The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Group drives Igbo revival

    Group drives Igbo revival

    It was all about Igbo language and the sustainability of Igbo culture as the third edition of the Oja cultural festival lasted  in Enugu.

    As early as 8am guests and participants started trooping into Lady Ibiam Government Secondary School Enugu venue of the event.

    Indeed the school on that day was transformed into a colourful centre for Igbo cultural heritage display as School Children from over 10 schools, traditional rulers, Musicians, broadcasters and lovers of Igbo language converged at the school’s football field for the third edition of the Oja Cultural Festival.

    Decked in various colourful Igbo attires, the one day event featured various cultural performances from the school children which left everyone at the event in awe.

    Also in attendance was internationally acclaimed Poet, Amu Nnadi who also performed one of his poems to the admiration of all present.

    The event which was put together by Amarachi Atama and the Oja Cultural Development Initiative also had in attendance popular Igbo musicians Chuka Ndu and Lord Cornel who thrilled the audience with their popular Igbo Hip Hop songs, Icholia and Igbo Kwenu respectively.

    The programme which many guests and participants described as one of a kind was unique in so many ways.

    From the dress code, to the speeches, to the entertainment at the event everything was purposefully crafted to portray the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people.

    All speeches and presentations at the event were done in Igbo language.

    Guests were also served roasted yam and palm oil at the event while palm wine was the official drink of the event.

    Chairman of the occasion, Justice Eddy Onyia (Rtd) lamented the decline in the speaking of Igbo language by children of Igbo origin.

    He commended the Convener, Amarachi Atama for initiating the programme which he noted will help to arrest the decline.

    Chairman of Enugu Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu called on government to come up with policies that will help to enhance and sustain the Igbo language and culture.

    The monarch suggested that Igbo languagae should be made compulsory for Igbo students seeking admission into higher institutions in the region.

    “Employment should not be given to any Igbo person who cannot speak Igbo language fluently”, he further suggested

    Convener of the festival and Team leader of Oja Cultural Development Initiative, Amarachi Atama said the festival came about because of the need for promotion of Igbo language and culture.

    “We noticed that many children born in the east don’t know how to speak our language. It is all about language, we want them to know that just because you are speaking Igbo does not mean that you cannot English. I speak English, Igbo and Hausa because I was born in the North. So I want them to know that our language is important”.

    While charging parents to teach their children Igbo language, the convener disagreed with predictions that Igbo language will go into extinction.

    She said: “Parents should speak Igbo to their children, that is the foundation. When you don’t speak your language to your children at home, they tend to loose it.

    “I don’t think it (Igbo language) will go into extinction because of programmes like this because of parents, children and other persons who are here to support this programme”.

    She also called on state governments in the South East to do more to promote the language and Culture of the people.

    “Organisations like this should be sponsored to do more. They can support writers to write more books in Igbo. Igbo books should be in the Library so that children can read and develop their Igbo language skills”.

    “There is a lot more to do and with adequate funding this programme should be bigger than this, it should be a week long programme so government can come in to support us. Government can also make Igbo compulsory in schools”.

    A poet, Amu Nnadi, in an interview with The Nation also showered encomiums on the Oja Festival Convener for staging the event despite the economic situation of the country.

     

  • Ofala: Feast of royalty, unity in Anambra

    Ofala: Feast of royalty, unity in Anambra

    A kingdom in Anambra State renews itself and rallies the entire state as it celebrates the Ofala festival, reports NWANOSIKE ONU

    IT is the king’s feast, but it is also the people’s festival. During the ofala, the king first retreats to commune with the gods and pray for his people. Then, he emerges and the whole kingdom launches into a colourful display of culture, showing allegiance to their king, who in turn blesses the people. A number of things can happen during an ofala feast. People can be honoured by the king, some with chieftaincy titles.

    Much of that was on display in Uga in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State as it celebrated its first ofala festival led by its traditional ruler, Igwe Chidi Ezenwugo, the Obi of Uga.

    The community virtually became a tourist centre, with people from various places and all walks of life trooping in to partake in the feast.

    The cultural display at St. James Anglican Church field, Uga, venue of the festival, was moving. Various groups performed much to the delight of a star guest, the state governor Willie Obiano.

