The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Item culture resonates in Lagos

    Only the physical location of the ceremony would tell a guest that he was not in one of the village squares in Item, Abia State, Nigeria and that he was not witnessing one of the important cultural festivals in the ancient kingdom. The songs were real and the dancing steps could not be faulted by anyone. Also, the cultural make-up of the men with traditional war caps or chieftaincy caps with fancy walking sticks to match, fully dressed women in ceremonial double wrapper paraphernalia and the gaily dressed children would literally transform anyone to the ancient kingdom, notwithstanding the almost a thousand kilometers difference in location.  This is even so, given that the paramount traditional ruler of Item Kingdom, HRM, Eze Silas Okeofia Igwe, the Okpi of Item, is present live with most of the traditional High Chiefs and top palace officials.

    So, as the traditional Item War Dance ‘warriors take the stage, causing both pandemonium and joy for the children, men and women, it became obvious that for Item indigenes in the crowd, the anniversary in faraway Lagos offers a romantic return home, at least in the subconscious.

    But this is not really home in Item; this is Lagos, where the community leaders and residents have gathered to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Item Union, Lagos.

    From the planning stage, the organisers envisioned a grand event and that was how it turned out to be, that Saturday, November 10, 2018.

    Before the anniversary day, the President-General of Item Union Lagos, Chief Onwuka Orji, told The Nation that the unifying effects of ethnic nationalities in national unity will be the focus of the formal discourse at the event.

    As a result, the role of the Keynote Speaker at the event, with the theme, “The unifying effects of Ethnic Organisations in National Unity: The Case of Item Union in Lagos was assigned to Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.

    Also, important Igbo and Nigerian leaders were invited to grace the occasion. The promotional materials, for example listed Ochiagha Ochimba, Aka ji Ofo Ndi Igbo; Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe (retired), who served as the Chief of General Staff (Vice President of Nigeria) from 1985-1986 as the chairman of the event. Other distinguished personalities scheduled to grace the occasion included Senator Ike Nwachukwu, penciled to serve as the Father of the Day; Special Guest of Honour, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the President-General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo; the host, Prof. Joe Irukwu, a former President-General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and of course HRM, Eze Silas Okeofia Igwe, the Okpi of Item.

    Okpi meets Item indigenes in Lagos

    In order to meet with Item indigenes in Lagos before the anniversary, HRM Eze Silas Okofia Igwe JP (the Okpi of Item), arrived Lagos before the anniversary date. The Nation gathered that he met with some Item sons and daughters to who he offered some fatherly pieces of advice. One of the places he visited was Soulmate Industries Limited.

    Royal visit to Soulmate Industries Ltd

    The day before the Item Union Lagos’ 75th anniversary event, the overall traditional ruler of Item Kingdom, HRM Eze Silas Okofia Igwe JP (the Okpi of Item), took time off to pay a special visit to the corporate headquarters of Soulmate Industries Ltd, makers of Soulmate range of cosmetics products, founded by one of the prominent Item sons, Chief Ndukwe Osogho Ajala (OON).

    As would be expected, the royal personage did not undertake the visit alone. He went with some prominent Item chiefs, elders and other distinguished personalities. They include Prince Ichie Okenwa (the Omewu of Item and the traditional Prime Minister of Item); High Chief Eme Abiayi (the Ikeoha Item); Chief Mrs. Caro Abiayi (his wife); Chief (Mrs.) Patience Okoronkwo (a staff of National Open University); Prince Charles Igwe (Okpi’s traditional Prime Minister); Sir Onwuka Orji (the President of Item Union Lagos); Chief Maduka Abraham (the Vice President of Item Union Lagos); Prince Emmanuel Eze (the Treasurer of Item Union Lagos) and Chief Chidi Ogboku.

    Welcoming the royal personages, Chief Ndukwe Osogho Ajala gave a historical brief of the company. Osogho-Ajala, who studied Industrial Chemistry at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) and has today become the first graduate of the institution to sit on the University’s Governing Board, held the guests spellbound when he recalled how he started Soulmate in 1992 with just a frying pan in his kitchen.

