The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Zakat group’s N1.2m for the needy in Abia

    Zakat group’s N1.2m for the needy in Abia

    A group known as Jaiz Zakat and WAQF Trust Fund has distributed the sum of N1.2 million and jobs items to indigent and vulnerable people in Abia State to enable them quit begging for alms and fend for themselves.

    Speaking in Umuahia, the state capital,  while distributing the materials and cash, the executive secretary and chief executive of the group, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib said it gives him great pleasure to welcome the beneficiaries to the ceremony which is the first of its kind in the annals of Jaiz Zakat & Waqf Trust Fund in Abia.

    Shuaib recalled that the group was in the state capital during Ramadhan this year for the distribution of food items to enable the fasting Muslim brothers and sisters to perform their socio-religious obligations to Allah and humanity.

    He said that he was in the state to support the vulnerable and less-privileged who are suffering from deprivations, marginalisation and neglect so that they could become less dependent on other people.

    The zakat boss said, “Therefore on behalf of Jaiz Zakat & Waqf Trust Fund, I am delighted to share the good news of our commitment to wipe your tears, soothe your pains byempowering some of you economically, meet your educational needs and take care of the bills of your medications”.

    “The gesture is inspired by Islamic faith to provide socio-economic and humanitarian services to the poor and needy people, which includes economic empowerment support, educational support, medical support, collection, rebranding and distribution of fairly used or old materials and human capital development of scholars and Imams”.

    “It is in fulfillment of this noble ideal that we have gathered here to witness the 1st Zakat Distribution Ceremony (ZDC) of Abia State where Jaiz Zakat & Waqf Trust Fund will be distributing the sum of One million two hundred thousand naira (N1,200,000) to fifty (50) beneficiaries”.

    “Out of the aforementioned fund, 73.75 percent is meant for the economic empowerment support of the beneficiaries while 18.75 percent and 7.5 percent are to take care of their educational medical needs respectively”.

    “Towards this end, items such as three sewing machines, two motorcycles, an industrial sewing machine, a computer laptop and various cash amounts for petty businesses such as hairdressing, barbing salon, food vending, medications for diabetes, treatment of an amputee and payments of school fees and WAEC registration among others will be given to the 50 beneficiaries”.

    “Our commitments to the uplift of the standards of living of the poor and needy are driven by our passion to help add values to the life of humanity and complementing efforts of our governments in taking care of the welfare and security of the citizenry”.

    “I urge you all to join hands with Jaiz Zakat & Waqf Trust Fund to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged people, give them hope and illuminate their hearts with kindness so that their lives will become meaningful to them and society at large”.

    Shuaib said that by giving to the indigent people that it will help to close the gap between the have and have not such that our society will experience peaceful co-existence among adherents of different faith in the country, adding that by doing that it will help in the development and growth can take effectively.

    He told the successful Zakat beneficiaries, to make the best use of their Zakat fund or item and not to divert it or sell it or squander the fund in a non-productive way, “You should remember that not everybody has the opportunity you have today, this is a trust from Allah.”

  • NYSC DG enlivens Enugu camp

    NYSC DG enlivens Enugu camp

    The orientation camp of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Awgu, Enugu State was agog when the Director General, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure visited to inspect facilities and interact with corps members on orientation.

    Kazaure who was accompanied by a retinue of NYSC officials said he was impressed by the assertion by the Enugu state coordinator of the NYSC, Mrs. Ukagha Nwano that the current batch was the best since she took office five years ago.

    The hilly nature of the orientation camp and the meandering pathways not only made it the best for military training but also drew the nod of approval from the Director General who was all smiles as he walked round inspecting facilities in the camp.

    Everywhere he went, the corps members cheer him with applause while he rewarded their efforts a  military salute or broad smile. The corps members later thrilled him with a spectacular orchestra of combination of various ethnic groups of Nigeria, depicting unity in diversity.

    The Director General could not hide his feelings as he shook his head and moved his legs in appreciation while the beating was on and the performers dancing to the tune of the music.