    The governor was conferred with the title of “Dike Ife Aguata, while the state speaker, Hon. Rita Maduagwu was given the title of Ugodioranma.

    Also, Chief Tony Offiah, an illustrious son of the community, was honoured with the title of “Akajiugo Uga” (the hand which holds the eagle). The proprietor of Tansian University Umunya, Prof. Johnbosco Akam got the title of “Anyanwu n’awara oha”.

    It began with a church service at St. James Anglican Church, Uga, officiated by Bishop Christian Efobi, Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Anglican Communion through a representative, Venerable David Obiagboso.

    Efobi, in a homily, urged leaders to be submissive to God with a view to obtaining favour and wisdom with which to lead the people.

    He also urged followers to respect constituted authority as well as remember them in their supplications.

    The monarch, who was crowned in February 2016 after many years without a traditional ruler in the community, led the mammoth crowd of dancers to the venue.

    Conferring the chieftaincy titles on the recipients, Igwe Ezenwugo eulogised them, especially Governor Obiano, whose administration he said, was a blessing to his subjects’ following the appointment of indigenous Uga people in his administration.

    The king said Chief Offiah’s contributions to the peace and welfare of Uga are unquantifiable.

    Responding, Offiah said the installation was an eye-opener and an inspiration for him to continue working for the community.

    Governor Obiano said the honour would spur him to do more for the state and pursue programmes that would make life more meaningful to the people. He promised to complete the streetlights installation in the communities in Aguata council.

    Chairman of the occasion, Chief Fidelis Ikendiokweru said the occasion was an avenue for his people to come together to appraise, evaluate and pray God to protect and guide their monarch and leaders to always lead them in right direction.

    The President-General, Uga Improvement Union, Chief James Umezulora said there was need for Uga indigenes to rediscover and sustain their spirit of patriotism and togetherness towards moving the community to an enviable height.

    Among visitors to Uga for the ofala were former governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Alex Obiogbolu as well as Mr. Johnbosco Onunkwo, Ejike Oguebego, a former factional chairman of the PDP in the state, among others.

     

  • Obi, others urge church to lead anti-corruption fight

    Former governor of Anambra State Peter Obi has urged the church, as an institution, to lead the fight against corruption.

    Mr Obi was speaking at the 10th Anthony Cardinal Okogie Lecture Series at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Ikeja where he was the guest lecturer.

    Speaking on the topic: Creating a Corruption-free Society: The role of the Church Nigeria, Mr. Peter Obi argued that corruption has wreaked major havoc on the country, because it killed entrepreneurship, since enterprise cannot thrive in a corrupt society. He said it also killed hard work, since, according to him, nobody works hard in a corrupt society. He equally said it has killed professionalism since nobody aspires to become a professional when professionalism does not pay.

    He linked the problems Nigeria is experiencing to corruption.

    He said, “All the agitations are as a result of cumulative failure of leadership over the years.” He said Nigeria was in a sorry state because the resources that should have been used to develop the country percolated into few private hands.

    Regretting the colossal loss by the state due to corruption, Obi recalled painfully that countries like China, Malaysia, South Korea and some others that started economic voyage with Nigeria have all overtaken Nigeria. He submitted that corruption has crept into every facet of the nation’s life, predicting that the nation cannot grow if we continue to tolerate corruption.

    Current Catholic Archbishop of lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, agreed that unless Nigerians unite now to kill corruption, the monster would soon kill Nigeria.

    In his own remarks, Vice President Osinbajo, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Anti-Corruption, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye Osinbajo outlined three cardinal ingredients that fuel corruption in the country, including: “the culture of silence, saying if we fail to speak out against corruption, we won’t go anywhere; the culture of sycophancy or praise singing and the celebration of impunity” arguing that religious organisations are better placed to address such matters.

    Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who was represented by Special Adviser on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga hailed Cardinal Okogie who he said had demonstrated his commitment and unalloyed passion for the poor in the society, praying that God should continue to preserve him to fearlessly defend the cause of the down trodden.

    His Delta State counterpart, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Tam Brisbe was also of the view that unless the nation moves away from the current corrupt culture and develop other economic choices the future of Nigeria is blink.

