The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

NGO tackles water scarcity in Ebonyi

A Lagos-based non-governmental organisation, the Initiative for Positive Leadership Ambassadors of Nigeria (IPLAN) has sunk 22 boreholes in Ebonyi communities in a bid to scale back their water challenges.

The NGO said it secured the funds for the projects from the Mike Ifere Foundation.

Director of IPLAN, Mr Michael Ifere told The Nation that the organisation embarked on the borehole project after a feasibility study it carried out in the state showed that water is an acute problem in the state.

“Immediately, IPLAN swung into action by providing water boreholes to some rural communities. We decided to pick Ezza North local government area first where we are currently providing twenty-two number boreholes to residents of the area, two in each of the eleven wards that make up the local government area”, he said.

According to him, some of the communities that have benefited from the borehole provision are Oriuzor, Ekka, Umuoghara, Okposhi, Oshiegbe, Nkomoro, Umuezeoka, Umuezeokaoha and Omege.

He said the NGO plans to extend its activities to other local government areas such as Ezza South, Ikwo, Ishielu and Ohaukwu LGAs.

Mr Ifere said the organisation also have plans to build the capacity of the youths in the state by building a skill acquisition centre in selected communities in the state to train the youths on skill acquisition to fight unemployment and crime in the society.

November 11, 2016
UNN alumni plan projects for alma mater

Twenty-five years after graduating from the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka some alumni have gathered at the institution with a plan to give back to their alma mater.

The 1991 medical and dental graduates of the College of Medicine re-united after parting ways a quarter of a decade ago.

The occasion, which was held inside the newly renovated faculty of Dentistry lecture hall, at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, was all fun as it brought back old memories when they were young students.

Declaring the event open, the vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, said the institution would continue to collaborate with different groups and corporate bodies with genuine desire to bring change and development in the citadel of learning.

Represented by the deputy vice chancellor, University of Nigeria, Enugu-Campus, Prof. Smart Uchegbu, Ozumba, stated that the involvement of corporate Nigeria in the advancement of public educational institutions had become imperative, as government alone could no longer meet all the financial commitments.

He expressed joy that despite the hard times, the alumni still organised such fora and saluted the ingenuity and patriotism of the organisers.

The chairman of the local organising committee, Prof. Felix Chukwuneke, stated that having been successful in all areas of medical endeavours, the idea of giving back to the college of medicine was contemplated by some class members and thereafter discussed widely by those practising in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Chukwuneke said that as united as ever, an organising committee was subsequently inaugurated with the focus to embark on the first phase of the 1991 college alumni re-union four-point projects.

The projects were – provision of constant light to the two lecture halls of faculties of medicine and Dentistry through solar power system, renovation of faculty of dentistry hall and provision of overhead tanks for the two toilets, award of academic excellence for our medical and dental students through essay competitions on medical education and visits to charity homes in the state.

The university don expressed satisfaction that the committee achieved the targets barely four months after it was formed and praised God that today the 1991 class of UNN medical and dental graduates had brought positive change to their alma mater.

He also announced the establishment of the Annual Dr. Andrew Anyadiegwu Award for Excellence for the best graduating student in medical biochemistry, adding that the award with a cash prize of N150,000, would run for the next five years beginning from 2017. Until 2014 when faculty of dentistry was established in UNN, medical and dental students shared one faculty.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, emeritus Prof. Alex Animalu, described home-coming events as unique since the main objectives were not only to encourage students assembly, but also to stimulate their interest in community development.

Animalu, who graduated in 1962 from the University of Ibadan, challenged Nigerians to go into research works, stressing that only scientific inventions could put Nigeria in world map, just as China and Japan. The scientist called on the federal government to explore the massive use of solar plant to address Nigeria’s energy crisis.

November 11, 2016
Ex-Ebonyi Governor, deputy governor honoured

Ebonyi state Governor David Umahi saw it all as his predecessor Sam Egwu, and deputy Kelechi Igwe were honoured at the the Abakaliki Township stadium. There was also a third honoree Senator Sonni Ogbuoji.

The Assemblies of God Church honoured the three politicians who are members of the church.

The event was organised by the Southeast Zone 4 of the church.

In attendance also was the General Superintendent of the church, Rev Chidi Okoroafor who in a sermon charged Christians with the fear of God not to allow ungodly men to take over the political space of the country.

