The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Air Force tackles meningitis in Enugu

    Air Force tackles meningitis in Enugu

    The Nigerian Air Force has joined the fight against Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM), advising Enugu communities on how to prevent the epidemic, reports CHRIS OJI

    With no fewer than 489 persons dead and 26 out of the 36 states of the federation hit by cerebro-spinal meningitis or CSM, it is no surprise that the country’s latest epidemic is getting some attention in Enugu State. What catches the eye, though, is the fact military personnel are leading the charge against the disease.

    “So far, 489 deaths have been confirmed in 4,637 cases recorded as of April 10,” said Health Minister Isaac Adewole. “We call on the traditional institutions and leaders to help spread the message that our people must come forward to be vaccinated,” he said.

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has taken up the challenge. No fewer than 250 residents of Orjiagu-Agbani Community near Enugu have benefitted from its free CSM prevention lecture and medical outreach.

    The medical outreach involved distribution of free insecticide-treated nets to allow residents keep their windows open at night for ventilation as well as for mosquito prevention. Others are free HIV/AIDS test and awareness campaign; blood and sugar levels check; malaria and hepatitis tests; oral and dental test and free drugs.

    The Commander of 155 Base Services Group of NAF, Enugu, Commodore Paul Masiyer, said that the exercise was part of the corporate social responsibility of the Air Force to their host communities.

    Masiyer said that the exercise was focused on CSM due to its devastating impact in some parts of the country.

    He said that NAF had to get more insecticide-treated nets as an inducement to make the residents see the need to sleep in a well-ventilated and mosquito free area by keeping their windows open always.

    The commander said that the exercise was in line with the vision of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for all NAF formations to know and interact in a cordial manner with their host and other communities in their domain.

    “So, the medical outreach is NAF’s way to show appreciation as well as identify with our host communities, neighbours and the general public in order to shoulder their health responsibility.

    “Through this, we are building a long lasting bond between the NAF and communities in Enugu State, which is our host state and community,’’ he said.

    He said that services provided during the medical outreach were free while some other light but prolonged cases would be referred to the 155 Base Services Group Medical Centre, Enugu.

    Earlier, the Commandant of Nigeria Air Force Comprehensive School, Agbani, Group Captain Musa Aileru, said that the teachers of the school and NAF medical team had embarked on the CSM lectures to alert the community and prevent it in the community and state.

    Aileru noted that NAF had benefited from the peaceful disposition of the community as the host of its comprehensive school.

    Responding, the Traditional Ruler of Orjiagu-Agbani Community, Igwe Sampson Nnamani, lauded the NAF for the medical outreach.

    “The Nigerian Air Force had been so nice to this community and we have no cause to regret having them as our neighbours,

    “The community will continue to pray for positive things to continue to happen to the Nigerian Air Force and his personnel for this wonderful gesture,’’ Nnamani said.

    A beneficiary of the outreach, Ma Veronica Onyia, thanked the NAF medical team for the free drugs and mosquito treated net given to her.

    “For over three months, I have been lying in my bed sick without anyone to come to my rescue. But today, I have been given free drugs, mosquito treated nets to allow opening of my windows and more air.

    “I am the most grateful and touched by this free medical outreach,” Onyia said.

  • Soldiers feed inmates, motherless babies in Aba

    Soldiers from 144 Battalion, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State and friends of the Battalion’s Officers Mess have visited inmates of the Aba Prisons and Ngwa Road Motherless Babies home. They did not go empty-handed; they took food items and other daily needs along.

    Some of the items donated at the Aba correctional facility were two bags of rice, 22 tubers of yam, two cartons of malt, two cartons of tissue paper, a carton of detergent soap and about N13, 000 cash. At the Ngwa road Motherless Babies Home, they delivered two cartons of tissue paper, two bags of rice, three cartons of diapers, two cartons of malt and milk products, sweets, one carton of toilet soap, cartons of biscuits and a cash donation of N10,000.

    At the home the babies relished a rare opportunity to interact with soldiers, while for the prison inmates it was a chance to view their uniformed benefactors in another light considering that they may well have been the ones who once arrested and handed them over to the police. Some may even be thankful to the visitors for sparing their lives.

    Speaking to newsmen, Lt. Col. Umar Kasim Sidi, the 144 Battalion Commander said that they embarked on the project as part of their humanitarian obligation to touch the lives of indigent members of the public and to also show love to the needy with help from other members of the 144 Battalion Mess.