    He then showed HRM the initial accounting books of entry he used when he started the company and how the company has recorded growth ever since then. The books he presented to the traditional ruler showed, amongst others, the first sales of 15pieces of goods at the onset and when the company recorded its first 1m (One million naira) turnover in October 1994.

    He expressed special appreciation to his bosom friend, Mr. U.K Eke, who he said “was so helpful when the company just started.”

    In his speech, the President of Item Union Lagos, Sir Onwuka Orji, thanked God for the traditional ruler’s safe arrival the previous day, explaining that His Majesty was in Lagos to visit his subjects residing there and to grace the Item Union Lagos’ 75th anniversary. He described the Okpi as “zealous and passionate over the wellbeing of the people of the entire community of Item Kingdom, no matter where they reside.”

    On the special visit to Soulmate, Onwuka said the entire Executive Council of Item Union, Lagos was well represented, adding that Item Union Lagos was particularly glad to visit Soulmate Industries Limited.

    Declaring that he was overwhelmed by the unique history of Soulmate Industries Limited, he described its emergence and growth chart as ‘hallmark to greatness.’ Celebrating the Founder and MD/CEO of the company, Sir Ndukwe Osogho Ajala, he said “Item nation is very proud” of him.

    In his speech, HRM the Okpi of Item expressed satisfaction in what he saw at Soulmate Industries Limited. He thanked God for the MD/CEO and the company, praising Chief Ndukwe Osogho Ajala in particular for being meticulous enough to keep all the details of how he started the company. Okpi also advised the MD/CEO to continue to keep his hands straight and to take good care of his employees, adding that the good Lord will continue to prosper him.

    Commending him for all the community development efforts he has been associated with at home, the Okpi advised the MD that while reaching out to the immediate communities in which he is doing his business, he should never stop to look towards the East, his home land, to create employment for the teeming unemployed indigenes, especially in Item kingdom.

    Before the end of the visit, Chief Osogho Ajala took the Okpi and all the other guests round the factory and the entire complex.

    Soulmate Industries Limited, which started in very humble ways, has today become a household name.  Its products are visible all over Nigeria and the Ecowas countries. It is on record that the company has developed, researched on and formulated over sixteen (16) successful products as at today.

  • ‘Interest in job skills growing in Anambra’

    The Chairman, Anambra State Local Government Service commission, Dr Peter Egenti has expressed satisfaction over the increasing interest of workers in the state towards entrepreneurial development.

    He said the introduction of skill acquisition programme across the local council areas in the state was to equip the workers with skills for life after service and to reposition the local government system for efficient service delivery.

    Speaking in Awka during the monthly productivity display by Anambra West, Ogbaru and Onitsha North area councils, Egenti noted that the campaign was not only unlocking the potential in the system, but stimulating workers’ interest towards higher productivity.

    “We’re happy the campaign has affected workers’ attitude to duty, equipped them with skills for life after service as well as brought an increase in the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” he said.

    He disclosed the commission’s plans to institutionalise quality control units across the twenty-one local government areas of the state.

    According to him, the control units were targeted at maintaining standard and ensure market acceptability in the entrepreneurship scheme of the council areas.

    Regretting the prevalent cases of truancy and absenteeism among the workers, Egenti insisted that ghosting would not be tolerated by his administration, urging them to sit up to their responsibilities.

    “We’re not happy when we come and see the local government deserted. You can’t boast of being productive when you don’t come to work,” he posited.

    He urged local government administrators to put in place measures to effectively monitor movement, activities and performance of workers to ensure key objectives of the programme were achieved.

    “You as the key officers are our representatives and can only give us up to date reports of what is happening at your various council areas when you are at your duty posts,” he said.

    Presenting the council’s productivity charters, the Head of Administration, Anambra West Council, Jeff Moudeme, said the council has gone into various ventures including rice, yam, snail farming and production of local gin.