He said, “Time has expired when the church will sit at the fence and then allow occultists, drunkards, immoral people and idol worshipers to take over government, while we just sit on the fence and pray alone. When the righteous is in authority the people rejoice”.

Rev Okoroafor also eulogised the three awardees, saying they are “God-fearing believers; they are members of Assemblies of God. We charge them to remain our pride, we charge them to be good ambassadors of Christ and to be good ambassadors of Assemblies of God Church.

“Their godly performance will provoke the constituency to pick more Assemblies of God people because they have seen that they fear God and they practice what they proclaim”.

Earlier, the Chairman, Southeast Zone 4 of the church and Abakaliki District Superintendent, Rev Emma Nshi noted that the church has grown like a mustard seed from 1934 when it was started by Rev Augustus Wogu to a worldwide church vigorously drawing people closer to God.

He said the church has also produced many individuals in various fields of endeavour who have contributed to the growth of the nation and the church.

“The Chruch started making inroads into politics during the Second Republic when it produced the Senate president, Joseph Wayas. It also produced Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, another Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”

Others are first civilian governor of Ebonyi amd current Senator representing Ebonyi North, Dr Sam Egwu, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji and Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Kelechi Igwe.”

In his speech, Governor Umahi noted the important role played by Egwu during the elections that led to his emergence as the flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party.

He said, “During the peacekeeping meeting in Abuja most people that came to make peace were ready to trade off my position for his own but he said that my own position was first as far as he was concerned and his was secondary”.

Umahi noted that his deputy has been loyal and dependable.

He said, “At the time of negotiation, the party said I must concede the deputy governorship position to somebody else but I was so stubborn to say no. When it was 24 hours to sign my papers and send them to INEC I had filled Kelechi as deputy but the party refused to assent to it unless I remove his name and put the person of our choice. But I said if you will not sign it, you can give the entire ticket to someone else”.

“And he has been a capable hand in the efforts to develop and transform the state. When situations are tough in the executive council we refer it to him. I once asked myself, whom do you like best. Is it an honest man that doesn’t know his work or the dishonest man that knows his work?

“But God gave me an honest man that knows his work in my deputy governor. If he tells me something is hundred naira I will not question it. And this is very important to every leader, when you have such a helper it is by the special grace of God. It is very much in lack in our society and in this nation. So we thank God for him and we are very grateful”.

The governor described Senator Ogbuoji’s second term to represent Ebonyi South as the divine will of God.

November 11, 2016
Governors, others honour Imo Speaker

State governors, parliamentarians and other leaders were among dignitaries who honoured the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Acho Ihim as he became president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, African Region.

The state governor Rochas Okorocha was there at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC) where the reception was held for the new IICC president. So were governors Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Aminu Bello Masari (Kastina) and former Senate President Ken Nnamani and other political and religious leaders.

The Speaker, who had not been in the limelight of the state politics, was showered with encomiums, some describing his cordial relationship with the Executive as exemplary.

He was praised for supporting and creating harmonious working relationship between the state governor and the legislators, which was cited as the reason for the monumental achievements recorded by the Okorocha’s administration.

Another cause for joy for the Speaker, according to feelers, was that the highly successful reception may have added impetus to his alleged ambition of succeeding Okorocha as the state governor.

Meanwhile, in their separate speeches, the three governors who graced the occasion submitted that a healthy collaboration between governors and legislators will speed up the growth of democracy in the country.

They advised state governors to always work in harmony with the legislators, enjoining the executive the legislative arms of government to eschew undue suspicions.

Governor Okorocha said, “Things are working well in the state because my government is working with a strong and patriotic parliamentarians, hence, the four-year rolling plan which the legislators in the state had okayed, which has helped the us to record monumental achievements to its credit”.

Okorocha said, “My administration would not have recorded the volume of monumental achievements on ground to its credit without the cooperation and understanding of the members of the State House of Assembly”.

He stated that the working relationship would continue to be strengthened.

Governor Tambuwal stated that the parliament gives democracy the needed teeth.

He noted that the success recorded in Imo state shows the cordial working relationship between the executive and the legislature.

The Sokoto State governor advised the Speaker to sustain the virtues that brought him this far.