    Sidi who stated that the visit was to further foster military-civilian relationship in their host community, said that the military while fighting crime in Aba and its environs are also aware that the needs of the people living in their immediate community must be met.

    He warned those who because of economic challenges took to crime to retrace their steps, stressing that the weight of the law would not hesitate to befall anyone that took to crime instead of exploring opportunities provided for by the abundant legitimate businesses in the country.

    “We are aware that the economy is bad and people are not finding it easy to feed well. The federal government cannot be left alone to carter for the needs of the people and that’s why we decided to in our own little way see how we can come in and assist the less privileged in the country.

    “In military mess, we have officers and civilian members. That is why what we have donated to the two homes came from our men and other members of the mess.

    “I want to use this opportunity to assure the inmates of Aba Prisons that there is still hope for them regardless of their present conditions, while I want to say that I am optimistic that children of motherless babies’ homes in Aba will continue to benefit from this exercise because we want to make it more regular.”

    The Civilian President, Mess Committee, Mr. Sunny Mgbemena, an engineer, said the exercise was laudable, adding that he was touched by the plight of the inmates.

    Mgbemena who said that they would always assist the army and other security agencies in the state to touch the lives of the poor also stated that they would encourage members of the public to provide useful information to army and other agencies of government with useful information that will help them fight crime in the commercial city and above.

    A Chief Superintendent of Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), J.O. Nzerem who represented the Aba Prison chiet, DCP Stephen Ugbah thanked the 144 Battalion Officer’s Mess for coming.

    Ugbah promised that the items would be judiciously used.

  • Monarchs grace chieftaincy installation

    Monarchs grace chieftaincy installation

    Residents of Mgboko Ngwa Amaise in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, as well as their king His Majesty Eze Eberechi Dick were happy to host several traditional rulers who came to witness the chieftaincy installation of Chief Izuwa Nwogu.

    Speaking at the installation, Eze Dick said Nwogu was being honored for all he did at a young age to lift the image of his community, local government area and state.

    Eze Dick said that the array of traditional rulers from the East, West and Northern parts of the country who came to witness the event shows that he is a bridge builder and also shows that he is well accepted by the people wherever his business empire has taken him to.

    He urged the recipient to continue to be of good behavior and an enviable ambassador of the Ngwa tribe of Abia state and that any day he deviates from being a good man that God will not forgive him, adding that he should also help the youths of his area through empowering them.

    The chairman of both Abia state tradition rulers council and the South East traditional rulers council said that when the youths are empowered that the issue of criminality will be a thing of the past while the revenue base of both the council area, his community and the entire state will be increased.

    Responding after receiving the title of Nwadioha nma of Igboland, (the child that is accepted by all) Chief Nwogu said that he will continue to ensure that all the tribes where his businesses have taken him are united for the peace and progress of the country.

    Nwogu said that it is only when people of diverse culture and tradition realize that they need to live in peace that there will be rapid development of their areas and the entire country, stressing that peace is the panacea for better things to come for any group.

    He assured the traditional rulers present that wherever he sees anything good that he will never hesitate to bring it down for his people and that wherever he finds himself that he will ensure that he will never bring shame to them, “I will always protect and ensure that no shame will be brought on my people through any thing I do now or in the future”.

    In his speech HRM Oba Al-Moruf Adekunle Magbagbe Ola the Olufon of Ifon, Osun state described the recipient as a very humble and good young man who is a philanthropist who does not discriminate, “Here is a young man who has absolute respect for his elders and the traditional rulers”.

    “This was one of the reasons that made me and other traditional rulers here not to waste time to accompany him to be honored by his people, he is a good ambassador of Ndigbo in Yoruba land”.

    In his own reaction the representative of Etsu Nupe, HRH Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar who presented a gift to Eze Dick from the traditional ruler of Nupe kingdom, described the recipient as their illustrious son who has done well outside his state of origin.

    The traditional rulers present from outside the state include, HRH Oba Oladipupo Kolade, Ipoti Ekiti state, HRH Oba Joel Sunday Dauda, Oluyani of Iyani Akuko, Ondo state, HRH Oba Sally Oyemonla, Sabiganna of Iganna kingdom, Oyo state.

    Others are Alhaji A. B. Umar, Sarkin Gina Bida Niger state, Alhaji Mohammed Lemu, representing HRH Emir of Keffiyeh, Dr Shehu Cindo Yamusa while their Igbo counterparts were well represented.