    All the speakers blamed the Church for her softness towards those that are corrupt, including, as Obi said, honouring  and conferring on them all manner of awards,  and said that the Church must return to being the conscience of the nation by leading the fight. He gave example with the late Bishop of Awka Diocese, Simon Okafor, who rejected a million naira donation many years ago from a Governor owing workers arrears of salary and asked him to use the money them.

     

  • Anambra community takes care of eye patients

    Anambra community takes care of eye patients

    There is some relief for the visually-impaired in Awka, the Anambra State capital, as Chief Amobi Nwaokafor, President-General of the Awka Development Union of Nigeria (ADUN) has presided over the distribution of free eyeglasses to them.

    The presentation of the glasses was bankrolled by ADUN.

    The exercise which lasted for  seven days had over 1,500 beneficiaries.

    The medical mission took the team to seven major quarters of Awka community which consists of Ezi-Awka, Amaenyi, Agulu, Amikwo, Ifite Awka and Umuokpu quarters.

    Speaking with reporters, Nwaokafor said the humanitarian service by the ADUN was in furtherance of the gesture by the Awka Union, USA and Canada, who he said, had a medical outreach in May this year for diabetic and other patients that were treatable without surgery in the community.

    He noted that the 2017 medical mission on free eye test, free eye glasses, free screening and treatment for hypertension and related illnesses was part of the union’s community service, aimed at assisting indigenes to care for their sights.

    Nwaokafor said, “Before now, we  waited for government to do anything for us; we believe we can do it ourselves. This aspect of community service which we tagged: ADUN Medical mission is targeted at conducting free eye test and distribution of free eye glasses to the indigenes of Awka.

    “This particular project targets 1,500 people within seven days but I can tell you that we attended to more than that and it is a programme that will continue from time to time until every other Awka indigene that has eye problem is diagnosed and treated free by the union,” he said.

    He accused previous governments in the state for the underdevelopment in the state capital while calling on the present administration to match action with words in providing dividends of democracy to the people.

    “The government, as a matter of fact, is supposed to be supporting this kind of health mission. Government is mandatorily supposed to take care of the entire welfare of the people; including good roads, good water, housing, health care, schools and so on”

    “In Awka for instance, no government can claim to have worked in Awka notwithstanding that Awka is the state capital.

    “No serious government presence in our community, Awka is one of the capital cities that has no portable water. We lack a lot of things but because we are very hard working, we provide for ourselves”

    “My worry is that no government has shown genuine interest by seeing Awka as a capital territory, define and design how the capital territory will look like beyond now”

    Some of Beneficiaries like Mrs. Helen Anago and Nweke Anthony, who spoke with The Nation, expressed gratitude for the gesture and prayed for its sustenance by the ADUN leadership.

     

  • British High Commission trains police officers, others

    British High Commission trains police officers, others

    The British High Commission in Nigeria in conjunction with the office of the Inspector General of Police has trained  Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs), Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) and personnel of other sister security agencies in Zone 9 police command.

    Speaking while declaring the training course open, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris said that the training is necessary as it will enable those selected for the course to rise to the occasion when the need arises.

    Idris who was represented by AIG Hosea Karma, the Assistant Inspector General of police in charge of zone 9 comprising Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo states said that the participants will be trained on counterterrorism and crisis management.

    He said that the sister agencies participating in the course include fire service, Civil Defence, NEMA, Road Safety Corps among others, stressing that the importance of the course cannot be overemphasised.

    The IGP said that such incidences may occur in any form, which informed the course.

    “This will make it possible for them to handle such incidences when they happen,” he said. “I am very happy that fire service and Road Safety Corps are participating in the course, because in the case of fire incident they will be there to handle the situation while the police will be around to ensure security of life and property and against looting”.

    “This is the same case with accidents were members of the Road Safety will be around to clear the accident debris, while the police will be around to ensure that there is free traffic flow”.

    The police boss said that the essence of the training is very important “because when properly trained the participants will be able to do well when accidents occur”.

    “The training will also enable them to know their role when such incidences occur, you therefore need to take full advantage of the training to enable you save life and property of people”.

    In his contribution, the special adviser to Abia State governor on Police Matters, Sir Ugochukwu Obi described the training by the British High Commission as timely, as it will benefit the police and other security agencies in the zone.