    His counterpart in Ogbaru area council, Christian Ugwumadu, said the scheme provided opportunity for cross fertilisation of ideas to effectively harness the huge agricultural potential in the area.

    On his part, the Head of Administration, Onitsha North, Emmanuel Okoro, disclosed the commissioning of a skill acquisition centre by the council at Imeobi Umuezearoli.

    “The Council is also partnering a private firm in training youths and staff of the council in tailoring,” he said.

    Highlights of the event was the exhibition of various items, including car wash detergent, hair shampoo, scrubbing powder, body cream, fish, yam, tablet soap, custard powder, beaded slippers, air refreshner, among other items.

  • Anxiety as police protest poor accommodation in Imo

    Policemen in Imo State sent out of their homes demonstrate against non-provision of alternative accommodation. There is concern that the development may undermine security during the festive season, OKODILI NDIDI reports

    The stench of excreta mixed with sweat and endless streams of smoke coming from charcoal burners and cigarettes hung thickly in the air. From a narrow pathway connecting some makeshift houses a handful of underfed children came running in every direction.

    Not too far from a dingy restaurant built with disused zinc, no fewer than 10 men of varying ages sat round a gigantic table carrying bottles of various shapes and contents while a thickset lady in her early 50s served them.

    They chatted at the top of their voices, each trying to outshout the other in their argument, quite oblivious of their surroundings. Once in a while, a shrill cry of a baby pierced through the cacophony of noises.

    At another end, shoe cobblers and food vendors jostled for space as they meandered from one narrow path to the other, dodging soak-away pits partially covered with equally rotten planks.

    At the entrance, one is greeted by the sight of washed clothes hanging precariously on every available space, including low-hanging electric cables.

    Welcome to a typical police barracks in Imo State. Apart from the poor condition of the barracks, the accommodation is not enough for the Police officers serving in the state, prompting some of them to look for alternative housing outside the barracks.

    Piqued by the development, operatives from the counter terrorism unit of the Imo State Police Command took to the streets to protest the anomaly.

    For two days, the hooded police officers barricaded the Owerri/Orlu road in Owerri, the Imo State capital resulting in heavy gridlock and panic in the area.

    Shooting sporadically into the air, the demonstrators who hid their identities also set bonfires on the highway.

    Narrating their ordeal to newsmen, one of the protesting officers said, “We have been pushed out of our quarters on Orlu Road by the management of Federal Medical Centre Owerri. To make things worse, our commander supported the act and no alternative place has been provided for us.

    “We moved into this place in 2015 after our quarters in Nekede were marked for renovation. But this base 7 of CTU of Nigeria Police Force started operation in this state in 2011. We have done more than enough to ensure safety and security in this state. This is not the best way to treat us considering the kind of work we are doing in this state”.

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    Speaking further, the officer said, “As we demonstrate, our families are stranded. Bulldozers are destroying the quarters. Our property, documents, credentials and other personal belonging are outside.

    “We demand better treatment. We are human beings working for the betterment of this country. We should be treated like human beings not like animals”

    When contacted, the State Command Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikokwu, told our correspondent that alternative quarters have been provided for the protesting policemen.

    The command spokesperson said that the state commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi had instructed the CTU commander to ensure that his subordinates settled in the new quarters as quickly as possible.

    Ikokwu said that the protesting cops failed to understand that the quarters where they were ejected from were not supposed to be their permanent quarters.

    He said that the protest would not deter the command from fighting crimes and making the yuletide period a crime-free one.

    Police welfare is a constant issue of discourse, with concerns that the law enforcement agents cannot give their best in face of glaring welfare deficits. They are poorly kitted, and are also said to be outgunned by some felons they are expected to go after. Remuneration is equally a concern.

    In July policemen in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital and epicentre of the Boko Haram insurgency, took to the streets shooting into the air and chanting war songs in protest of what they called six months unpaid allowances. Some of the protesters wore hoods to mask their faces. Some did not bother to conceal their identities. The protest was filmed and widely circulated especially on social media.