    While interacting with the corps members, Kazaure was told that he was the first Director General to visit the Awgu Enugu Orientation Camp since the inception of the scheme in 1973. The cordinator of the NYSC in Enugu, Mrs. Ukagha expressed happiness in the development while thanking the DG for his valuable decision to see things for himself.

    She told the corps members that the DG’s visit was like a homecoming as he had served in the 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu. She described the corps members as the best set since her assumption of office.

    Impressed with what he saw and heard, the DG in fatherly manner stood and addressed the corps members with the message that  NYSC was all about national integration and urged them to integrate well and see themselves as one family.

    Kazazure said, “We should make Nigeria great in any condition we find ourselves, this is the best corps members in Enugu state and I want you to sustain the tempo. 28 years ago, I was a corps member in former Gongola state and so there is no short cut to life. The reason why you are here is to have a good service year and there are a lot of activities to make the year enjoyable and productive. I urge you to take the skill acquisition programme seriously as you know there are no jobs now. There is also a single digit loan facility which you can tap into.

    “Try to learn the culture of the people in your primary assignment, be security conscious and also move in groups, avoid sharp practices and our prayer is that all of you will be greater than us but you must be up and doing.”

    Kazaure urged the corps members to initiate and execute projects of value in the host communities of primary assignment, while also asking them to help the President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration fight against corruption.

    “The future of the country is in your hands, wherever you find yourself, please try to be a vanguard for the fight against corruption because corruption is causing us lack of development and breed other vices in the society. We don’t have any other country than Nigeria; try to be good ambassadors of your alma mater, the NYSC and your family,” he urged the corps members.

  • Ibibio leaders condemn desecration of ancestral stool

    Traditional rulers, political and opinions leaders of the Ibibio land have condemned in strong terms perceived attempts to denigrade the ancestral stool of the land through the adoption of unknown titles as traditional rulers in Ibibio land.

    The Ibibio leaders described the development as self-serving and capable of turning Ibibio land’s ancestral stool into a laughing stock in the country and beyond.

    Rising from a meeting held at Asan Ibibio, Ikot Oku Ikono Uyo Local government area, the leaders affirmed that Mboho Afid Ibibio remains the apex traditional stool in Ibibio land  as ‘Ifim Ibom Ibibio’ has produced Oku Ibom Ibibio 1, 11 and 111.

    The decision of the community leaders may not be unconnected with moves by some paramount rulers in Ibibio land  to introduce names auch as ‘Ifim Ikpaisong Ibibio’, Oku Ikpaisong Ibibio’  which they said is at variance with the already established traditional nomenclature.

    The meeting that was sequel to the one held on 25th October, 2016 at the palace of the paramount ruler of Etinan Local Government Area, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Ime Dickson Umoette, was attended by other paramount rulers, clan heads and village heads in Ibibio land, leaders of thought, leaders of political and socio-cultural groups and organizations in Ibibio land, including Akwa Esop Imasong Ibibio, Ibibio Elders Forum, Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Ibibio National Union, Ibibio Academic Roundtable, Odudu Ibibio, Uyo Senatorial District Leaders Forum, Ibibio South Senatorial Forum, Youths and Women groups, among others.

    According to the leaders, to address the stool in any other name whatsoever is not in the collective interest of Ibibio people as such act will negate the legendary ancestral and historical milestone of Ibibio nation.

    Consequently, stating that the future of Ibibio nation supercedes individual ambitions, the forum resolved that it was time to intervene and save the stool from being polarised and rendered ineffective .

    Accordingly, the communique signed by the paramount ruler of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area (LGA), HRM Edidem Ntuk Obom, paramount ruler of Mkpat Enin Iga LGA, HRM Edidem Elder A Ekpene, Ntisong Ibibio 111, HRH Obong Essien Ekidem as well as as the International President of the Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akparawa Monday Etokakpan and 57 others, noted that it is unusual and an abomination for the name of a traditional stool to be changed from time to time.

    “Rather, we should emulate what obtains in other traditional stools such as Oba of Benin, Ooni of Ife, Emir of Kano, Sultan of Sokoto, Obong of Calabar, Itai Afe Annang, Ata of Oron among others, therefore, Ifim Ibom Ibibio, the revered traditional stool of the Ibibio people should not be an exception.

