Senator Chief Stella Omu

Senator Stella Unuezi Omu, DCG Rtd., OON, mni was born to Chief Edward and Evangelist Miriam Ogoro in Samaru Zaria. She studied Psychology at the London University, Manpower Studies in Manchester University, Industrial Relations at the Industrial Society of London and Penology at the Prison Staff College, Wakefield, England. Stella Unuezi Omu is also a graduate of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos and attended over 50 workshops and conferences which include: • Making Democracy work, Glasgow, Scotland, UK 1998 • Anti-Corruption by Transparency International, South Africa 1999 • Oil & Gas Summit, Houston, USA 2001 • United Nations 9th Congress on Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders, Cairo, Egypt 1995 • Gender Equality Development, Peace for 21st Century, New York 2000 • United State Programme for Women Legislatures on Good Governance, Washington DC 2000 • Study Tour of South Africa on Women Reproductive Health 2001 • Women development Workshop held in Bangkok Thailand 1991 • International Conference on AIDS held in Montreal, Canada 1989 • Regional Conference on Women and AIDS in Africa Held in Harare Zimbabwe Working Experience • Barclays Bank DCO Hospital Road, Kaduna 1965 Prison Service Stella Unuezi Omu joined the prison service as a cadet ASP in 1966 and rose to the rank of Deputy Controller General of Prisons in 1989. As the first woman to attain the rank of Deputy Controller General in any of the Para- Military Services, this earned her a place in the hall of Fame at the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja in 1992. Politics In 1998, under the UNCP, she contested and won the Delta South Senatorial District seat. She repeated this feat under the PDP in 1999 and won. She became the Chief Whip of the senate making her the first and only woman that had held this position in the Senate thus far. This feat also earned her another place in the hall of fame in the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja. Other Experiences include: • Member National Planning Committee of Better Life Programme that built the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Abuja; • Chairman, Legislative Advocacy Committee of the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV); • Member of Mitee Ledum 44-Member Technical Committee on the Niger Delta (2008); • Member of PDP Board of Trustees; • Member of the PDP National Caucus as well as a Member of its’ Executive Council (NEC); • First Lady, Cross River State (Now Akwa Ibom and Cross River) when her spouse, Major General Paul Omu (rtd.) was Governor between 1975-1978 • Member, Presidential Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy from 1989-1996 • Member, National Political Reform Conference in 2005; • Chairman, Presidential Panel of Enquiry into the Port Harcourt and Ogwashi Uku jail break in 2005; • President General, Ewhaeye Isoko Association of Nigeria 1985-1993 that donated and equipped a 22-Bed Pediatric ward at General Hospital, Oleh to Delta State Government in 1992 • Founder of Stella Omu Foundation (SOFYE) that empowers women and youth through capacity building and interest free loans; • Proprietress, Otiti-M Divine Academy, a foremost institution that thrives in shaping the young minds into responsible, informed and compassionate individuals for a better tomorrow; • Member, Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council since 2015; • Holder of over 60 National, International and Institutional awards which include, Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) in 2000; • Record holder of 100 yards and 220 yards Girls, Northern Nigeria when she was a student at Queen of Apostle College, Kakuri, Kaduna- 1961-1963. She is a golfer. Senator Stella Unuezi Omu is from Ada-Irri in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State and is married with six children and many grandchildren. Her philosophy in life is bounce back higher whenever you fail, bear no grudge and holding steadfast to God.