From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
For demonstrating consistency in erecting infrastructure within his senatorial district, Abia-North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has won the Senate Press Corps Award on Constituency Development.
He beat his 108 colleagues to clinch the coveted prize at this year’s edition of the Senate Press Corps Award ceremony in Abuja, yesterday.
Senator Kalu retained the award following his unrelenting record of executing critical infrastructure projects across Abia-North in addition to human empowerment.
The event was attended by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by Senator Yemi Adaramodu and other lawmakers.
It is the third time the former Abia State governor is carting home the award having won the 2021 and 2022 editions.
Chairman of the Senate Press Corps, Mr. James Itodo, emphasised that the lawmaker won the award again due to his sustenance in executing development projects and empowerment programmes for his constituents.
Itodo added that the organisation took cognisance of Kalu’s representation, describing it as an effective and result-oriented, particularly at the federal level, as the template of responsive and responsible representation since the introduction of the idea during the fourth Assembly.
Owing to his infrastructural and human empowerment drive in his Constituency, Kalu who chairs the Senate Committee on Privatisation has continued to rake in awards from reputable organisations.
Others included “Honorary Fellowship Award” by the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN); “Progressive Leadership Award by Pro-democracy group, Progressive Movement for Better Nigeria among others.
In 2022 Kalu emerged Best Senator of the Year in Constituency Projects Award by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Abuja chapters.
In Legislative actions, according to OrderPaper.ng Nigeria’s parliamentary multimedia platform, the 64-year-old lawmaker is rated highest amongst other senators from Abia State with 25 bills standing in his name and rated second amongst his former governor colleagues at the Senate using the 2019-2022 cumulative legislative year.