    “We have noted a seeming sense of confusion or apparent lack of direction among section of our revered Ibibio traditional rulers in their quest to create a new traditional identity for themselves through the adoption at various times, of names such as Mboho Esien Ibibio paramount rulers, Mboho paramount rulers, Esien Ibibio, Uyo Ikpaisong Ibibio and lately, Ifim Ikpaisong Ibibio,” the leaders noted.

    The community leaders noted with regrets the alleged registration of ‘Uyo Ikpaisong Ibibio ‘ or any other such Non-governmental organization (NGO) with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to function as the traditional stool for the Ibibio people, saying  is an aberration and totally unacceptable to Ibibio people.

    They said such act is divisive and not in the collective interest of Ibibio people because traditional stools are neither registered trustees nor commercial concerns, therefore, “All established traditional stools are products of ancestral evolution that derive legitimacy and supremacy from the customary laws and traditional values of its people.

    “Furthermore, we implore all paramount rulers, clan heads, village heads, leaders of socio-cultural and political groups and indeed all the Ibibio people should close ranks, support and respect Ifim Ibom Ibibio as the apex traditional stool in Ibibio land.

    “However, in the event of organising any ceremony involving the entire Ibibio people, the name Mboho Afid Ibibio be used as the umbrella name for that purpose,” the leaders added.

  • New leadership ends Aba police community committee feud

    New leadership ends Aba police community committee feud

    It was set up to foster police-community peace, among other things, but for three years the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Aba, Abia State could not find peace within its own fold. Factions led by rival claimants fought one another, distracting the body from its statutory duties.

    Happily, the feud has ended as a new leadership inaugurated by the state Commissioner of Police, Adeleye Oyebade.

    The chairman of the Aba Area Command of PCRC is Ide John Udeagbala while the Public Relations Officer is Ikechukwu Agu

    Mr Oyebade and the Aba Area Commander ACP Peter Wagbara played a key role in bringing the PCRC feud to an end by ensuring that an election was held and new leaders chosen for the organisation.

    Abia traditional rulers, the media and other stakeholders in Aba witnessed the inauguration.

    In a paper titled “Endearing security through sustainable community policing” which was delivered at the event, Chief James U. Odocha called for the collaboration of members of the public, other community stakeholders and the police and security agencies in order to promote peace and harmony in the state.

    Odocha listed perversion of justice, institutional constraints and lack of trust as some of the challenges before community policing.

    The speaker, who blamed parents for not spending enough time with their children, said that crime fighting should not only be left in the hands of police and security agencies alone.

    The state police chief said the command through community policing has recorded a lot of successes including the arrest of criminals, recovery of stolen vehicles and release of kidnapped victims, among others.

    Oyebade called for continued cooperation from members of the public, reiterating the resolve of the command to make the state uncomfortable for criminals. He urged members of the public not to relent in their resolve in providing the police with useful information about the activities of criminal elements within their neighbourhood.

    The Aba Area Commander said he was happy that the PCRC members have got an executive that would pilot the affairs of the group which he said would make his job easier by helping the Aba Area Command in promoting peace in their neighbourhood.

    Wagbara said that his command would give the necessary support to the newly inaugurated executive members of the group to perform optimally.

    The new chairman Udeagbala and PRO Agu said that they were happy over the inauguration and the return of peace to the group.

    They promised to work closely with the leadership of police in Aba Area Command and the state to ensure that there was peace in the state.

     

  • Fire on smugglers’ tracks

    Fire on smugglers’ tracks

    Goods worth billions of naira move through smugglers’ routes every day, but the authorities have turned the heat on them, writes OKODILI NDIDI

    Through the woods, up the hills and down the valleys, smugglers ferry all manner of goods into the country, from poultry to rice, motor parts to kitchenware. The illegal trade fetches billions every day, but not all of the smugglers are smiling to the bank; a number are actually in grief following an invigorated crackdown on them.  The last one month has been a nightmare for the smugglers especially those who operate in the Southeast and Southsouth. The Federal Operations Unit Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS0 has been after them. On dirt paths and in thick forests, Customs personnel have been catching smugglers and impounding their contraband items.

