HON. (DR) ACHO IHIM

Early Life

AchoIhim was born in Umuonyeneri Village of Umualumoke in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria, to the family of Rev. C. A and Evang. BessyIhim in 1962. His name Acho means “That which is desired”.

He was raised in a Monogamous family, and was the first child born into the family of seven, symbolizing perfection. Cyprian, Acho’s father was God’s great shepherd of the Assemblies of God Church, whose life was semi-nomadic, as he traversed communities and states of the old eastern Nigeria, preaching the gospel and raising sheep for God. Rev. Ihim was a complete man of God who did not allow earthly ventures to distract his devotion for God. Before his demise in 1990, he had given out his only residential village house to the church of God, using same to bequeath an altar of mercy and general protection to his family. As the first son of a reverend gentleman of the old, Acho inherited the fundamental apostolic virtues of his father and imbibed core Christian recitals, which ultimately became the springboard of his growth and development. However, he did not directly take after his father’s ministerial calling but had an orgasmic passion for human capital development hence his penchant for teaching and establishment of educational institutions.

Education promotion became his preoccupation until he veered into Politics in 2002 following his appointment as the Chairman, Transition Committee, Okigwe Local Government Area.

Early Academic Career.

The itinerant nature of his father’s job took the young Acho to Orba Community in Nsukka of Enugu State where he had his Primary Education at the Union Primary School, Orba, Nsukka and later proceeded to Oboloafor Town in the same Nsukka, particularly, the Oboloafor Boys Secondary School for his post-primary education and obtained the requisite West African School Certificate & General Certificate of Education that catapulted him to the Imo State University where he obtained a Bachelor Of Science Degree in Government and Public Administration in 2008. While in service of his fatherland and humanity, he sought for and secured admission into the Pacific Western University, U.S.A, where in 2011 he bagged a Master Of Science Degree in Public Administration.

Early Political Career

The combined effects of travelling and relocating to places with his father gave him early exposure. His Christian upbringing, educational endeavours, humanitarian services and the realization that his ancient city of Okigwe, remained the only old provincial headquarters in Nigeria yet to become a state capital spurred him into politics. He formed the “Joy Political Organization” in 2001 to advance the welfare needs of his people of Okigwe  LGA, which foundation led him into the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, with his eyes at the Chairmanship Position of his Local Government Area. This paid off when the then Government of AchikeUdenwa reckoned with his popularity and appointed him, Chairman, Transition committee, Okigwe LGA in 2002. He was later elected Executive Chairman, Okigwe LGA in 2004 which provided him with the clamoured podium to build Classroom Blocks in almost all the political wards of the Local Government Area. He also built Bridges to facilitate smooth movements and conveyance of agricultural produce in and out of the LGA. He further constructed Health Centers to boast healthy living, made Donations to many individuals and homes, and created different empowerment-driven committees that endeared him into the hearts of Okigwe peoples. He exuded peace, radiated love and elicited huge public confidence. He became a metaphor for financial liberalization and his name enveloped the lips of Ndi-Okigwe, the atmosphere under his reign was simply jubilant and enjoyable. No wonder, in 2005, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), set up a National Merit Award Committee, to assess performances of Chairmen of Local Governments in Nigeria. The Committee turned in a report with AchoIhim as “The best Local Government Chairman in Nigeria”. In the same vein, in 2006, the Senate Committee on Local Governments and States in Nigeria, revalidated this feat, declaring Hon. Ihim, “The Accomplished and Most Outstanding Executive Chairman in Nigeria”. These high profile awards spurred him to seek re-election for same position but was discouraged due to the prevalent zoning political culture in Okigwe Local Government Area.

Nevertheless, Okigwe people are known for their deep consideration, this they demonstrated in 2011 when they compensated Acho’s visible goodwill with a resounding victory in the House of Assembly Election, a welcome development of sort. In that 7th House, he became the Deputy Majority Leader, and Chairman, House Committee on Information, Due Process and Inter-parliamentary Affairs. The 2015 General Election was a turning point in the political career of Hon. AchoIhim, as he became the first Okigwe Man to be re-elected into the same position, House of Assembly, without Interruption, and it came to pass.

