Rt. Hon. Lady Blessing Onyeche Onuh

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

Blessing Onyeche Onuh was born on June 20, 1976, in Otukpo, Benue State, to the family of Senator David Bonaventure Mark (from Akpagede, Otukpo LGA) and Dame Onma Agbeje (from Ogwule, Agatu LGA), both from Benue State. In 1988, she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate from St. Andrew's Primary School, Otukpo. She then attended the Federal Government Girls' College, Gboko, graduating in 1993. In 1996, she gained admission to study Sociology at the University of Abuja, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1999. She subsequently obtained her Master’s degree in Women and Gender Studies from the same university and is presently pursuing her doctorate degree in the same field.

CAREER

Following her university graduation, Hon. Blessing Onuh underwent the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, serving in the Agriculture Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Jos, Plateau State, from 2000 to 2001. From 2005 to 2007, she was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Education. She later served as the Special Assistant to the Minister of Inter-Governmental Affairs, Local Government and Special Duties, and subsequently as the Special Assistant to the Minister of Water Resources. Thereafter, she was appointed Secretary for the Social Development Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). In this role, which she held from 2010 to 2015, she oversaw the departments of Gender, Social Welfare, Youth, Sports, Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as Administration and Finance. In her capacity as Secretary, she also chaired the FCT NYSC Governing Board. In 2019, she contested for a seat in the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and won, emerging as the member representing the Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency. During this tenure, she served as the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on FCT. Hon. Lady Onuh was re-elected in June 2023 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She is presently serving as the Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport.

PERSONAL LIFE AND PHILANTHROPY

Hon. Blessing is married to Dr. Innocent Onuh, an orthopedic surgeon from Obotu-Ugboju in Otukpo LGA, Benue State. They are blessed with three children and a grandchild. Beyond her public service, the Rt. Hon. Lady Blessing Onuh has consistently demonstrated an unwavering passion for humanitarian work, particularly in the areas of child development, women empowerment, youth mentorship, and support for the vulnerable and indigent within her constituency. This dedication is evident in her establishment of the Eyum Memorial Foundation, which sponsors the Otukpo Children’s Carnival, the Little Miss Otukpo Pageant, Otukpo’s Got Talent, and the renowned Ogig’ Omebe and Onya Ole women groups. Through this platform, thousands of children, youths, and women have received training and empowerment in various skills, including fashion design, catering and confectionery making, soap production, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and modern agriculture.