He urged the governors to work closely with the legislature for the good of the people, adding that “the legislature is not all about making bills or being in fight or being in competition with the Executive but for checks and balances for a good democracy.”

Governor Masari, who was the chairman of the event, in his speech, advised that governors should not see legislators as rivals, but as partners in progress.

Nnamani while highlighting the roles of the legislature, said that the bridge between autocracy and democracy is the budget, adding that speedy passage of the budget by the Imo legislature helped the government in delivering dividends of democracy and called for such relationship between other governors and their legislators.

In his speech, the Speaker, expressed gratitude to Governor Okorocha and assured that he won’t fail in his new assignment.

He noted that the continued support for the Governor by the lawmakers was in the best interest of the people of the state, adding that the existing cordial relationship between the Governor and the lawmakers will continue to be improved upon and sustained.

Ihim insisted that a vibrant House is not the one that is endlessly engaged in a battle of supremacy with the Executive but the one that is focused on the responsibility of making legislations that will impact the lives of the people and the overall development of the state.

November 11, 2016
Agony of six siblings’ death in Anambra

Their remains have been interred but the agony endures in the hearts of their parents and so many in Ekwulumili, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The six siblings died in circumstances that some have described as mysterious.

Their burial evoked emotions as the people could not hold back their tears, including the priest, Bishop Michael Anene of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, who officiated the event..

The children were Chukwuebuka, 17, Chinemerem, 15, Afomachukwu, 13, Chekwubechukwu, 11, Onyekachukwu, 9, and Chukwuziterem, 7, who died one after the order after a meal.

Since their death, on July 15, the state police command has not established anything on the case as the new state commissioner Mr. Samuel Okaula refused to talk about it.

The incident took place when Mr. Hassan Karma, now Assistant Inspector of police (AIG) was Anambra State police commissioner, who said the incident, was being investigated.

Last weekend at the Ekwulumili home of the deceased persons, it was all lamentations as the priest Anene cursed anybody who was involved in the death of the children.

Parents of the children, Apostle and Mrs. Rita Oramalu did their best to draw some courage and comfort after the death of six of their seven children in one fell swoop.

The only surviving and only child in the family is four.

Mrs. Rita Oramalu said they would want the state government to offer him scholarship as the only hope of the family. Their late children had chosen what they wanted to be in life, while late Chineremerem said he would like to be an engineer, and had started showing some signs of that, like repairing generating sets, according to the mother.

The other siblings had chosen to be lawyers, doctors and nurses before their untimely deaths.

Till date, the police in Anambra have not been able to ascertain whether they were poisoned or not. However, The Nation gathered that the children could have been poisoned by an unknown person.

When Mr. Ali Okechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) was the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), now anti-cult leader in the state, he had raised the alarm that some youths of the community had impeded investigations on the matter.

He claimed then that the youths did not allow policemen to enter their community by blocking their way, lamenting that the command was being frustrated on the investigations.

When the incident happened, the parents of the children were being held by close relations and friends from committing suicide.

The father of the deceased, Apostle Chuks Oramalu, told The Nation that he could name the killers of his children based on investigations so far.

But he admitted that some people in the community were accusing him of killing his children for rituals and asked, how can this be?

According to him, “the children I suffered to beget and nurture, why should somebody have that thinking? He vowed to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.

Their mother Rita Oramalu said the government should investigate the matter well to bring any culprit to book, but where such is not possible “let God who has been taking control continue to fight for the family”

Another interesting aspect of the matter was that the third child, Afomachukwu 13, came 2nd in her last examination in the entire Nnewi south local government area before her death.

During his sermon at the burial of the children, Bishop Anene said that someone must have been behind the death of the children.

He said whoever that had hands in the death of the innocent children, would expect grave consequences of his or her action, citing several portions of the bible to buttress his pronouncement.

According to Anene, “woe betide the killers of the children and it would have been better the person was not born than to have committed the dastardly act”

When contacted by The Nation whether the state government of Anambra State was involved in the burial and what the family experts from it, the special adviser to Governor Willie Obiano on media, Mr. James Eze said the question would have been whether the state knew about the incident.

However, he said the government would work hard in making sure that the governor’s attention was drawn to it, adding that Obiano would stop his convoy to help accident victims in the state, “how much more this ugly incident”

When the state police commissioner was called on the phone by The Nation, he did not answer, nor did he return the call.