In furtherance of Ihim’s public confidence, his colleagues in the 7th House, at the twilight of their tenure, passed what looked like a vote of overwhelming confidence on Ihim, when they unanimously resolved to recall the ranking rule of the House, ostensibly to favour his emergence as Speaker of the 8th House, 3rd Assembly. The new members who already knew Ihim’s knack for peace, accommodation, excellence and liberalization, did not have difficulty adopting this rule, while His Excellency, OwelleRochasOkorocha, the Imo State Governor, a man of vision, saw Ihim’s heart of gold and graciously gave his fatherly blessings. One can validly state without equivocation that Ihim’s Speakership of the Imo State House of Assembly is a product of the strong confidence of his former members, unwavering support of his present colleagues, practical blessing of the Imo State Governor, and the overflowing grace of God Almighty. By divine permutation therefore, Rt. Hon.AchoIhim, whose father, had seven children, was in his first term elected into the 7th House, and was assigned the 7th number plate of the Assembly and finally became the 7th Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly.

Early Private-Sector Career

Rt. Hon. AchoIhim’s business exploits and engagements majorly centered around the founding and promotion of these educational institutions:

1.         Shalom International Nursery/Primary School, Aba, Abia State.

2.         Domino Nursery/Primary Secondary School, Umuahia, Abia State.

3.         King of Kings International Secondary School, Port-Harcourt, River State.

4.         Domino International Secondary School, Owerri, Imo State.

Early Socio-Cultural/Political Organization Career

The man, AchoIhim, is a thorough-bred socio-cultural and political character. He, at different times and seasons, operated at the top echelon of the following organizations:

1.         Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (State)

2.         Okigwe Political Leaders Forum

3.         OdinmaOkigwe Socio-Cultural Assembly

4.         Okigwe Peoples Political Movement

5.         Umualumoke Progressive Association

6.         Umuonyeneri Family Meeting

7.         Joy Campaign Organization

8.         Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

9.         All Progressives Congress (APC), his current party.

Early Career Awards and Chieftaincy Titles

Apart from his awards by the duo of the Senate Committee on Local Government and State, and Nigeria Local Government Merit Award Committee respectively, the National All Media Link also recognized him as an “Accomplished and Most Recognized Media Friendly Executive Chairman in 2003/2004. In acknowledgement of his education development efforts, the Romania University, California USA, honoured him with a Doctorate Degree.

As a prophet whose prophecy began at home, his people of Okigwe conferred on him in 2003, the aristocratic title of Onwa (The Moon) Okigwe of the Okigwe Ancient Supreme Council. This took place after he had been bestowed with the Ochiriozuo (Sponsor/Trainer-General) Okigwe title in 2002. Later in 2006, he was decorated with the Mmirioma (Good Water) Okigwe title, and in 2010 he became coronated with yet another prestigious title of NnuKerikeri (Crystallizing Salt). He therefore, through these titles, carries on his shoulders the insignia of The Moon, The Trainer-General, The Water and Salt of his people.

Marriage/Procreation Jurisdiction

On his Marriage and Procreation turf, the towering AchoIhim, at the moment, has yet an adorable woman of virtue in his life, OlaedoIhim, and six wonderful children (4 boys, 2 girls).

Summary

It is in the light of the foregoing expositions, that I summarily present to you a God-fearing Christian politician of the South Eastern Nigeria, an incurable lover and promoter of education, a liberal heart and productive philanthropist, a quantum system loyalist, an organic team player, a clinical conflict dissector, and a man of visual and oratorical acuity, Rt. Hon. (Dr)  AchoIhim, Onwa, Mmirioma, Ochiriozuo, Nnukerikeri (Okigwe), Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly of Nigeria and currently, the Vice President, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA, African Region.