  • Mandela Washington Fellow trains 60 VVF survivors on skills

    A 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow, Ms. Chidinma Mbanasor, has concluded a series of vocational rehabilitation and economic empowerment programme for 60 Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) survivors in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

    The training session which spanned over a period of seven days was targeted at the socio-economic reintegration of women who have undergone fistula repair surgeries, especially those whose husbands abandoned them as a result of their medical condition.

    “The majority of these VVF survivors are peasants, petty traders, and housewives who have difficulty supporting themselves let alone their families. The situation becomes even more complicated when they are abandoned by their husbands and family members.”

    “Equipping women who have undergone fistula repair with self-sustaining skills can strengthen their capacity to care for themselves with a view to helping them reclaim their lives and return to their communities with pride and independence after treatment,” Chidinma Mbanasor, a midwife and reproductive health provider said.

    During the program, which was held at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, the participants attended sessions on skill acquisition and entrepreneurship, hygiene, and reproductive health. They were also empowered with free start-off packages in their chosen areas of interest.

    Ms. Mbanasor was awarded a public diplomacy grant by the United States Consulate General in Lagos to carry out the project. Public Affairs Officer Darcy Zotter lauded Mbanasor’s advocacy for women and young girls, particularly survivors of obstetric fistula.

    “Untreated fistula can have a devastating impact on women’s lives due to a whole range of physical, psychological, and socio-economic consequences. We applaud Ms. Chidinma Mbanasor’s renewed focus on Vesico-Vaginal Fistula survivors and for taking the bold step of providing support for them,” Public Affairs Officer Darcy Zotter said.

    Contingent upon availability of funds, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos works with non-government organisations (NGOs), academic institutions, and individuals, through small grants, to provide financial support to a specific program or initiative that supports shared goals.

     

  • Abia community seeks oil blocks

    Indigenous people of Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have asked the federal government to allocate oil blocks to them.

    Ukwa West is rich in oil and is only about 30 minutes’ drive from Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

    Its people have complained of being neglected by the government, and of deplorable roads and lack of social amenities, among other challenges.

    At a stakeholders’ consultative meeting for sustainable development of Niger Delta, organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) the people of the oil-producing community advocated for the issuance of oil blocks to some of the oil-producing areas.

    The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, representatives of groups, youths and other stakeholders, who deliberated on the way forward for the NDDC and their host communities.

    Speaking at the event, the Deputy Director for Community and Rural Development of NDDC, Otunba Isima Abosede, represented by Mr. Friday Nwachi, said the meeting will enable the Commission to interact with stakeholders on the way forward.

    He said the new board of the NDDC has started redefining the vision of the Commission in a manner that would mutually benefit the people of the area.

    “There is need for all stakeholders to take care of all our projects, to protect and cherish them at all times,” he said.

    The communiqué asked the commission to dutifully implement budgetary allocations by adopting the subsisting intrastate revenue sharing formula on the basis of 60% volume of oil production, 20% equality among lgas, 10% pipeline communities, and 10% oil exploration zones, whether the zone produces oil  or not .

    He said, “NDDC should boost agricultural production activities in the Niger Delta region by providing financial support, seedlings and cultivates extension services, value-chain deliverables and sundry incentives to farmers. For ownership and sustainability of NDDC projects and programmes; community-based institutions should be empowered as appropriate. NDDC should hold the stakeholders’ consultative engagement meeting periodically.”

  • Academics, others inspire youngsters in Anambra

    Academics, others inspire youngsters in Anambra

    Eminent academics and writers converged on Anambra State to help undergraduates and secondary school pupils write creatively.

    The two-day event held at the late Prof Ezenwa-Ohaeto Resource Centre, Akwa, the state capital, featuring renowned poet Odia Ofeimun and such scholars as Prof. Stella Okunna, Prof Ikechukwu Asika and Prof Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo, among others.

    They were drawn from Federal University of Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, and Prof Obodimma Oha of University of Ibadan.

    The creative writing workshop was for undergraduates, senior secondary school students and other aspiring writers, which featured etiquettes of academia, educationists and scholars.

    The scholars discussed a lecture entitled “Nwokeness: a journey into a disturbed Igbo philosophy of masculinity”, which was delivered on the second day.

