7th August, 2022
Solomon Ukoha, a young Nigerian from Abia who constructed an electricity substation, was on Saturday found selling on a street in Lagos despite the promise made by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Ukoha came into the limelight in April 2021 after he was interviewed by Fun Paradise TV.
The young innovator had built a transformer with crude oil and other locally sourced materials.
After the video went viral, the native of Amaekpu in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State was invited by Gov. Ikpeazu.
Ukoha met the governor on the 3rd of May, 2021, and was promised a 5-year full scholarship into any school of his choice after he told the governor he had completed his secondary school education without any hope of going to the university due to financial challenges.
The governor at the meeting expressed joy over the technical ingenuity exhibited by Ukoha.
Ikpeazu noted that Abia has youths who can compete favorably with their international counterparts in technical education if given the opportunity.
The governor explained that power supply has been a major problem facing the country and as such has impacted negatively on economic growth and industrialization, especially in the shoe, leather, and garments sub-sectors for which Aba is well known.
He encouraged Ukoha to train some other youths and impart some knowledge to them for the greater benefit of society.
The governor also encouraged him to build a more presentable prototype of the substation to enable it to compete in external exhibitions revealing that the scholarship covers his tuition fee and accommodation immediately after he gets admission.
However, after over 14 months, Governor Ikpeazu is yet to fulfill the pledge.
Speaking with PM News on Sunday, Ukoha confirmed that the meeting was ‘just a show,’ adding that he did not receive any help from the governor after the meeting.
He said: “Maybe because I am not his son, nothing happened after I met Governor Ikpeazu. I tried reaching out but I got no answers. He failed me.”
Meanwhile, Onyebuchi Ememanka, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Abia State, is yet to respond to a message from PM News concerning the comments made by Solomon Ukoha.