Dame Blessing Nwagba’s Political Essence Captured on her Birthday

By Ijendu Iheaka

“Blessing Nwagba, is a woman who is not into politics for personal gains but to touch lives”, that was the statement of one of her loyalists.

And this she had shown even while out of political office through her efforts to position women in rightful political spaces.

Nwagba, currently the chairperson of Nigerian League of Women Voters (NILOWV), Abia State chapter has been engaging key political office holders to actualize Reserved Seats Bill for Women in Abia State’s Legislative House.

She and other women of like minds have been busy traversing different parts of Abia State and beyond advocating for the actualization of the Reserved Seats Bill for Women in Legislative Houses,

The bill, HB 1349 is being sponsored by Mr Benjamin Okezie (CFR), Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives for enhanced women inclusion in governance and political processes.

As Nwagba marks another birthday on July 27, a political analyst says her enviable political legacies will outlive her physical presence in this terrestrial realm.

Dame Blessing Nwagba, Ph.D, popularly known as “Total Blessing”, and a former two-time legislator who represented Aba North State Constituency and the first woman governorship candidate in Abia State has expressed profound gratitude to God for her life and political career.

She also appreciated her amazing children and her her political associates, friends, family and well-wishers for their love and support during these years.

The indefatigable political Amazon was the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial candidate for Aba South Senatorial District in the 2023 election.

The tall, beautiful, eloquent and notable political icon and APC stalwart has carved a niche for herself in the political landscape of Abia State and beyond.

Her foray into partisan politics dates back to 1998.

That year she joined the Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) after quitting her civil service job as the Supervisory Councillor for Health, Information, Social Welfare, Youth, Sports and Culture in the then Aba Local Government Area to contest for the State House of Assembly election.

She won but was not sworn in because of the death of then late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

Thereafter, she became the Deputy Chairman of Aba North local government Area (1998-1999).

At the formation of political parties in the nation following the return to civil rule in 1999, she became a founding member and pioneer executive of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State and held several positions in the party including state Ex-officio and state vice chairman among others.

In 2003, she contested for Aba North and Aba South Federal Constituency and won but her mandate was hijacked overnight by the then administration in the state and given to one of their own in the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

In 2007, she vied for the same position again but the PDP gave the ticket to another contender.

In the 2011 April election, she still aspired to the same position but she was asked to vie for the State House of Assembly election, which she contested and won.

She was sworn-in as a member of the 5th Abia State House of Assembly.

At the expiration of her first tenure, she vied for a second term in the 2015 election.

Even though, Aba residents voted out all the PDP candidates in Aba because of total infrastructural decay, especially roads in the popular commercial hub of Abia State, Nwagba regained her mandate through the court after one year of fierce legal battle because of her overwhelming popularity and outstanding performance.

Indeed, she made things happen during her time leaving behind enviable legacies in her Constituency, the State House of Assembly and Abia State.

Blessing Nwagba (Total Blessing) is a unique brand and a movement.

She defied all odds and stereotypes during her second tenure as the only woman in the 24- member 6th Abia State House of Assembly and she proved beyond all doubts that her gender is no barrier to her political career.

In the 2019 election, she aspired to represent Aba North and Aba South Federal Constituency.

But when her efforts to clinch the PDP ticket failed, she joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and emerged as the party’s governorship candidate in Abia State.

Thereafter, she joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) and emerged as the ruling party’s candidate for Abia South Senatorial District in the 2023 election.

Her formidable political clout and overwhelming popularity obviously gave the APC recognition in Abia South.

As a member of both the APC Presidential Campaign Council as well as the party’s 2022 National Convention Planning Committee, Blessing Nwagba was in the vanguard of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign both in Owerri, Imo State and Umuahia, Abia State

She did this alongside Nkeiruka Onyejiocha (Minister of State for Labour and Employment), Betta Edu (former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs) and Uju Kennedy Ohanenye (former Minister of Women Affairs) as they all worked so hard for the victory of President Bola Tinubu.

Dame Blessing Nwagba is a renowned grassroots politician and a strong advocate for inclusion of more women in politics and governance.

Blessing Nwagba is the first child of the late Ven. Joseph Ukomadu Ufomba, an Archdeacon of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, and an educationist and Mrs. Comfort Nwaelewachi Ufomba of Umuojima Ogbu in Osisioma Ngwa LGA of Abia State.

Nwagba, a virtuous woman of immense value, notable philanthropist, popular educationist, Knight of St. Mary (KSM), a PhD holder in Personnel Management and Industrial Relations and a mother of four highly successful engineers is a politician par excellence.

As she marks her new age today (July 27, 2025), her children, political associates, captains of industry, other distinguished personalities and all those who know her would join her to thank God for her fulfilled life and distinguished political career.

They are praying and wishing her a happy birthday, long life, good health, uncommon achievements, prosperity, God’s continued protection and more successes in the years ahead.