    Delivering a lecture entitled “Nwokeness: a journey into a disturbed Igbo philosophy of masculinity,” Prof Obodimma Oha of University of Ibadan enjoined African men and women to take up their responsibilities in the society.

    He said, “In the past, the idea of nwoke bu nwoke (A man is a man) triggers men to take action in their immediate environment while that of nwaanyi bu nwaanyi (A woman is a woman) inspired the female to work as well.

    “It’s not about sex, ethnicity or race. It does not promote hatred, immorality, wife or husband battery, indolence, discrimination, etc. But it is a strong philosophy that helps people to live in peace and harmony, and redefine their society through industriousness, creativity, and innovation. It is a genuine philosophy that guide development at all spheres of life; economics, business, education, etc.”

    Discussing the paper, Oguejiofor, Okunna, Utoh-Ezeajugh, Asika, Adimora-Ezeigbo, Ofeimum, agreed that there was no need for any of the genders to trample upon their rights and responsibilities while co-existing in an ever growing society.

    Dr. Ngozi Ezenwa-Ohaeto said, “The two days programme fell into the vision of creating a forum for discussing current issues and for exposing aspiring writers to the world of creativity in order to live a better life.

    They also used the forum to immortalise her late husband, Prof Ezenwa-Ohaeto, who was a novelist and poet.

    According Dr. Ohaeto, “Our society does not regard the women. Some aspects of Igbo culture like proverbs and breaking of kola nuts insult the women. That is why I don’t buy or eat kola nut.

    “Our people need to understand that we are not fighting women to take over what belongs to them. All we want is a better society where we can function effectively and efficiently.

    “We can’t continue living in the euphoria of the proverbs, language, culture and religion of our forefathers who we know that the kind of education and society they lived in differs from ours.

    “Our men need to understand that once we are given our own right, they will also be comfortable because once a woman is given an opportunity to serve or exercise her rights, the society would be cleaned up.”

    Prof Akachi Adimora Ezigbo, who spoke on “How do I become a good writer”, and poet Odia Ofeimum, while exploring their respective writing experiences, contended that good writers were good thinkers, good observers, good students and good listeners, which they also believed to be motivating factors and sources of inspiration for creative ideas.

    “You can use narration, reflection, action, or dialogue to drive home your creative ideas. What you study online on social and new media can even inspire you to write.

    “Science and technology should not be a barrier to your creative thinking and writing ideas,” Adimora-Ezigbo stressed.

    “Study and understand your immediate environment. The knowledge would help you to get better ideas, language, experiences and medium of passing the message across to them,” Ofemum said.

    While another scholar, Ikechukwu Asika, entreated the children to study to discover where their talent lies and invest into it rather than attempting to become a good writer because according to him, you can’t force yourself to become a good writer, but you can draw inspiration from a mentor who is a writer to become a good writer if you are talented in writing.

     

  • Transport firm wins Toyota prize

    Transport firm, Peace Mass Transit (PMT) Ltd has won Toyota’s best customer in Nigeria for the year 2016.

    It was the second time in six years, the PMT would win the prize, spurring the Japanese auto maker to present it with a commemorative plaque, and a N2m cash prize, at a colourful ceremony which held in Lagos.

    PMT which celebrated its 20th anniversary recently, has a preponderance of Toyota brands in its mini-bus fleet, and must have bought the highest number of units of the popular Toyota Hummer Hiace brand to qualify for this special recognition.

    The Chief Executive of PMT, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyeishi last week in Enugu at a media interaction displayed the prizes to reporters.

    Toyota representative and major dealer in Nigeria, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, had earlier made the presentations to PMT, which was represented at the occasion by its South-West Area Manager, Victor Asadu.

    The event held at the Grand Banquette Hall, Civic Centre Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Chief Ade-Ojo said at the occasion that Toyota was particularly proud of Peace Mass Transit Ltd, for being “consistently loyal to its brands”, and greatly valued the business relationship existing between the two organizations.

    Toyota, he said, desired that the robust and rewarding business relationship between the two got even stronger, while commending PMT’s unwavering loyalty to the Toyota brand.

    Chief Ade-Ojo is owner and proprietor of the Elizade Group, Toyota’s main distributor in Nigeria.

    Awards for Toyota customers were in two categories, including the one won by PMT, which was the only transport company in Nigeria so recognized.