    Obi said that security is of paramount importance in any state that wants to progress, “Which is the reason behind our governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is working tirelessly to ensure that the state is safe at all times”.

    He said that the training will keep the police and their sister agencies up to date with modern technology in crime dictation, stressing that the benefits of the course will go a long way in ensuring that the society will no longer suffer in the area of security”.

    The Abia governor’s adviser on police matters then called for a continuous retraining of the security officers, adding that the training being held in the state is a sign that the state is very much safe.

  • Ikpeazu celebrates with orphans

    Ikpeazu celebrates with orphans

    When Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu marked his 53rd birthday, it was with motherless babies. When he turned up at Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Hospital and Orphanage Home in Aba, the state’s commercial capital, administrators and inmates of the facility were excited.

    Governor Ikpeazu, who was joined by a few of his aides on the visit to celebrate with children of the orphanage home, also paid the hospital bills for 24 patients at the SDA Hospital who had been treated of their sicknesses and confirmed fit to go home, but had stayed back at the hospital because they didn’t their medical bills.

    “You guys can see why we must always thank God for the gift of life and the good health we enjoy. We are not better than our people here, but owe everything to God who is all-knowing. If you are sick, you won’t remember that you are the governor or governor’s aide. And the reality is if a governor is not able to discharge his duty as governor due to ill health, the deputy governor will take up his job. Similarly if a Governor’s aide can’t work due to ill health, he or she will be replaced. That goes to show that the system can run without any of us. This is a key life lesson for us and so we must count ourselves lucky that God chose to bless us with the opportunity we have to serve in good health.”

    The governor who started his day’s activities in Aba left for Umuahia, the state capital, to resume his duties without knowing that his wife Nkechi who was accompanied by the deputy governor’s wife, Mrs. Udo Okochukwu and a few allies had other plans.

    The governor went straight to his office only to be confronted with a birthday cake.

    How many men will pas up such a good gesture from their wives?

    Ikpeazu reached for the knife and sliced through the confectionary.

    Thereafter he went to his table and work was afoot. It was on a day he probably would have declared a holiday, at least for himself.

     

  • Enugu trains personnel to fight child abuse

    Enugu trains personnel to fight child abuse

    Enugu State has stepped up its war against child abuse with the training of social workers in the state Ministry of Gender Affairs to help contain the vice.

    At the training session in Enugu, the national president of African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), Professor Peter Ebigbo described the recent signing into law of the Child Rights Act in the state as a clear manifestation of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s interest in the welfare of vulnerable persons.

    The workshop was organised by the state Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development for the welfare officers in charge of the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

    Ebigbo said, “History was made in Enugu State when the child rights law was passed. The governor of Enugu State deserves accolades for this incredibly comprehensive child protection instrument in the state.”

    He said the administration’s sensitivity to the general upkeep of the society, including children, necessitated the appointment of credible stakeholders into the Fostering and Adoption Committee that swung into action to sanitise the system and rid the state of baby factory syndrome.

    He thanked the state Ministry of Gender Affairs for its giant strides and urged the participants to avail themselves of this opportunity towards rendering selfless service to the people.

    The chairman of the state committee who is also the Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma paid glowing tribute to Governor Ugwuanyi for his positive approach to the issue of child rights and welfare in the state.

    “As the chairman, Fostering and Adoption Committee in Enugu State, I will say that Governor Ugwuanyi has done well in the area of child’s welfare. He provided all we needed; logistics, security, money, support that made us to continue combing all the nooks and cranny of Enugu State to ensure that there is no baby factory or illegal adoption in the state.

    “The system has been sanitised based on His Excellency’s magnanimity,” the Anglican cleric said.

    Speaking on the occasion, Governor Ugwuanyi reiterated his administration’s unflinching commitment to implementing and sustaining gender-friendly policies, especially as they related to the protection and empowerment of women and children in the state.

    The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Gabriel Ajah, stated that the “government has demonstrated commitment to the implementation and sustenance of gender-friendly policies in the state especially as it concern the protection and empowerment of women and children in the state.

    “This programme is designed to improve the capacity of the participants, that is, the social welfare officers in the state to discharge their functions in this regard more effectively and to satisfaction and sustainable benefits of the society”, he stated.

