By Chigozie Igbo Jr
In less than a year in office, the Mayor of Orumba North Local Government Area has set a new benchmark for grassroots leadership in Anambra State through bold projects, people-oriented policies, and visionary governance. His achievements, which cut across infrastructure, health, security, empowerment, and social welfare, have earned him widespread praise as a true partner in Governor Charles Soludo’s mission to transform Anambra.
While taking journalists on a tour of the local government area, Hon. Barr. Cashmir Chukwunoso Nwafor, popularly known as Ikolo Orumba, spotlighted key milestones of his administration, beginning with the immortalization of the late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, the respected former INEC Chairman whose role in the historic June 12 election remains etched in Nigeria’s democratic struggle. Beyond renovating the road leading to Prof. Nwosu’s residence, the mayor has initiated landmark projects within the LGA headquarters, including the construction of a modern chairman’s office, a befitting legislative chamber for councillors, and the expansion of office blocks to meet administrative needs. He also undertook the renovation of the LGA fence and built a security tower to enhance surveillance across the council. Plans are already underway for a Corps members’ lodge, a clear demonstration of his commitment to youth and national service.
The mayor’s development drive extends to road infrastructure. In Ajali, a 1.8km road was constructed and asphalted, same with Oko. These projects have been completed, easing mobility and stimulating commerce in the Local Government. These efforts complement the state government’s massive road network projects crisscrossing Orumba North—Ufuma, Awa, Ndikelionwu, Oko, and beyond—underscoring the synergy between the council and Governor Soludo’s administration.
Healthcare has also received unprecedented attention. In synergy with the governor, the mayor facilitated the supply of solar energy to hospitals across the LGA, ensuring uninterrupted power for critical services. Alongside this, the council rolled out free medical care programs that have already benefitted thousands of residents, particularly rural dwellers who previously struggled with access to healthcare.
On human capital, the mayor has gone the extra mile. Indigent women in Orumba North are receiving monthly grants to sustain their small businesses, a lifeline for many struggling families. His wife, in a landmark health outreach, distributed thousands of sanitary pads to schoolgirls across the LGA, sensitizing them on the dangers of using unsafe alternatives such as rags, tissue, or old clothes.
Youth empowerment remains at the heart of his agenda. While Governor Soludo’s “One Youth, Two Skills” programme is creating new opportunities, the mayor, in collaboration with Orumba North indigenes, is championing agriculture-based empowerment programmes to harness the LGA’s agrarian potential and engage more youths productively.
Speaking on these strides, the mayor lauded Governor Soludo’s transformative leadership and urged Ndi Anambra, especially the people of Orumba North, to rally behind the governor in 2025 by rewarding him with another four years in office. According to him, “Governor Soludo has shown uncommon dedication to the development of our dear state. Here in Orumba North, we are direct beneficiaries of his visionary leadership. Continuity is the only way to secure and expand these gains.”
With his remarkable achievements in under a year and his unwavering loyalty to Governor Soludo’s vision, the mayor of Orumba North has not only won the trust of his people but has also become a rallying voice for progressive governance at the grassroots.