    PMT first won the Toyota best customer award in 2012. The company which has over 2,000 mini-buses in active operation at any point in time, moves over thirty thousand Nigerians daily. PMT was established by businessman, Dr. Sam Maduka Onyishi, MON, in 1996. It has a staff strength of over 4,000 and some 60 bus terminals across Nigeria. The company has the largest mini-bus fleet in Nigeria, and posts a good safety track record.

  • Prison head seeks help

    The head of Aba Federal Prisons, Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, Stephen Ugba has called on Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and other residents to come to the aid of the correctional facility

    Ugba was speaking with The Nation at the facility in Aba, saying that the prison was in dire need of assistance, mentioning vehicles with which to take inmates to court.

    The DCP said the federal government has been trying to fund the facility, regretting that all efforts to draw the attention of the state government to their plight have failed. He noted that the state government has given out vehicles to other security agencies without looking the way of the Aba Prison.

    “This prison covers about 48 courts and the vehicles that we have are not enough. Federal government is trying at its capacity, but we expect more from the state government in assisting the Aba Prisons. 80 percent of the inmates are from Abia State. But as I speak to you now, we are yet to receive anything from the state government in terms of logistics and other areas.

    “I commend NGOs and religious organisations that have been very helpful in assisting the Aba Prisons in making sure that things work well. We have been making efforts, but nothing positive has come out of it”.

    On efforts to address the health challenges of the inmates, the DCP stated that they have medical personnel to attend to the health challenges of the inmates and where the case goes beyond the capacity of the yard, the inmates would be referred to the Abia State Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) for proper attention.

    He hinted that efforts were being made to register some inmates for the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to enable them further their education at the National Open University (NOUN).

    He also used the opportunity to appeal to the well to do in the society and Aba in particular to invest help the inmates.

  • U.S. showcases business opportunities in Enugu

    The Foreign Commercial Service of the United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria has concluded a four-day outreach to Enugu State that focused on expanding commercial ties between the U.S. and Nigeria, especially the Southeastern geo-political zone.

    During the outreach, a team of trade and commercial specialists from the U.S. Mission to Nigeria, led by Commercial Counselor Brent Omdahl, held meetings with Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, state commissioners, and other senior Cabinet-level officials on trade opportunities which will contribute to mutual prosperity and job growth for both countries.

    “This outreach demonstrates the strong U.S. business interest in expanding commercial ties with Nigeria,” Commercial Counselor Omdahl said.

    Governor Ugwuanyi and Commercial Counselor Omdahl discussed U.S. investments in Enugu State, including the on-going $700 million Motir DuSable solar plant project in the Nachi community of Udi local government area. At full capacity, the solar plant will add 300 Megawatts to the national grid.

    While in Enugu State, the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service participated in the 28th Enugu International Trade fair. The Foreign Commercial Service also hosted leading regional business owners at a workshop entitled: “Networking with the USA Business Summit and Conference – Enugu 2017”.

    “We are expanding our Networking with the USA (NUSA) program to key growth areas in Nigeria and we see Enugu as one such important growth area. During this program, we advised Enugu companies on best practices for engaging with American companies, in addition to discussing U.S. agencies to work with in order to take advantage of various partnerships,” Commercial Counselor Omdahl said.

    In the course of the Networking with the USA (NUSA) program, an American consular officer from the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos held a session with the business owners on the process for obtaining a business visa to America. The consular officer demystified the commonly held ideas about U.S. visa application process.

    The Foreign Commercial Service of the U.S. government works to promote the expansion of U.S. trade and investment to Nigeria through support of business partnerships between American and Nigerian companies.

  • Abia CAN gets new leadership

    The Abia State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has elected another set of leaders up in the next two years.

    Apostle General (Dr) Emmanuel Otutubuike Agomuo of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) is the new chairman.

    Agomuo called for the unity of the church, saying, “We are Christians and not politicians, Christians should stay away from politics, we can vote, but we don’t have to be partisan”.

    Blaming the disunity in the church today on members’ involvement in partisan politics, the new CAN chairman said it was for this reason that his mission would be to unify Christians in Abia State where he claimed there were a lot of problems.

    “Christians in Abia don’t agree, they are not one, so, I think I have that mind or the mission to come and unite the Christians so that we can be talking with one voice because we serving one God”.

    Agomuo said his administration would equally focus on leadership training for members.

    “We only attend government functions and come back,” he said. “So, in the next quarter of my administration, I’m going to organise a workshop where we will discuss the qualities of a leader”.