The National Executive Council of Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ), has nominated the famous, delectable , and ebullient Senator Barrister Natasha Hadiza Akpoti – Uduaghan for the prestigious, MOST OUTSTANDING INTEGRITY SENATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2025.
In a Press Statement issued on behalf of the Association signed by the National President, Dr Charles Okhai, contended that Sen. Natasha was nominated for the pricey Award in recognition of her unwavering commitment to Integrity, Transparency, Accountability, Patriotic Zeal, Diligencce, and her creative leadership capacity. According to the statement, Sen. Natasha has demonstrated responsible representation of her people at the upper chamber since elected.
Senator (Barr.) Natasha Hadiza Akpoti-Uduaghan is a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the First Female Senator to be elected from Kogi. She represents the good people of Kogi Central Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly. Until her election into the Nigerian Senate, Senator Natasha was an entrepreneur, founder of Builders Hub Impact Investment Program and CEO of Legendark Group.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was a corporate lawyer, but much more, she is a courageous and passionate human rights activist and defender of the oppressed who has had to put her comfort and safety on the line in defence of these values. She is a resilient political reformer whose passions centre on the advancement of public good and preservation of a just society. Born on December 9th, 1979, Senator Natasha is from Obeiba, Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan attended Christ the King Nursery and Primary School, Okene, Kogi State for her Primary Education. She attended Government Girls Unity Secondary School, Oboroke, Kogi State, and then proceeded to Federal Government College Idoani, Ondo state for her Senior Secondary School Certificate. She proceeded to University of Abuja she obtained the Bachelor of Laws Degree. In 2004, Senator Natasha proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja and was called to the Nigerian Bar on the 8th November 2005. Thereafter, she continued her quest for resourceful knowledge at the University of Dundee in Scotland, UK, where she graduated as the Best MBA (Oil and Gas Management).
In 2016, she attended the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Program in Singapore where she acquired applicable knowledge on smart innovative sustainable solutions for tackling neglected problems at all levels of society. Attaining a high merit, she excelled in vital modules such as Strategic Management and Organizational Analysis; Leadership and Decision-making; International Arbitration; Management in Energy and Natural Resources Industries; International Petroleum Law, and Ultimately Business Strategy in Extractive Industries amongst others.
Senator Natasha has been the foremost advocate for the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company and harnessing of the enormous iron ore deposit at Itakpe, all situate at Kogi State. She started by putting out two public interest petitions on change.org in October 2015. On the 25th of January, 2016 Senator Natasha led a massive awareness walk to draw Government attention to the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
Her advocacy climaxed on the 1st March 2018 when she made an expository presentation of facts on the floor of the National Assembly’s plenary debate on the Nigeria’s steel sector which led to the creation of a $1b lifeline funding for the revival of Ajaokuta steel company.
Senator Natasha’s recommendation of Government-to-Government bilateral agreement for the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company was achieved in October 2019 when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Nigerian and Russian Governments at the Russia-Africa Summit held in Sochi, Russia, with an investment commitment of $1.4 billion by AfreximBank for the Ajaokuta project.
As part of her mentorship and youth development program.
Senator Natasha has visited over 30 renowned tertiary institutions across Nigeria to deliver inspiring lectures and held entrepreneurial seminars to gear students toward self-employment, self-reliance and patriotic contribution to nation-building.
She recently sponsored two Bills: one, in order to give significance to Gold Reserve and the attendant urgency exploitation and harnessing of our precious metals calls, and encourage diversification of Nigeria’s economy away from oil which sales compel a reserve only in the US Dollar; and two, the Cottage Industries Bill which emphasizes the training and acquisition of skills necessary to drive small-scale production locations that produce food, goods and services, thereby reducing unemployment and dependence on imported goods.
Senator Natasha who detests indolence and dishonesty, is a dogged and ebullient defender of what is right and just.
