The governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a year older on 27^th May, sharing same birthday with Rivers State, though he is two years older than the State. The twin birthday celebration was held at the government house, Porthacourt.

Gov. Rotimi Amaechi who shares the same birthday with the State was born on May 27,  1965, while Rivers State was created two years after he was born, which is May 27,1967. This somehow, underscores why his commitment towards the emancipation and development of the State is total and unique.

 Another unique aspect of this great man from Rivers State is that he shares the same date with the day on which Nigeria set aside to celebrate the Children's Day anniversary inspired by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The Federal Government of Nigeria decided in 1964, a year to the birth date of Gov. Amaechi to set aside May 27 every year as Nigeria's Children's Day. On this special day the whole Nation celebrates the Nigerian Children and the Federal Government declares a public holiday for schools across the country. The day is usually marked with fanfare, featuring dances, singing by children in colourful dresses and youth parades considered by many as the highlights of the day.

 An alumnus of the University of Port Harcourt, Amaechi is resolutely committed to ensuring that Children’s education is received without much burden in terms of finance to parents and guardians, as exemplified in the free education policy of his administration, including the provision of free uniforms, free sandals, free books, free hand bags and free tuition in the primary schools, while in the secondary schools, the government offers free uniform, free bags, free books, free boarding and free sandals. This may well be his own special way of living up to his birthday which coincides with the Children’s Day!

Apart from education, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has also made massive infrastructural investments around the state, road projects, schools, health centres, rural electrification, ongoing monorail project, rural development, land reclamation, implementation of the Greater Port Harcourt Master Plan and, most importantly, the sustenance of relative peace and security evident in the continued attraction and influx of foreign investors to the State. Amaechi stands as the only African Leader to have constructed 60 health centres, donated the same to 60 communities, a feat many within and outside the state acknowledge as the first of its kind.

Governor Amaechi redefined the art of politics and governance in Nigeria when he introduced free education and free healthcare programmes in Rivers State and within a space of five years created over 50,000 jobs to reduce the menace of unemployment, poverty and insurgency in Nigeria. His administration started creating employment opportunities when he assumed office in 2007 by building over 140 Primary Health Centres, 23 model Secondary Schools that can compete with any modern university in Nigeria and over 300 Model Primary Schools which created job opportunities in the State. Each of these projects attracts about 100 workers. His government has created the Banana Farms that have created jobs for over 2,000 persons, revived Risonpalm, which was dead when he came in, and it has employed over 5,000 workers. The Songhai Farm has employed over 2,000 workers, while five Fish Farms in strategic locations have been completed

At the unique birthdays celebration cum Children’s Day Celebration, Gov. Amaechi appreciated God for satisfying him with good health and adding another year to his years.

Watch out for full details of life and achievements of this Man of Destiny on June edition of CEOAFRICA Magazine.