    However, police authorities in Abuja denied that the protest took place, saying the policemen seen on the streets went to the command headquarters to find out why their allowances were being delayed.

  • Buhari hailed as Zik’s mausoleum ready, decades after

    The Muhammadu Buhari administration has recorded another giant landmark following the completion of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha, Anambra State. The project, initiated by the federal government 22 years ago, was awarded by the late Sani Abacha regime shortly after the death of the Owelle of Onitsha and the first president of Nigeria.

    The project was targeted at honouring the first Premier of Eastern Nigeria and founder of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in recognition of his immense contributions to national development and the country’s independence.

    Located at the heart of the commercial city and the country home of the late elder statesman, the mausoleum, regrettably, had suffered series of neglect and abandonment by previous administrations.

    It also underwent various reviews of the contract sum until it was taken over by the Buhari administration to see to its completion.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, had during his visit to the state in May, expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work on the project.

    The minister asked the contractor to ensure the completion of the project before the end of October, threatening to revoke the contract if the contractor failed to deliver on schedule.

    The chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council and Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe had during the minister’s visit, described as an embarrassment the delay in the completion of the project after decades. He called for the speedy completion of the mausoleum.

    The project has finally come to completion, 22 years after it was initiated. The mausoleum is ready for commissioning.

    Bouygues Construction Nigeria Limited (BNL), the firm handling the project, assured that work has been completed on the project and that it was ready for handover.

    Speaking to The Nation, the Project Manager of the firm, John Ameh, said the project was actually completed towards the end of September.

    “We met the minister’s deadline of October ending, but because the client has not taken over, we cannot just lock up the place and leave for security reasons.

    “We wrote on October 11, notifying them to come and take over the project. They are likely to visit this week,” he said.

    Ameh described the Mausoleum as a “land mark project” for the people of Southeast and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said, “it is a project that has spanned so many administrations before it was awarded to BNL in 2014 while work started in 2015.

    “This administration was courageous enough to take it to completion and should be commended.”

    Also speaking, the site engineer, Mr Paul Odigie, said the mausoleum is made up of the main building, administrative block and a residential house.

    “We took over this project in 2013 as the last contractor. We were not the first, nor the second. I believe the work started twenty years ago.

    “Actually, we’re through with the project. We’re just waiting for the commissioning which will take place any moment from now,” he said.

    The building is uniquely positioned to serve as a tourist site as the structure has a central tower.

    There is jubilation and excitement among residents and visitors alike to the commercial city of the state as the mausoleum is now wearing a new look with assorted paintings and art works waiting its formal commissioning.

    Residents, particularly indigenes of the town have continued to express appreciation to the federal government for completing the mausoleum.

    They commended President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Dr. Azikiwe who championed Nigeria’s independence and ensured the unity of the country all his life before his demise in 1996.

    A prominent indigene of Onitsha, Chinyelugo Osita Anionwu captures the ecstatic outlook and general environment of the project.

    He said, “The man Zik was a legend. That’s why he wanted a monument that will outlive him. We are happy we have a place where the remains of the first Premier of Nigeria rest. It is a hallowed place and mark of nobility.”

    Another resident, Mr Sylvester Anyigbo expressed happiness with the completion of the monument after several delays.

    “The idea of the place is to serve as a place where the younger generation will learn about personalities who worked for this country.

    “I’m happy this job is finally completed but I’ll be happier if the government is making full use of it,” he said.

    A political analyst, Okey Paul, described the project as politically motivated, saying its speedy completion may not be unconnected with the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

    He however said it was important the structure became a reality after all.

    There is no gainsaying the fact that the state-of-the-art edifice, would remain one of the numerous legacies the Buhari-led administration the people of the southeast would not forget in a hurry even after the elapse of the government.