    He commended the Gender Affairs Ministry and other stakeholders for their success and urged them not to relent.

  • Girl-child: Okorocha’s wife, others advocate equal opportunities

    Girl-child: Okorocha’s wife, others advocate equal opportunities

    The challenges facing the girl-child are many and daunting. Ranging from domestic abuse, discrimination, intimidation, harassment to denial of equal opportunities with their male counterparts in education, employment, career and other social and economic pursuits, the girl child has endured the burden with little or no choice.

    Over the years, there have been growing awareness on the plight of the girl child, but little has been achieved in the fight to eliminate these challenges and give the womenfolk, especially the girl child equal opportunities to develop their potentials and actualize their ambitions.

    Also identified as major problems confronting the girl-child is early and forced marriage, which was described as dangerous and dehumanising.

    All these challenges were brought to the fore and brainstormed on by a non-governmental organisation, owned by the wife of the Imo State governor, Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, the Women of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI) recently during the event to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child.

    The stakeholders at the event including renowned female scholars, businessmen, traditional rulers, clergymen, among others, identified education as the most viable tool to fight all forms of marginalization of the girl child.

    They also blamed obsolete cultural practices that discriminate between the girl child and the male counterpart for most of the challenges confronting the girl child.

    The various speakers advocated unhindered access to quality education and equal opportunities for not sexes as the solution to the plight of the girl child.

    At the celebration with the theme: ‘Girls Progress-Goals Progress What counts for the Girl’, the governor’s wife , submitted that quality education is the bedrock and most viable tool in emancipating the girl child.

    Mrs Okorocha stated that the essence of the celebration is to equip the girl child to fulfil her potentials without any inhibition, adding that “if you get the girl child right,  you have gotten the society right”.

    She described the girl child as source of energy and creativity,  calling on the authorities to pay adequate attention to those things that count for the girl child,  like education and nutrition.

    According to her, girls are the strongest tools of change,  stressing that to attain the vision 2030 SDGs “there must be committed efforts towards empowering the girl-child for a better”.

    Mrs Okorocha also enjoined parents to desist from forcing their children into early marriages, arguing such act and other harmful practices exposes the girl child to danger.

    Other renowned scholars who presented papers on several topics,  including the rights of the girl child,  nutrition and education,  urged the girl child to speak up against any form of abuse, both at home and in their respective schools.

    The Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Samuel Ohiri,  said that the Council had amended all the cultural practices and customs that discriminates and inhibits the girl child from achieving their set goals.

    He said that gone are the days when the girl child is regarded as inferior to the  male child,  adding that such assumption is a result of ignorance and illiteracy.

    He said, “The girl child is as good as the male child.  They should be given equal opportunities to succeed. The idea that the girl-child should sacrifice her education and other opportunities for the male child is condemnable”.

    Highlight of the event was the inauguration of WODDI Girls’ Club in selected  secondary schools , which will serve as a platform for further education and engagements with the girl-child, with the aim of further assistance and mentoring.

  • Okorocha, others celebrate ‘miracle’ twins

    Okorocha, others celebrate ‘miracle’ twins

    For some it was not more than a misdiagnosis. For the spiritual, it was nothing short of a miracle, if ever there was one.

    When Mrs Nonye Uju, wife of Kingsley Uju, an aide to Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, went to hospital following some discomforts, the doctors diagnosed liver problems. For a length of time the thought of such a dire pronouncement preoccupied the home of the Ujus.

    That is not the end of the story. Further medical consultations pointed to a pregnancy, rather than liver malfunction. And it was not just a baby lying in the womb. There were two babies there, the second set of doctors said.

    And that was what it turned out to be. Mrs Uju has been delivered of twins, a development that elicited joy in the home, the state government and beyond. Mr Uju, an engineer, and Nonye, a lawyer, have been singing a sweet song since.

    Governor Okorocha led other dignitaries to the dedication of the babies at the Victory Chapel of the Imo State Government House.

    The broad smile on the faces of the couple, family members and well-wishers, showed that the arrival of the twins was indeed a soothing balm to the family.

    Giving her testimony in an emotion-laden voice, the soft-spoken mother of the twins, disclosed that what doctors had suspected to be liver problem turned out to be pregnancy.