November 11, 2016
Community celebrates new yam

A COMMUNITY in Anambra State has celebrated the new yam in a fashion the Igbo are very familiar with.

Umudim village in Nnewi North Local Government Area was eating the king of crops for the first time this season, and like all Igbo do, they made the occasion count.

They donned their fine clothes, gathered and roasted yams before proceeding to feast on it with a variety of sauces.

Iri ji or iwa ji, as the feast is called, is also a time to thank God for keeping the farmers through the farming season.

The event took place in Lagos where the Ezena kindred of Umudim village rekindled the festive mood in grand style, with a display of rich cultural heritage.

Ezena sons and daughters residents in Lagos turned out in large numbers to observe the ili ji ofu Ezena, as they put it their dialect.

Guests were treated to various sauces and fruits to go with the roasted new yam.

The 2016 edition of the fiesta took place at C- Courtesy Garden Festac Town.

Representatives of each of the four Ezena kindreds came up to take a slice of the yam. There was also a dance presentation by women colorfully kitted in traditional Igbo attires. News was also presented in Igbo language, in addition to a good serving of traditional food prepared by contestants.

While performing the ritual of cutting the new yam, chairman of the event, Chief Eke Clement Atusiuba said, “We are proud of Ezena. Today, we are in the age of transformation, and I want my people to see the New Yam Festival in a different perspective, whereby, during the fiesta, people would be called together, to eat, drink, enjoy music and dance, as people would do in a modern period.”

The chairman said that such a festival would serve as an avenue to bring youths of the community together.

November 11, 2016
30 renounce cults as police, churches fight vice

The horror of cult groups being in secondary schools, not just tertiary institutions, inspired the collaboration of the Abia State police command and various religious organisations to tackle vice in schools. The police and the churches came under one umbrella to fight a common threat. The venue was Abia State Polytechnic, Aba which keyed into the plan.

The commercial city is facing various security challenges such as cult activities, robbery and kidnapping, among others.

This collaboration has yielded fruit. Over 30 students, spread across the genders, and of various secondary and tertiary institutions, denounced their membership of cult groups.

Many speakers helped soften the hearts of those who renounced. The state Commissioner of Police Adeleye Oyebade, who is also a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), was one of such powerful speakers. So was the Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara, who disclosed that he once belonged to a cult group. This revelation amazed his audience.

Clergymen and even ex-cultists from Abia State Polytechnic equally played an inspiring role at the event.

In an interview with journalists at the end of the event, the state police commissioner said the crusade was in line with the community policing policy of the Inspector General of Police Mr. Idris Ibrahim.

He added that churches and campus fellowships in different secondary schools and higher institutions in the state were among the stakeholders the police are partnering with to ensure a crime-free state.

The police boss who said that over 80 per cent of criminals arrested in the command were committed by youths who are involved in kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes and further investigation has it that the youths were involved in the crime as a result of influence of peers and engaging in cult-related activities.

He said, “In line with our responsibility to fight crime in Abia State, we have resolved to reach out to students in the secondary schools and higher institutions to sensitise, counsel and educate them on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse and other criminal activities.

“When you look at the age bracket of the youths going into crime this time around, you will find out that those of them in Schools are more in number. So our message is that they should abstain from crime and take their studies seriously to enable them prepare to be the leaders of tomorrow.

“We are partnering with Churches to achieve this aim, so that when the Student repent the Churches can follow them up to ensure that they will not go back to cultism and crime again”.

Earlier, the area Commander Aba area Command of the State Police Command ACP Peter Wabara stated that the Police have segmented Aba into seven groups, adding that the anti-cult crusade will be taken to each of the groups in Aba and its environs.

Wagbara said the event would help to cut the rate of crime under his command. He also used the opportunity to call for the support of all stakeholders to tackle what he described as cankerworm that has continued to pose a threat to the peace of Aba residents and visitors alike.

He promised that Aba would continue to enjoy the good working synergy between the police and other sister agencies to ensure that crime was reduced to its lowest ebb in Aba and the state in general.

Some Aba residents said they couldn’t believe that the police could agree to such moves, adding that they were astonished to have seen the result of such collaboration as many students especially, from the secondary school sessions courageously denounced their membership to various secret cult groups, an event that they suggested should be annual.

