By Douglas Princemola
Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewuchi, who represents Imo East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, has officially commissioned a newly constructed and fully furnished civic centre in Uratta, Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State.
The Uratta Civic Centre, located at the Orie Uratta Market Square, was commissioned on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The project was conceived to provide a functional and accessible space for community meetings, cultural activities, social programmes, and other gatherings that support interaction and cooperation among residents of Uratta and surrounding communities.
The commissioning ceremony recorded a large turnout of community members and stakeholders. In attendance were members of the Uratta Development Union, traditional rulers, political leaders, youth and women groups, and residents drawn from the various Uratta clans. The presence of these groups reflected the value placed on the facility and the role it is expected to play in addressing communal needs.
Speaking during the event, the President General of the Uratta Development Union, Chief Engr Stanley Ukaga, expressed appreciation to the senator for the completion of the civic centre. He noted that the facility would provide a long needed venue for meetings and community activities and called for continued attention to infrastructural development within the area.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the Chairman of Owerri North Local Government Council, leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the local government area, traditional rulers from Obibi Uratta and Ihitte Oha, as well as respected community leaders and representatives of various associations.
Their participation added to the significance of the occasion.
In his address, Senator Onyewuchi explained that the decision to build the civic centre was informed by consultations with community stakeholders and the need for a central place where people could gather to discuss issues affecting their welfare. He stated that the facility would support planning, dialogue, and activities aimed at improving social interaction and local development.
The senator also used the occasion to outline other projects carried out across Owerri Zone, including the construction and renovation of school buildings, road projects, town halls, and the implementation of empowerment programmes targeting different segments of the population. He noted that these interventions were designed to address basic needs and improve living conditions within the communities.
He further disclosed that an ultramodern skill acquisition centre has been completed at the Uratta Local Government Headquarters and is awaiting commissioning. According to him, the centre is intended to provide training opportunities and practical skills for youths and other residents.
The Uratta Civic Centre was described as a modern facility equipped with offices, canteens, and other basic amenities to support its use for various purposes. Community members expressed optimism that the centre would be properly utilized and maintained to serve current and future needs.
The event concluded with goodwill messages from community leaders and residents, who welcomed the project and encouraged continued collaboration between elected representatives and the people to support orderly development within Owerri North and Imo East as a whole.
