized training at the Thomson Reuters Foundation Institute in London, benefiting more than 40 practicing journalists.

“I was greatly inspired by Dr. Uduaghan’s sense of service to the people,” Ogeah said. “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.”