    At the headquarters of the Zone C in Owerri, the Imo State capital, and the Benin office, hundreds of containers of seized contraband are arranged in a manner that one could mistake for a container terminal at one of the seaports.

    But has this sustained clampdown thought the smugglers any lesson? The daily seizures do not confirm that. Nor do the arrests and the risk of going to jail.

    The Controller of the Federal Operations Unit Zone C, Comptroller Uba Garba, who assumed duty about one month ago, vowed to sustain the onslaught against smuggling, warning that anyone who engages in illegal importation of banned goods will lose their money and may end up in jail.

    Displaying impounded contraband within the last one month with Duty Paid Value of N1, 074,099,739, the Controller, disclosed that 16 suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime and are undergoing interrogation.

    Garba attributed the sustained smuggling activities despite the spirited efforts of the Service to the country’s porous borders.

    He appealed to residents of border communities to desist from aiding the smugglers by escorting them through track roads that are not known by security men but should rather assist the men of the Customs by availing them with credible information.

    According to him, the clampdown on the smugglers and seizure of contraband is to protect the economy of the nation and the wellbeing of the people.

    He said, ”We are not out to frustrate members of the public or indeed the business community, but we are only interested [in facilitating] legitimate trade.”

    He further assured that those who are involved in legitimate trade will have nothing to fear, adding that the Service is determined to detect, arrest and prosecute those who not comply with the law.

    Garuba further warned: “The Unit under my leadership will continue to insist on compliance and to those who will want to taste our collective will, the time is up. Do the right thing and save yourself the agony of losing your wealth and possibility of going to jail.

    The confiscated items which were intercepted by men of the Service in the ongoing clampdown against smugglers in the Zone  include 2,522 bags of foreign rice, 16,115 cartons of imported frozen poultry products,  720 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, 1,466 pieces of furniture, 268 pieces of used tyres and 1,964 pieces of motor spare parts. Others include 39 pieces of used compressors, 29 bales of second hand clothing and 9 exotic vehicles

     

  • Ikpeazu to Corps members: learn from Aba entrepreneurs

    Ikpeazu to Corps members: learn from Aba entrepreneurs

    Over 2,200 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been drafted to serve in Abia State but to the state governor Okezie Ikpeazu, it was an irresistible opportunity to market made in Aba products and their famous makers. He did not let the chance slip by; Governor Ikpeazu told the Corps members not just to patronise the local products but also learn some skills from the masters.

    At the Corps’ orientation camp in Bende Local Government Area of the state, Governor Ikpeazu revived his pet campaign, which earned him the title of “chief marketer of made-in-Aba goods”.

    At the Umuahia Township Stadium, on May 29, 2015, Okezie said his government would promote the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the state, paying special attention to garment and shoe makers in Aba. He has also taken the campaign just about everywhere he has visited in the country. Ikpeazu has sold the Aba idea to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo and many others, including the Army which, some months ago, ordered about 50,000 pairs of military boots from Aba shoemakers.

    With the Corps members, and fully kitted in NYSC gear made in you-know-where, Ikpeazu said he was going to take samples of the uniform to the Director General of the Corps, Brigadier General Sule Zakari Kazaure in a bid to persuade the agency to start making the uniforms in Aba.

    The state governor advised the corps members to think of how they were going to use the time of their service to learn and equip themselves with various skills that would enable them to be independent in the face of unemployment and now that the federal government is pushing for diversification of the economy from petroleum.

    The state coordinator of NYSC in the state, Mrs. Francisca Ifon explained that the scheme which was designed to expose the corps members to practical skill acquisitions, leadership, inculcating core values and promoting unity amongst Nigerian youths has gone a long way to affect the lives of the youths positively.

    Ifon equally used the opportunity to draw the attention of the state governor to the area of needs where they would need the assistance of the state government which includes building of more hostels for NYSC staff and corps members, refurbishing of hostels which are already in bad shape and the repair of their borehole which supplies water in the camp.

    The corps members promised to be of good conduct throughout their stay in the state, promising to use the opportunity of their service year to develop skills in other areas of life which they opined will serve as another means of generating income.