In a remark, the Rev John Eze of the Christian Pentecostal Mission Aba, lauded the state police command for organizing the anti-cult crusade in the city.

He said, “I consider today as one of the days I have been waiting for as a minister of God, for the Police to initiate this programme is an answered prayer, I think God has decided to bring the “name God’s own State Abia” into a reality.

November 11, 2016
Military turns to Aba for shoes

The military has ordered 50,000 boots from Aba shoemakers, a development that supports Abia State’s campaign for locally-made goods, and drives the Federal Government’s plan to grow the economy. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

Where is good news from the military, and from Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State. The armed forces have placed an order for 50,000 pairs of made-in-Aba boots for their personnel. And that is just for a start; if the footwears fit well and the quality is good, there will be more orders.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu broked the news .

It is a great piece of news. Why? Such inward-looking development is rare in the country. Usually, the military sources their kits from overseas, as do almost everyone else. This practice, not restricted to footwear, has drained the nation’s resources.

For the shoemakers of Aba, this is probably the best thing that has happened to them. They and thousands of other artisans in the city are renowned for their industry and excellence. It is usually said that if you can name anything Aba technicians can fabricate it. But their fame and ingenuity count for little. Their products are still largely shunned in preference for imported ones. They are poorly accommodated, their tools outmoded, and their morale at its lowest. They need help, and fast, through patronage and support.

The 50,000 order from the military should lift their spirits, and also cheer up Governor Ikpeazu who has campaigned for their goods. In Abuja, the nation’s capital, it must be viewed positively too because the best way to fight recession is growing the local industry.

Ikpeazu who was a guest in a live radio programme in the commercial hub, said that the shoes will be of international standard.

The governor stressed that the orders were the result of the state government’s persistent campaign for made-in-Aba shoes as well as its call to patronise small- and medium enterprises.

“As a result of the direct fallout of my persistence on Abia-Turkish relationship, we have invitation by no other person than the president of Turkey to bring some Aba businessmen to Turkey within November. I am in liaison with the President, Aba Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industry and Agriculture (ACCIMA), Emma Nwapkadolu, shoemakers and also garment producers, those who have been part of this decision from the beginning.

“What we want to take out of that is that we want to see Turkish technology in our process lines because the processes and procedures for the things we make here need to be consistent to reflect on the quality of what we push into the market. But I must say that we just received order for the supply of 50,000 pairs of military boots and that came some days ago and as we speak, our people in Aba are battling to produce the boots and I will do everything possible to ensure that they get input that can help them produce world-class boots.

“If we do well in this sample of 50, 000, it means that so much more will come and this is bringing to fruition to what we have been preaching and trying to weave around.

“We are investing in capacity building and that is why we are saying that we want to build university that will help our people to get certification to help their skills have some international acceptability and people coming to invest in our state because we have the people that can drive the investment.”

The governor blamed the prolonged governorship legal battle in the state for the delay in executing projects but he stated that construction work which was suspended during the rainy season would soon begin as the contractors would be back to site.

He added that they would use the dry season window to complete some of the abandoned projects including Enyimba International Stadium of about N300 million, Faulk/Ariaria Junction roads, while palliative work will be done on some of the federal roads.

He said that fixing the roads which have become impassable will not only help to improve human and vehicular movement in and out of the state, but will affect trade and investment positively.

Ikpeazu stated that his administration in the last one year has saved the state over N500m in its effort to fight the ghost worker syndrome, disclosing that the government would make sure that the contractors use good quality materials to execute those projects so that they can last.

“We are back to road construction. We want to do things properly. We don’t want to use inferior materials and I am promising Abians that as soon as we start the construction exercise, it is going to be ongoing and there won’t be any stoppage of work on Faulks Road and Aba Road in Umuahia, the state capital. Aba-Owerri Road in Aba will also receive attention. We are also discussing with the federal government on how to repair the dilapidated federal roads linking the state and other neighbouring southeast and south-south states and while the negotiation is still on, we will do palliative work on Port Harcourt road to ease off traffic on our roads and to also create mobility.

“I am aware of the importance of Ariaria to the state, Southeast and the country as a whole. We are committed to serve the people and we are ready to take the bull by the horn,” he stated.