  • Commuters bemoan disrepair of Owerrenta Bridge

    Commuters on the Aba-Owerri Expressway have raised the alarm over the disrepair of the famous Owerrenta Bridge. The bridge connects Imo and Abia states.

    Some of the road users and drivers, who spoke to our reporter on the fate of the 50-year-old bridge, said the Federal Ministry of Works should carry out major repairs on the facility following recent vibrations noticed on it.

    The respondents lamented that the bridge had not been maintained for over 30 years, adding that if nothing urgent was done to address the vibrations it might collapse into the Imo River.

    The commuters also called on the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Owerrenta Naval School of Finance and Logistics to consider relocating their personnel out of the bridge which they use as a checkpoint.

    Mr. Frank Okpe said, “The Owerrenta Bridge was built immediately after the Nigeria-Biafra Civil war and since that time, I can’t remember the time we saw any person or engineers working on this bridge. This bridge is as important to us in the East and Aba in particular as other bridges in the country are to their respective states and areas. The number of vehicles crossing this bridge to bring in goods from other parts of the country to Aba is uncountable.

    “It calls for frequent repairs on the bridge because if the bridge collapses, all the trucks moving in goods from Onitsha and Lagos will no longer be able to bring in goods into Aba. And some of the people from Owerri and other parts of the country who go to Aba to buy one or two items may not be able to do so.

    “The economic importance of this bridge to the southeast cannot be overemphasised and it must be addressed urgently by the respective ministry and authority.”

    Another regular road of Owerri-Aba Expressway simply identified as Madu Ofor said “FRSC and Navy people should tell their people to relocate out of the bridge. Stopping and searching cars on the bridge in its present state is not the best. We are sounding this note of warning before something dangerous happens and government shouldn’t allow the blood of its citizens to be spilled on the bridge before something urgent would be done.

    “We are only asking them to come and carry thorough assessment on the bridge and repair the places that should be repaired. We are not asking them to come and build a fresh one. Carrying out routine maintenance on the bridge is not only cheap, but will also save the lives of innocent and hardworking citizens from being wasted when it can be secured.

    “This is festive period where so many goods and services have started coming into the city of Aba and many people visiting the state for one economic activity or the other. The Owerrenta Bridge is as important to us as other roads in the Southeast are to other Southeast states, but I think that priority should be accorded to the bridge because of its economic importance to the people of the zone.”

  • Abia partners USAID on health delivery

    Abia State has joined the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Health Policy Plus (HP+) with the aim of making the state’s health care sector better.

    Speaking during a seminar by the HP+ in Umuahia, the state Commissioner for Health Dr John Ahukannna said that the state government is happy to welcome them to the state and to assist them in improving the health sector.

    Ahukannna thanked them for coming to the state to help them especially in the area of health financing and health insurance and assured them of the full cooperation of the state government to ensure they succeed.

    The commissioner said that the group has been to other states where they succeeded, adding that they are going to adopt their template which they have produced for the state as it will benefit all Abians.

    Ahukannna noted that they are coming to the state at the right time, pointing out that the two state agencies will need their support to attain their potentials which will also go a long way to ensure that people have good health system.

    The country director of HP+ Onoriode Ezire who was represented by Peter Osagie said that they are happy to see what is going on in the state and the way the health financing is taking place in Abia State.

    Ezire said that the Abia State has positioned itself a USAID is happy with what they have seen since coming into the state, stressing that the government has also been able to provide them with an office space.

    The HP+ country director described their agency as a consortium of partners led by Palladium, “The work of the project is to strengthen and advance health policy to improve the enabling environment for equitable and sustainable health services”.

    He said, “The key tenet of HP+ is to maximise resources for health by increasing sustainable, predictable and adequate financing for health programs and health policy implementation”.

    “We are also in the area of supplies and delivery system in the areas of family planning and reproduction health, HIV and maternal health among other health related sectors”.

    “In Abia State we are working to strengthen its health financing structures and its capacity to capitalise on key health financing reforms and this efforts build on past successes by HP+.”