     

  • How to achieve success in health care delivery, by Obi

    How to achieve success in health care delivery, by Obi

    Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has mentioned two p-words: planning and prioritisation, as being at the root of a successful health care delivery. Without them, every health care policy will fail, he told fresh graduates of the University of Nigeria, College of Medicine at the college campus in Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu.

    Obi who delivered a keynote address at the event, urged the graduates to resolve to make the world a better place.

    Recalling his days as governor, Obi said his success was due to his collaboration with develop-ment partners, organisations and the Church.

    He said it was also necessary to prune down the cost of governance, which he described as “too high”, in Nigeria.

    Using the Church as an example, he said Anambra was able to record a first in external examinations because of the return of schools to the Church, which was followed up by massive funding towards the rehabilitation of the returned schools.

    In health, he said before he became governor not one medical institution was accredited in the state and that working closely with the Church, he was able to secure accreditation of 11 health institutions, including two hospitals. He revealed that he was working on the accreditation of the third hospital- Ekwulobia General Hospital, before he handed over.

    Speaking further, Obi also explained his pains at discovering that the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University admitted students who could not graduate due to lack of a teaching hospital. He said  that under two years he built one that was acclaimed as of the best in the country.

    Obi who thanked the staff and students of the University of Nigeria, challenged the new students to keep the flag of the university flying by seeking to be the best wherever they find themselves.

  • FERMA starts fixing roads in Abia

    FERMA starts fixing roads in Abia

    The zonal director of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in charge of Abia, Ebonyi and Cross River states, Mr Bayo Adedayo, an engineer, has said that the agency is determined to ensure that all federal roads in Abia State are in good condition for motorists.

    Speaking with The Nation while inspecting the work being done at Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, Adedayo expressed satisfaction on the level and quality of the job done through direct labour.

    Adedayo said that the agency is ready to do a very good job, and called on the federal government to release funds that will make them perform at its optimal level. He stressed that they are ready to do the entire road from Umuahia to Arochukwu.

    The FERMA zonal director said that once the agency gets the necessary funds, the roads will wear a new face.

    “We assure the people of Abia that all federal roads in the state will be free from all forms of potholes which will make the road users to move freely,” he said.

    He, however, called on the residents who live along the federal roads to help the agency by doing their communal duties such as desilting the drains in front of their homes, pointing out that doing that will make their work easier.

    Earlier, one of the senior engineers of the agency, Mr Erinne Obiora said that they were in the state to monitor the progress of work being done by their people in Abia state, adding that what they have seen shows that the motorists will enjoy the road during the Christmas period.

    Obiora said that the agency has the mandate to make all federal roads across the country motorable by ensuring that potholes on the roads disappears, stressing that they will make use of the dry season to move fast.

    He explained that they are working according to the best international standard practice, “We are working with the best quality materials available in the construction industry and the roads will stand the test of time”.

    The FERMA engineer said that the agency will work faster once they have the required funds, “The lack of funds which has bedeviled the entire country is also affecting the agency, we are praying for things to improve so that motorists will smile at the end of the day”.

    Obiora pleaded with motorists to bear with the federal government and the agency, stressing that the roads are priotised by government at all times, “ No government will ever play with amenity such as roads”.

    Welcoming the zonal team the resident engineer in the state Engr Abraham Akange Tangu said that the issue of the agency slowing down with the rate of work in the state is because of lack of funds and not because they are not ready to work.

    Akange noted that the issue of lack of fund is hitting all departments across the country, “The problem of lack of fund is affecting all sectors of the country and not only in FERMA, if we have the funds, we assure the people of the state that they will have the best quality road they desire.

  • ‘How our lives have changed’

    ‘How our lives have changed’

    Some winners in a brewery’s raffle draw designed to boost jobs in Ebonyi State have said their lives have taken a new turn for the better.

    Life Beer from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc organised the draw to help winners raise funds for their businesses. Each winner got N250,000 each.

    One of the winner, Obayi Obinna, a tailor, said the money will improve his business.

    He said: “A friend told me that there was a competition by Life where you could win N250,000. I laughed at him, but he persisted and I followed him to write a proposal and we went and submitted it at the nearest collection centre. I wrote on tailoring.

