By Palmer Ogheneyole Nathaniel
LAGOS MAY 6TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Hon. Chief Fegurson A. Onwon is a man of many parts. A political Scientist, Community Leader, Public Administrator and a core philanthropist. From a distance, he is a political spectacle with the classic swag of a goal-getter. He epitomizes a rare combination of youthful exurberance and fathomless circumspection of grey hair.
Born to the family of Chief Onwo of Olomoro in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State, on 6 June 1966, Ferguson had his elementary education at Atanaru Primary School, Uro, Isoko South, where he obtained his Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE), before proceeding to Government College, Ughelli, for his Post-Primary Education.
As if aware of the daunting Political tasks ahead of him later in life, Ferguson chose to study Political Science in the prestigious University Of Ibadan in Oyo State, out of the three institutions of higher learning that offered him provisional admission that same year. He pursued his studies with impregnable zeal and by 1990, he graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree (Second Class Upper), setting the stage for a colorful career in public service.
Also in a bid to add more to his academic laurels, Ferguson proceeded to the University of Benin for a second degree in Political Science and Public Administration and bagged his well deserved Master of Science degree in 2006.
He began his political journey in 1989 when he contested and won the presidency of the National Association of Isoko Students (NUIS), then in University of Ibadan. His meritorious and exemplary service to the union stood him out as a man on a mission to salvage humanity.
Armed with the requisite weapon needed to excel in life, Ferguson ventured into the dicey and precarious Nigerian politics. He contested and won the Olomoro Ward I Councillorship seat and was consequently elected by his Colleague Legislators as the Speaker of Isoko South Legislative Arm. His legendary gasp of the political situation in isoko south gave him a strong grip over the legislative arm throughout his tenure as the first among equals.
A humane administrator, amazingly simple minded and loved by his people, friends and colleagues In, Hon. Onwo was appointed to the position of the Isoko South Local Government Transition Committee Chairman in the year 2006, a position he held for a year before Council polls were conducted. His achievements as the council Boss was all his Party, the People’s Democratic Party needed, to secure the council via the ballot.
As a Council Boss, his huge impact was felt in all the wards of Isoko South. Prominent amongst his achievements in the Council was the building of culverts around Olomoro and other communities, re-building of Yanga Market, Oleh, building of lock-up stalls in Olomoro Market, reactivation of Oleh Water System, rehabilitation of roads around Isoko South, construction of 2 additional buildings in Isoko South Council, Garage Motor Parks in Olomoro, purchase of a brand new generating set in Isoko South Council, and many more.
Today, it is a naked fact that the Ferguson Onwo-led administration in Isoko South Council and by extension the whole of Isoko Nation is the first to introduce bursary for students of higher institutions. This gesture was borne out of his deep-rooted believe that education is the most vital component of human capital development.
Ferguson Onwo was also at a time the Senior Special Assistant to Governor James Onanefe Ibori on Youth and Development. This appointment came was in compensation for his huge contribution to the development of the party at the grassroots level.
As an SSA, Ferguson’s achievements have remained unbeatable till date. It is often a subject of tight fit in government circles that the office of the SSA on Youths left with Hon. Onwo, as virtually none of those who succeeded him has been able to go close to beating his records. The beautiful presentation he made on behalf of the Delta State Government on how to solve the Niger-Delta question at the now famous YENAGOA ACCORD, still remains evergreen on the hearts of all those who attended the event. It suffix to say that his contribution and that of several others created the veritable platform for the present day Ministry of Niger Delta affairs.
The famous Youths With A Different (YWAD) initiative which helped to empower lots of Delta youths, was virtually his brainchild. The Programme was tailored to create viable and legitimate source of income for youths who do not have a formal education. A lot of these youths were encouraged to learn various artisans while others who still had interest in education were assisted to in that regard. Others who have respectfully engaged themselves in meaningful ventures were also bountifully rewarded in various ways.
Hon. Onwo is one of those few politicians who have failed to see political offices as a means of self-aggrandizement but a leeway to impacting positively on the lives of those around him. Upon his appointment as the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan on NDDC, top on his agenda was the lifting of the State from its state of infrastructural challenges.
To this end, Hon. Onwo liaised with the then Representative of Delta State in the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, and Federal Legislators to ensure that projects that will benefit the state are not just inserted into the budgets but religiously executed.
While Hon. Onwo will tell whoever cares to listen that credits for the insertion of projects into the budget of NDDC should be given to the federal lawmakers in the state, it is only charitable to give credits for the execution of those projects to him and the state NDDC Rep who works tirelessly to ensure proper finishing of those contracts.
Prominent among such projects are; Oleh Street Project, purchase of Library Equipments for Delta State University, Oleh Campus, Emese Street Light, 5km road in Olomoro, Igbide Street Light project, College Roac, Enwhen, Umeh Water Project, Erowa Skills Acquisition project, Uzere street light project, rehabilitation of AbiogunSecondary School, Aviara and many more.
Others are; Rehabilitation of 1km road in Aviara, Rehabilitation of Ewokpaka Primary School, Aviara, Rehabilitation of Bethel road, rehabilitation of Aviara new layout road, rehabilitation of Edherie Egbum link road, construction of Ibrede Asafa Egbenu Road and several of other projects.
A man of gusto and dogged spirit, his dedication to service, eventful life devoted entirely to humanity and monumental achievements as an accomplished leader earned him several chieftaincy titles across Isoko land which includes; the Okpobrisi of Olomoro Kingdom, and the Akokotu (social mobilizer) of Igbide Kingdom.
In further recognition of his dedication to service especially his scholarship programs to deserving students and the less privileged, he was honored with the Delsu VC award as the Most Adorable Personality Of The Year (2006).
He is also a Fellow; Institute For Fraud and Management Control (2013), recipient of the most prestigious award of Isoko Youths for humanitarian services (2006), Recipient of the ND Energy Leadership Award, JCI Top Winner Award (2007).
Happily married with kids, his hobby is engaging in healthy political discourse.

Palmer Ogheneyole Nathaniel is the Media Consultant to Chief Ferguson Ajiroghene Onwo.
www.fergusononwo.com