    “The work also includes its predecessor projects to develop the capacity of national and state-level advocacy working groups to conduct evidence based advocacy to increase funding for family planning at the federal and state levels”.

    Ezire said that Nigeria is currently undergoing significant health financing reforms that if fully implemented would substantially increase resources for health and extended primary health care to all Nigerians.

    He added that Abia being a phase 1 pilot state for BHCPF rollout, participants at the HP+ work planning consultation recognized that the state has demonstrated political commitment through its initial budget allocation of N100m to meet the required state-level counterpart funding.

    The HP+ country director said, “Through World Bank support baseline facility assessments have been conducted in Abia state as the BHCPF will direct funds through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) gateway”.

    “We are working with key stakeholders in Abia State to advance three key objectives which include strengthen governance in the state, coordination and synchronisation to sustain stewardship and ownership of health financing reforms”.

    “Identify mad mobilise predictable and sustainable financial resources for health within Abia State and improve transparency, accountability and efficiency of mobilised resource”.

  • Boat mishap: Firm makes case for life jackets

    Total Upstream Nigeria Limited has advocated that boat passengers compulsorily use life jackets to ensure safety on the nation’s waterways.

    The firm regretted the incessant cases of boat mishaps.

    The Executive General Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Total Upstream companies in Nigeria, Mr. Vincent Nnadi stated this in Onitsha at the 2018 Marine Safety Awareness Campaign for River Niger waterway users in the commercial city.

    He attributed most accidents on the waterways to ignorance and unsafe behaviours of boat drivers and passengers, expressing optimism that the partnership with “co-ventures” would minimise boat mishaps.

    “It is the desire of Total that after today, wearing a life jacket is made mandatory before boarding a boat.

    “Each boat operator and passenger must take the checklist provided seriously as well as implement all other safety precautions,” he said.

    Nnadi said the campaign was part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility, as well as a sustained commitment and enduring culture of responsiveness to stakeholders needs

    He said, “The programme is an initiative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and her partners is aimed at empowering boat operators, passengers and jetty managers with requisite safety skills required to navigate waterways without accident.

    He cautioned against removal of the life jackets from the jetties, insisting that they must be kept safe for passengers to wear before boarding and removal on arrival at the other jetty.

    Also speaking, the Area manager, National Inland Waterways Authority, Onitsha Area Office, Mrs Uche Amadi, blamed most boat mishaps on operators without valid license and permit, overloading among other shortcomings.

    She commended the management of ANPEZ centre and Total E & P for their intervention and sponsorship of the programme which she described as lifesaving.

    Amadi was optimistic that the programme would provide the missing link between operators, passengers, regulators and other relevant stakeholders.

    Responding, Chairman, Engine Boat Operators Association, Onitsha, Chukwudi Ekwenze, was full of thanks to the benefactors for the provision of the items.

    “I’ve been in the boat business since 1975 but I’ve not witnessed this kind of gesture. I am sure it must have cost much to provide these life jackets,” he said.

    While praying that the over twelve jetties in the commercial city benefited from the jackets, Ekwenze pledged judicious use of the items to ensure their durability.

    No fewer than five hundred life jackets, comprising of 300 adults and 200 children were distributed among the participating jetties.

  • Lifeline for ailing music icon, Ejeagha

    His illustrious music career spanned decades in which he lifted the culture of the Igbo, making his name a household property. But in his twilight Mike Ejeagha has become the opposite of what he and millions of his fans hoped for. He has found himself in desperate need of cash, and is afflicted by an ailment.

    In his home state Enugu his governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has thrown him a lifeline, picking up his hospital bills and offering him a shoulder to lean on.

    Ejeagha contributed over 300 recordings to the national archives of Nigeria. He tells stories with Igbo proverbs in a distinct manner and has a way with his guitar. He is popularly known as Gentleman Mike Ejeagha.