    “With the money I got from Life I was able to pay for a shop where I can now do my tailoring work myself. I felt so excited when I won the money. I want to congratulate life and thank them for what they have done for me and other winners. Life is really boosting and changing people’s Life through progress booster”.

    For Mr Odogwu Ikechukwu Eric, a rice farmer who hails from Ezzagu in Enugu State, the money will afford him the oppurtunity to procure irrigation materials which will enable him to farm two circles, dry season and rainy season.

    He said, “I finished my NYSC and there was no job and instead of staying at home doing nothing or job hunting from one office to another for non-available jobs I decided to go into farming. The money will help me to buy irrigation equipment that will enable me to practice dry season farming. By so doing I will be able to farm two circles in one year and that will improve my yield tremendously”.

    Life Progress Booster, initiated by Life Continental Lager Beer, from the stable of Nigerian Breweries, is an entrepreneurial talent hunt and mentoring radio programme, which is targeted at helping talented innovative businessmen and women in the Southeast.

    The Life Booster project is a reinforcement of the heritage embedded in the Life Continental Lager Beer, its essence and connection with the South-East consumers and in 2016, over 100 entrepreneurs from Nnewi, Enugu, Owerri and Aba have so far been rewarded with N30 million.

    Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony, Igwe Mishack Ikenna, Areas Sales Manager, Nsukka, NB Plc, who represented Obiora Okolo, Regional Business Manager, Enugu, NB Plc, said that the Progress Booster is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs who have bright ideas but need a platform to bring these ideas to life.

    “The show is designed to reinforce the entrepreneurship spirit of the people of the South-East, stir up the creativity level and resourcefulness among them and also grow the economy of this region.”

  • Obiano’s wife makes case for rural women

    Obiano’s wife makes case for rural women

    The wife of Anambra State governor Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano has toured primary healthcare centres in the state, stressing that one way to curb high maternal deaths is by providing expectant mothers in rural areas with basic delivery kits.

    Mrs. Obiano also distributed delivery kits in Otuocha, and Enugwu-Agidi in Anambra East and Njikoka Local Government Areas of the state.

    Addressing the women who turned out massively at Otuocha Health and Enugwu-Agidi centres Mrs. Obiano said that no woman should die during pregnancy or childbirth when opportunities are available to avoid life-threatening complications during pregnancy, childbirth or six weeks thereafter.

    She urged women to shun quacks and attend regular antenatal schedules at health centres.

    Mrs. Obiano told the women that Governor Obiano treats the welfare of women as priority and does not want to hear that any woman could not deliver safely in any part of the state, adding, that is why he embarked on the renovation and rehabilitation of 63 Primary Healthcare centres across Anambra State.

    Said Mrs. Obiano; “I have come to support the effort of our governor, Chief Willie Obiano at promoting the health and safe delivery of pregnant mothers with donation of delivery kits otherwise known as Mama kit to some of you adjudged regulars at antennal clinics.  The package I have is complete for safe child delivery; each pack contains all the tools needed by the midwives and health personnel and diapers, wrappers and mosquito nets to protect mother and child from bites. I am also glad to note that the maternal death ratio of our state is improving consistently at 200 deaths per 100,000 deliveries which are below the national average which stand at 540 deaths per 100,000 deliveries.”

    The wife of the governor called on the women to work hard to escape poverty by engaging in productive ventures that would assist their husbands and help sustain their families. She urged them to take advantage of the opportunities available under the programmes of her NGO, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), which adds value to the lives of women in our society.

    She outlined some projects of CAFÉ which provides succour and empowerment to indigent women and widows. Services include housing for indigent widows in each Senatorial zone, the building of toilets in rural markets across the state as well as skills acquisition and empowerment training for over 2,500 women in various skills including; tailoring and fashion-design, soap-making, bakery and confectionery, hairdressing and beauty therapy, and interior decoration, among other programmes.

    In a brief remark, wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oby Okeke assured Mrs. Obiano that the women are excited at the opportunity to interact and discuss their health needs and thanked her for visiting to promote antenatal attendance and safe delivery in Otuocha as well as Njikoka her local government areas.