He also said that the state government is doing everything possible to ensure that the unemployed youths in the state were gainfully employed and to use their skills in executing projects in the state.

“We are the first state to have a data base of 34,000 unemployed youths and, all of them we have issued with identity cards which can also serve as ATM cards. So, what it means is that if we have a social responsibility to give handouts or as the federal government is planning to employ the youths, there is a platform for people to benefit from that and we are investing seriously on skill acquisition. We want our people to begin to learn one skill or the other.”

November 4, 2016
NGO tackles water scarcity in Ebonyi

A Lagos-based non-governmental organisation, the Initiative for Positive Leadership Ambassadors of Nigeria (IPLAN) has sunk 22 boreholes in Ebonyi communities in a bid to scale back their water challenges.

The NGO said it secured the funds for the projects from the Mike Ifere Foundation.

Director of IPLAN, Mr Michael Ifere told The Nation that the organisation embarked on the borehole project after a feasibility study it carried out in the state showed that water is an acute problem in the state.

“Immediately, IPLAN swung into action by providing water boreholes to some rural communities. We decided to pick Ezza North local government area first where we are currently providing twenty-two number boreholes to residents of the area, two in each of the eleven wards that make up the local government area”, he said.

According to him, some of the communities that have benefited from the borehole provision are Oriuzor, Ekka, Umuoghara, Okposhi, Oshiegbe, Nkomoro, Umuezeoka, Umuezeokaoha and Omege.

He said the NGO plans to extend its activities to other local government areas such as Ezza South, Ikwo, Ishielu and Ohaukwu LGAs.

Mr Ifere said the organisation also have plans to build the capacity of the youths in the state by building a skill acquisition centre in selected communities in the state to train the youths on skill acquisition to fight unemployment and crime in the society.

November 4, 2016
UNN alumni plan projects for alma mater

Twenty-five years after graduating from the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka some alumni have gathered at the institution with a plan to give back to their alma mater.

The 1991 medical and dental graduates of the College of Medicine re-united after parting ways a quarter of a decade ago.

The occasion, which was held inside the newly renovated faculty of Dentistry lecture hall, at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, was all fun as it brought back old memories when they were young students.

Declaring the event open, the vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, said the institution would continue to collaborate with different groups and corporate bodies with genuine desire to bring change and development in the citadel of learning.

Represented by the deputy vice chancellor, University of Nigeria, Enugu-Campus, Prof. Smart Uchegbu, Ozumba, stated that the involvement of corporate Nigeria in the advancement of public educational institutions had become imperative, as government alone could no longer meet all the financial commitments.

He expressed joy that despite the hard times, the alumni still organised such fora and saluted the ingenuity and patriotism of the organisers.

The chairman of the local organising committee, Prof. Felix Chukwuneke, stated that having been successful in all areas of medical endeavours, the idea of giving back to the college of medicine was contemplated by some class members and thereafter discussed widely by those practising in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Chukwuneke said that as united as ever, an organising committee was subsequently inaugurated with the focus to embark on the first phase of the 1991 college alumni re-union four-point projects.

The projects were – provision of constant light to the two lecture halls of faculties of medicine and Dentistry through solar power system, renovation of faculty of dentistry hall and provision of overhead tanks for the two toilets, award of academic excellence for our medical and dental students through essay competitions on medical education and visits to charity homes in the state.

The university don expressed satisfaction that the committee achieved the targets barely four months after it was formed and praised God that today the 1991 class of UNN medical and dental graduates had brought positive change to their alma mater.

He also announced the establishment of the Annual Dr. Andrew Anyadiegwu Award for Excellence for the best graduating student in medical biochemistry, adding that the award with a cash prize of N150,000, would run for the next five years beginning from 2017. Until 2014 when faculty of dentistry was established in UNN, medical and dental students shared one faculty.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, emeritus Prof. Alex Animalu, described home-coming events as unique since the main objectives were not only to encourage students assembly, but also to stimulate their interest in community development.

Animalu, who graduated in 1962 from the University of Ibadan, challenged Nigerians to go into research works, stressing that only scientific inventions could put Nigeria in world map, just as China and Japan. The scientist called on the federal government to explore the massive use of solar plant to address Nigeria’s energy crisis.

November 4, 2016