Henry Ikoh, his wife and Rep Sam Onuigbo at the National Assembly


Senate, on Wednesday at plenary, screened and confirmed all the seven ministerial nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 21.


Out of the seven, three, including  Goodluck Nana Opiah (Imo), Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub (Kano) and Ademola Adewole Adegoroye (Ondo, due to their legislative background and experience took a bow before the Senate and were not asked questions


Four others, including Henry Ikoh (Abia) Umana Okon Umana (Akwa Ibom), Ekumankama Joseph Nkama (Ebonyi) and Odum Odi (Rivers) all fielded questions from the Senators.


Ikoh, a notable industrialist and businessman proposed to contribute to the development of the nation’s economy as he had the requisite experience and expertise garnered as a private sector player.


Ikoh called for the  establishment of modular refineries, to refine the nation’s crude oil locally and equally provide jobs for Nigeria's teeming unemployed youths


He equally advocated for the deepening of partnership between the  Federal Government and the private sector, to facilitate the creation of more industries to deepen the economy


The two-time former Abia Commissioner further maintained that there is  a need to ensure that graduates of tertiary institutions possess technical knowledge that would enable them to become job creators, especially in the local communities.


 President Buhari had in a  letter  conveying the names of the ministerial nominees to the Senate, explained that the confirmation request was in accordance with the provisions of Section 147 subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.