    She described it as a miracle from God, stating that she never knew she was carrying a set of beautiful twins. “I am short of words to convey how I feel,” she said. “It is only God that can turn any situation around. Doctors had suspected that I was having liver problem but it had turned out to be pregnancy of twins.

    “I cannot thank God enough and everyone that supported and prayed with me, especially our mummy and wife of the governor for her motherly support and prayers, among many other well-wishers who stood by us. The arrival of the twins is indeed a moment of joy for us”.

    She also prayed to God to use her as a point of contact to every family that is waiting on God for the fruit of the womb, prophesying that their homes “shall be filled with children”.

    A man of few words, father of the twins who is the Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) to the governor, said the arrival of the twins brought immeasurable joy to the family.

    He thanked the governor and his wife for finding time out of their tight schedule to attend the child dedication”.

    Governor Okorocha in his remarks said his aide is “unique in strength and character. He is not rich as people think but the little he has he shares with everyone. He has been able to bring Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta Council Areas together. I see him in life and in politics”.

    Speaking further, he said, “As he runs his office, he is not thinking of any political ambition. He is on the right path and can’t go wrong. Kingsley Uju might be the last hope of Egbema nation, don’t envy him, if you do you will never progress”.

    Earlier in his sermon, the Chaplain, Pastor Bunmi Babbs, said that the fruit of the womb is God’s heritage, adding that those that wait upon the Lord shall not be put to shame”.

    “We are happy for what God has done for this great family. At first Doctors thought it was liver problem but God was busy performing his miracle and at last it ended in praise and we have this set of beautiful twins that we are dedicating to the Glory of God”.

    He prayed God to continue to protect the twins and the family.

    Meanwhile the reception hosted the crème de la crème of the society at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC), who felicitated with the family.

    In attendance at the colourful reception were Governor Okorocha and his wife, member representing Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency, Hon. Chike Okafor, Secretary to the Imo State Government, Sir George Eche, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, Dr. Placidus Ekwueme, traditional rulers from the oil producing communities, the Rivers State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Felix Obuah, the Niger Delta Women Council of Nigeria, oil magnates, business associates politicians, among other well-wishers.

     

  • Ebonyi residents relish NYSC’s health care outreach

    Ebonyi residents relish NYSC’s health care outreach

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has flagged off its health initiative for rural dwellers in Ebonyi State with a pledge by the state coordinator, Mrs Iluebbey Ememie that the service will continue to provide free medicare to people of the state.

    The state coordinator while flagging off the programme at Onueke, Ezza Local Government Area, said the programme was carefully thought-out and packaged by the DG of NYSC and his management team to  bring free medical care to the doorsteps of the poor and vulnerable persons in communities who lack access to the medical care due to no finances to do so.

    She said the programme was first held in 2015 in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state.

    According to her, the programme has recorded many successes as it has received so many positive feedbacks from communities where it has held.

    “I make bold to state to inform you that feedback from communities where the HIRD have held in the state since its inaugural edition abound in the joy of the beneficiaries whose health have been improved and their lives made better.

    She said that buoyed by the positive feedbacks and successes recorded by the scheme, the DG of NYSC Brig Gen SZ Karaure have resolved that the programme will be held regularly.

    She, therefore, urged members of the public to take advantage of the programme which she noted is free to enrich their health.

    Mrs Iluebbey commended the state Governor, David Umahi for his support to the NYSC scheme in the state by providing a conducive atmosphere for the scheme to thrive.

    Earlier in a his remarks, the Chairman of Ezza Local Government Area, Sunday Ogodo described the programme as a sign of te love the NYSC have for the people of the area as the programme have held twice in the council.

    Represented by the supervisory councillor for Health, Malachi Agu, the chairman who assured of full participation of the people of the council also commended the NYSC for its laudable contributions in the education sector.

    Doctors from the scheme also gave health talks on hypertension and hygiene to the participants.

    One of the participants, James Nkwuda thaked the service for the programme which he noted have saved him the trouble of going to Abakaliki to receive treatment for the sickness he has been having.

    “I was wondering how I will raise money to go for treatment, you know this is farminf season and the little money I had went into farming. So the coming of the programme to Onueke has been of great help to me as I was treated free of charge with lots of drugs that I am not sure I can finish.”