The Anambra State House of Assembly on Friday held a valedictory session in honour of late Ernest Onyekwena, a former lawmaker in the shortlived Second Republic in the old Anambra in 1983.

The late Onyekwena, an indigene of Ufuma Community in the Orumba North Local Government Area, died at 78.

He was the Chairman, House Committee on Higher Education during his time in the Assembly.

In a tribute, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Chukwuma Okoye, described the late lawmaker as a distinguished community leader and dedicated public servant.

Mr Okoye said that Mr Onyekwena had an unwavering commitment to legislative processes and that his impact on his constituency was enduring.

The lawmakers representing Orumba North and Orumba South constituencies, Paul Obu and Emma Nwafor, said that the late Onyekwena was instrumental in the development of Orumba region.

They said the late legislator played a key role in the establishment of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, and Federal Polytechnic, Oko, among other achievements during his six months stay in the Assembly.

They commended the late legislator for his courage and capacity with which he served Anambra and Nigeria as a lawmaker and private citizen.

In a vote of thanks, son of the late lawmaker, Dr Obinna Onyekwena, expressed gratitude to the House for honouring his late father.

He assured the lawmakers that his family would continue to uphold and live by the legacies he left behind.

(NAN)