    He and his wife were gravely ill, and were unable to pay their medical bills. His condition was highlighted in the social media. Moved, Governor Ugwuanyi, a fan of the legend, broke away from his tight official duties to pay an unscheduled visit to the Ejeagha family at their Abakpa Nike home.

    That visit has led to the transformation of Ejeagha, giving him a new lease of life.

    Ugwuanyi at the visit told the ailing and aged musician that he had planned the visit earlier but was drawn back by pressing state functions.

    The governor said that he came to know how he was faring and see how the state government could assist him in his health and other needs as a revered indigene of the state.

    The governor therefore, promised to be paying his medical bills and asked the family to refer his medical details to the state’s teaching hospital, Parklane Enugu for adequate attention.

    He thanked members of his family, especially the wife and daughter for taking care of him, and offered automatic employment to the daughter to enable her take care of her father, accordingly.

    Ejeagha who expressed delight at the governor’s unscheduled visit to ascertain how he was faring, said he was highly impressed that the governor has transformed Enugu State for the better and also entrenched peace and security in the state, assuring him of his support for his re-election in 2019.

    “Your Excellency, I was very happy the day I went to hospital at Ogwuagor, Ugwuoye by First Bus Stop, I saw that the roads have been tarred. Thank you very much for the security in Enugu State. We can now go out at night and come back anytime without any fear of attack by men of the underworld. You have our support and God will continue to lead you”, the lengendary musican said.

    Ejeagha, while thanking the governor for his intervention in his poverty condition, gave his blessing to the governor for his second term in office.

    He prayed that God will continue to bless the governor for his gesture and as well see him through in the coming elections without much hassles.

  • Enugu rural dwellers sensitised on project monitoring

    Some 100 rural dwellers in Enugu State have been trained on open contracting governance and project monitoring with a view to facilitating rural development and accountability.

    Programme Director of Public Private Development Centre (PPDC), Miss Ifeoma Onyebuchi, who declared the workshop open in Enugu, stated that the training was meant to orientate rural dwellers on the need to show concern, ask questions and follow projects earmarked in their communities.

    She noted that each state should be keying into open contracting governance in order to make their fiscal policies and its implementation open and transparent for Civil Society Organisations

    (CSOs) and rural dwellers to monitor as well as track fiscal budget implementation in their communities.

    “Nigerians quest for improved service delivery cannot come true until the people, you (rural dwellers) must participate in fiscal policies and its implementation especially being able to monitor and ask questions about projects been executed in your various communities.

    “Rural dwellers should be able to know more about the purpose, cost, specification, time of completion and contractor handling on each project been executed for their benefit so that they will not be short-changed,’’ she said.

    Onyebuchi added that PPDC was also exploring various information and educational platforms to get rural communities in the country to know about projects meant for them even from the Federal level (ministries, agencies and government partners).

    “We in PPDC are highly concerned with projects that covers health and education of the people at the rural level to stem the rate of disease and ignorance, which will ultimately lead to checking poverty,” she said.

    Delivering a paper entitled “Why You Should Get Involved,” a youth activist, Mr Collins Nebo, averred that the open contracting governance had come to open the eyes and minds of rural dwellers to take ownership of projects meant for them.

    “As it is today, you are duty bound to ask question and if not getting satisfactory answers on the project meant for you communities; you start to mobilise for protest and confront your people or people in government with your agitations and seek for answers.

    “Everybody should wake up and check corruption and unaccountability in project execution by contractors and their agents,” Nebo advised.

    Chief Josephat Okechukwu, the Regent of Awhum Community in Udi Council Area, lauded the PPDC for organising the workshop; adding that they had been enlightened on the need to ask important questions and what to ask from the contract executing any project within his domain.

    “We have learnt that keeping quiet and not asking relevant questions leaves the community short-changes at the end of the day; while the contractor and his pay masters live in affluence via gains from shoddy executed projects,” Okechukwu said.

