Victor Ochei

Ochei Victor Onyekachi was born on February 25, 1969, in Kano and hails from Onicha Olona in the Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.[2] Ochei attended Methodist Primary School and St. Thomas Secondary School in Kano. He later proceeded to the University of Benin, in Benin City, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering. He then performed the mandatory one year National Youth Service at Ondo State.

After his bachelor's degree and youth service, Ochei then went on to obtain a Master of Science degree in Corporate Governance from Leeds Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.

Ochei has obtained certificates in good governance, effective legislation, and improving secondary school education from the Oxford University, the University of California, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He obtained a law degree from Delta State University. He also earned an MBA degree in 1996.[3][4]

As an advocate of entrepreneurial skills and endeavors, Ochei relocated to Asaba, the capital of Delta State. He then began his career in business by printing calendars and other memorabilia.[5]

Ochei also founded DavNotch Nigeria Limited, an engineering company.

On the political terrain, Ochei vied for a seat in power, and in 2003, he emerged the representative of Aniocha North Constituency and later, Deputy Minority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, on the platform of the United Nigerian People's Party, UNPP; a position held till 2006. In his second bid for elective office, he opted for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and got re-elected on the party's platform into the State Legislature. He became Chairman of the House Committee on Education until the end of the Fourth Assembly of the Delta State Legislature. He contested the 26 April 2011 election and was re-elected to the state legislature for a third term. He was elected by his colleagues as Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

Ochei was the former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), having served for 2 years and 9 months (6 June 2011 to 18 March 2014)—the longest serving Speaker in the history of the Delta State Assembly. As a member of the house, he has been elected three times as the representative of the Aniocha North constituency.[6][7][8]

Ochei earned the Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) for his contributions to the practice and development of engineering in the country in 2011. He is also a fellow at the Institute of African Studies (IAS) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.[9]

Ochei is an advocate of the maxim that views hard work and discipline as the key ingredients of success; his signature slogan is, "Hard work is the basic foundation for ensuring enduring success".[10] Ochei received various awards, including Awards of Excellence from organizations such as the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and an "Award of Merit" presented by the Interparty Advisory Council of Nigeria (Delta State Chapter). As State Assembly Speaker, Ochei is the longest-serving Speaker in the history of the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA).

He has received awards from Anioma Trends: Legislator of the Year in 2011-2012; Warri Development Platform: Best Speaker in Nigeria; Exceptional International Magazine: Exceptional Speaker of the Year; and was nominated for State Assembly Speaker of the Year 2013 for the Nigerian Legislative Excellence Awards.[11]

During the 2011 National Engineering Conference and Annual General Meeting at Tinapa Business Resort, Calabar, he was awarded the distinguished Fellow Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) award, making him the youngest Nigerian engineer to attain such an award.[12]

The Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei is also recognized for his educational achievements, with a special focus on inspiring and equipping young people with the tools of success. Some of the awards received in this category include: the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) Meritorious Service Award; the Award of Excellence; the Fellowship of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; [13] and the Worldwide Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Benin Alumni Association (UBAA), which was presented at the 41st Founder’s Day Anniversary.[14] As a young man himself who has played a pivotal role in youth development at both grass-roots and national levels, he has received an award for excellence from the Ogwashi-Uku Youth Development Association, been voted Patron of the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (Delta State), and been named Grand Patron of the Nigerian Wheelchair Basketball Federation (NWBF).[15] Victor Ochei is also the recipient of awards like the Promotion of the Rule of Law and Human Rights Award presented by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Custodian of Culture Award (Dance Nigeria Consult), the Gentleman Saint Award (De Saints International), the Golden Voice Award (Delta Project Movement), the Growth and Development of the Anioma People Award (Anioma Congress), the Ambassadors’ Award for Outstanding Performance (Ogwashi – Uku Cultural Organization), and the Niger Delta Achievers’ Merit Award.

Ochei is a patron of the Nigerian Wheelchair Basketball Federation and chairman of the Delta State Wrestling Association. [16]

In community service, Ochei is a donor to Rotary International and a member of the De Saints International Club. [17]

He founded the Victor Ochei Foundation, a nongovernmental organization that provides transportation, investments, and education to the Aniocha North Constituency.

1. Donation of brand new buses to all the secondary schools in Aniocha North LGA.
2. Donation of books to schools in Aniocha North.
3. Donation of books to Delta State University, Abraka[18]
4. The Victor Ochei Foundation awards scholarships and provides assistance to indigent students and exceptionally brilliant students in the payment of school and examination fees, including related educational expenses.
5. A scholarship up to university level was awarded to Miss Christabel Ogbeide, who came third in the first edition of the Delta State Spelling Bee Competition, initiated by his amiable wife, Mrs. Hanatu Ochei.
6. Proposed modern lecture theater at the Oleh Campus of Delta State University. The architectural plan for the gigantic project is ready.
7. Institution of awards for the 10 best graduating students from the 10 departments of the Federal College of Education, Asaba, which will run throughout his lifetime.
8. Financial empowerment of the best investigative reporter in Delta State as a way of encouraging in-depth investigative journalism
9. Sponsorship of inter-school debate among secondary schools under the platform of the De Saints International Club, an international philanthropic organization. The project seeks to promote scholarship and help students improve their spoken English.[19]
10. Thousands of Aniocha North and South indigenes and beyond have immensely benefited from Ochei through private and government job placements and direct political appointments.
11. Civil contractors and service providers from Aniocha North and beyond have greatly benefited from government and personal patronage made possible by Ochei.

During his three (3) consecutive tenures as the Representative of the Aniocha North Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Ochei has spearheaded many educational and infrastructural development projects within the constituency. One of the significant projects among these initiatives was the renovation, modernization, and provision of educational aids for 19 basic, secondary, and tertiary institutions in the Aniocha North Constituency.[20]

1. Issele Uku, Issele Mkpitime, and OnichaOlona Road
2. OnichaOlona—Atuma—Otulu Road
3. Issele Uku, Idumu Ogo, and Obomkpa Road
4. The Aniocha Ring Road

1. Issele Uku viewing center
2. Financial empowerment of over 1000 women from Aniocha North to assist them in setting up small businesses[21]
3. Replicating the same financial empowerment for more than 12 thousand women from the remaining 24 LGAs in Delta State.
4. Government Hospital, Onicha Olona.
5. Onicha Ugbo viewing center
6. Issele-Uku Fire Station
7. Onicha Olona Street Light (PHCN/Solar).
8. Issele Uku street light (solar)
9. Aniofu street light (solar)
10. High Court, Issele Uku.
11. Massive reconstruction and renovation of the Delta State House of Assembly Complex and the addition of new structures

Victor O. Ochei holds traditional titles in Onicha-Olona, Onicha Ugbo, and Umuebu, which are recognized and celebrated by the communities.