The name Hon. Blessing Onyeche Onuh is reputed for compassion and youth empowerment in Benue away from the purported austere persona of her father, former military administrator and Benue’s longest served senator. Blessing Onyeche Onuh was born on the 30th June, 1976 in Otukpo, Benue State to the family of David Mark of Akpegedde-Otukpo. In 1988, she obtained her first school leaving certificate from St. Andrew’s Primary School, Otukpo. She then attended Federal Government Girls’ College Gboko and graduated in 1993. In 1995, she got admission to study Sociology at the University of Abuja and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1999. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Gender Studies at the University of Abuja .
After graduation from the University, Blessing Onuh went for the mandatory one year service of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) where she served at Nigerias apex banking authority, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the department of Agricuture Jos Office, Plateau State from 2000 to 2001. As soon as she completed her mandatory national service after graduation, she got appointed to the office of Special Assistant to the Honorable Minister of State for Education, Arc. Halima Tayo Alao. Her work ethic and high productivity got her retained at the same office under the Federal Ministry of Inter-Governmental, Local Government and Special Duties, during the period which subsequently emerged the Acting Chairman, Federal Capital Territory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy. She was then appointed as Secretary for the Social Welfare Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
In 2018, she contested for the position of the House of Representatives member for Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State but lost to Egli Johnson Ahubi who is known to be her uncle. This led her leaving the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the Federal House of Representatives representring Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency under which won the 2019 general elections. But she later defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2021.
Hon. Blessing Onuh, Deputy Chairman House Committee on FCT in the last three years has recorded significant achievements in her constituency including:
– Aggressive sensitization of constituents on the dangers of drugs and narcotics, empowered women and youths, provided job employment, Sponsorships & Scholarship programs, skill Acquisition for Women on Soap making, Disinfectants & sanitizers, sponsorship of 15 Persons on a study (Disaster Management) course in England, Palliatives to victims of Otukpo Main Market Disaster, provided COVID-19 Palliatives, distribution of grants in collaboration with NDE, Grants to Women & Youths across Otukpo/Ohimini Fed. Constituency, distribution of motorcycles, grinding machines, generating set to women and youth across Otukpo/Ohimini and distribution of hair clippers to Barbers across Otukpo/Ohimini Fed. Constituency.
– In the educational sector, Mrs. Onuh said she had embarked on the construction of 6 blocks of classrooms in Okete ward in Otukpo LGA, a block of 6 classrooms in Adoka – Icho ward in Otukpo, a block of 3 classrooms with furniture in Onyangede Ehaje ward of Ohimini LGA, Block of 3 classrooms in the muslim community – Township ward one and Renovation of Akpachi Primary school in Otukpo LGA. She had constructed and rehabilitated the Onyangede – Otiloli – Awume Road in Ohimini LGA, Constructed and Rehabilitated the Illaba Ugboju Road (ongoing), and constructed drainages across the 23 council wards of Otukpo/Ohimini Fed. Constituency. Hon. Blessing has made significant positive impact in a short time giving her constituents high hopes of better days ahead.
by Raphael Atuu, Aug-Oct 2023