  • Fed Govt drives unity at Enugu yam feast

    Eating the season’s new yam comes with age-old fanfare among the Igbo. The tuber is roasted, diced, garnished and consumed by a keen crowd ready for merriment. And merriment it is because virtually every strand of the Igbo community is involved. It is a time to thank God for a successful harvest and look forward to another season of tilling the soil again.

    The Federal Government understands that the feast brings people together. That was why it organised a feast to celebrate the new yam in Enugu State, aiming to promote indigenous culture and facilitate national integration and economic diversification through cultural tourism.

    National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), an agency under the federal Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, organised the event.

    The agency’s acting Executive Secretary Mr. Louis Eriomala articulated these points at the event.

    The occasion, spiced by various cultural dances, was graced by traditional rulers.

    Eriomala said that the Federal Government’s investment in culture and promotion of heritage of Nigerian people further proves that the country is one indivisible entity, highlighting the positive side of its ethnic diversities and close heritage affinities.

    He said, “We have a unique culture that is underpinned by wisdom, knowledge, hard work, honesty, fear of God, accountability, transparency, communality and respect for elders and constituted authority. These positive attributes of our cultures are waning because of our love for Western culture that is not restrictive.

    “It is therefore pertinent to state that the celebration of the New Yam festival is part of the effort of NICO and by extension the Federal Government to revive and promote this cherished culture of the Igbos. This is in line with the mandate of NICO which is to promote indigenous culture, heritage and history.

    “It is our desire to see how this rich festival and a host of others can be used to further foster unity, peaceful co-existence and unity in diversity in the country,” he said.

    In a goodwill message, Mr Nnaemeka Nwajagu, Head, NICO Enugu State Office, said that it was wrong to describe some of the cherished culture in Nigerian as fetish as some religious sects think; adding that culture should be separated from idol worship or ritualism.

    “In Igbo-land, New Yam festival comes with a lot of positive outcomes to better the Igbo people as our people sees it as a unifying factor, where reconciliation is put on the table to settle dispute and bring our people together notwithstanding perceived differences,’’ Nwajagu said.

    He noted that the Federal Government New Yam Festival have come to stay as a yearly event; adding that the 2019 edition would be bigger and more encompassing.

    In a special message, Igwe Lawrance Agubuzu, Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers’ Council, noted that the festival was meant to thank God for a bountiful agricultural harvest in 2018 as well as life and health to witness another end of a successful farming season.

    “New Yam festival is a positive and progressive culture handed to us by our forefathers and we will hand it over to the up-coming generation to continue to reap its good benefits for the better of Igbo-land and Nigeria in general,” he said.

    The chairman of the occasion, Igwe Chris Eze, appealed to the Federal Government through NICO to involve more corporate organisations to celebrate Nigeria’s culture; and not just only western festivals like Christmas and Valentine’s Day, among others.

    Eze, the traditional ruler of Ezeoha-na-Ideoha community in Enugu State, urged Igbos to always find a way of promoting their cultures to create that distinctive identity.

    Chief Ben Nwankwo, representing Orumba North and Orumba South,  Anambra State in the House of Representatives, lauded the Federal Government for organising a New Yam Festival in Igbo-land.

    “I wish that doing this festival, a large number of Nigerians from other ethnic groups should attend this event and learn more about this cherished culture; so that they can go home and promote New Yam and other cultures back home in their various ethnic residences.

    “Northerners can be supported to come to the East and witness and learn about New Yam Festival; while people in the East can also have a similar cultural exchange in the North.

    “This will definitely bind us closely together as one nation,” Nwankwo, who was awarded a “Cultural Ambassador”, advised.

    Chief Chijioke Harford, one of the awardees of “Cultural Ambassador” at the occasion, noted that Nigerians should be proud to promote and propagate positive and progressive culture anywhere they find themselves in the world.

    Highlights of the event were presentation of “Cultural Ambassadors Awards’’ to 10 prominent Igbo sons and daughters; display of various cultural dance groups as well as cutting of the roasted yam by Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu assistance by other monarchs and prominent personalities.