The immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji has predicted that the verdict of the Court of Appeal which sacked Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as the duly elected governor of the state and replaced with Dr Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will be upturned at the Supreme Court.
Chief Orji, who is the Senator representing Abia Central senatorial district at the Senate, said the verdict of the Court of Appeal was not a good one for the state and its people.
“But there is the Supreme Court which is the last point of the judicial exercise in this matter,” he said.
Speaking with reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, Orji said he has a lot of respect for the judiciary which is the last hope of any politicians’ political career, as it has always come to his rescue since he ventured into politics.
Orji said: “Since I joined politics, the judiciary has always been there for me. From 2007 to 2011 as governor and even now as Senator, as it has always authenticated my mandate after any election my opponents proceed to the courts to challenge my victory.
“I don’t see any difference in this case of Ikpeazu versus Otti governorship case, as some people want to be governor at all costs and desperately too simply because they have some money. But money is not everything in politics.”
He said he is happy that the governorship matter does not end at the Court of Appeal but at the Supreme Court.
“It is a place where there are men of integrity who take their time on such matter. I am sure that Ikpeazu will be returned as the duly elected governor of Abia State,” he said.
The Senator said the judiciary is supposed to enhance democracy for the good of the country and its people.
“However, this time around, the judiciary at the Court of Appeal has decided to turn democracy upside down,” he said.
Orji said that the Court of Appeal judgment means that Ikpeazu cannot vote for himself and that his father, mother and siblings cannot vote for him.
“It also means that he is not eligible to be voted for in the election based on the court’s verdict,” he stated.
He posited that the continuous cancellation of election results and in some cases election results are declared inconclusive if not properly handled may end up blowing up the country.
The former governor took a swipe at the founding fathers of the state, saying “it is a shame that those who claim to be founding fathers of the state are the ones destroying it. Instead of preaching peace, they are busy preaching discord.
“These people do not have any electoral value during any election in the state. During the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries, Ikpeazu defeated his opponents clearly and the governorship seat deserves to go to the southern part of the state; having been to the north and central parts of the state for sixteen years,” he said.
It was a colourful gathering during the 2015 homecoming of Ngwa High School, Aba Old Boys’ Association. SUNNY NWANKWO reports.
Ngwa High School is one of the early male schools in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State. The school which was founded in 1952 with Rev. W.G. Pollard as its pioneer Principal has produced many successful businessmen, clerics, top ranking soldiers (both serving and retired) and other professionals such as Chief Mike Ahamba, Prof. Uche Ikonne and acting Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University Uturu Prof. Jasper Fortune Jumbo, among others.
However, the 2015 gathering of the school which coincided with the Golden Jubilee of the class of 1965 of Ngwa High School Boys Association (NHSOBA) set provided these legal icon, clergies, business gurus and other professionals, the opportunity not only to relish the old school days as students in a secondary school that was the pride of the commercial city then, it also provided them the opportunity to plan on how to restore the pride of the school; having been returned to the original owners (Anglican Church) by the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji. For them, the infrastructural decay in the school is awful.
According to the Old Boys, their planned partnership with the present management of the school under Aba Ngwa North Anglican Diocese to give their alma mater a facelift, they were embarking on a N10 million project investments.
Among the projects they intend to carry out in the school are sinking of borehole and reticulating water to every part of the school, including the students’ dormitory among other places.
Chief Mike Ahamba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and President of the schools’ Old Boys’ Association of the school announced this in Aba as part of the celebration to mark the golden jubilee of the 1965 class.
President of NHSOBA lamented the level of dilapidation of infrastructure in the school founded in 1954. He promised that the association would partner with the church to address the infrastructural challenges as well as re-establish high standard of learning which the school was known for.
He said: “We are here for our homecoming and to take a look at the state of infrastructure in the school and see how we can help. The buildings are old and most of the students are day students. We will invest at least N10 million in the first instance of the infrastructural rehabilitation of the school.
“We would like a situation where most of them would come into residence and that will help to inculcate in them the true character of Ngwa High School personality. We will ensure that immediately we leave here, students of the school will enjoy water from the borehole sunk by the Old Boys’ Association and it will be reticulated. After that, we won’t wait; we will go on to achieve other projects.
“We enjoyed water system and showers in the 1960s. Why won’t our students enjoy them now? I commend the Vice-President of NHSOBA, Chief Jasper Jumbo for renovating the school’s chapel and library and Dr. Chianyigadi Denna who re-roofed and installed metal doors to the science blocks.”
Ahamba also said that the association will do all within its capacity to restore the glory of the school.
“We will try and get it right. It will be a continuous thing. We are doing it for a lot of reasons; this is the only school that bears the name, Ngwa. I believe the Ngwa nation will see it as something they must support even though the Anglican Mission is running it now. But they built the school and gave it to the Anglican Church. That’s what happened in 1953. Now that the Anglican Church has it again, Ngwa people should not turn their back on this citadel that is flying the flag of Ngwa land.”
Corroborating Chief Ahamba’s views, Prof. Jasper Fortune Jumbo said they were willing to partner with the Anglican Church of Aba Ngwa North Diocese; owners of the school to see ways the glory of the school could be restored which he said would attract parents to sending their children/wards to the school for studies in order to be better equipped academically.
Earlier in his address, the Principal of the School, Dr. Felix Erondu, who is also an old boy of the school, had enumerated the challenges facing the institution to include lack of laboratory facilities; dilapidated buildings, broken fence and lack school bus.
Brig. General G.A. Umelo; Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Ali Amodu; Justice Kenneth Amadi; Mr. Emmanuel Denna, Gordy Uche (SAN); incoming ABSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uche Ikonne; Mr. Eric Archibong and Mr. Chianyidi Denna were among the old boys honoured by the group.
Former governor of Abia State Theodore Orji, who now represents Abia Central District at the Senate, has issued cheques to 60 pupils, some of whom are brilliant, some indigent.
All the pupils hail from the six council areas Orji represents.
Speaking while presenting the cheques to the students in Umuahia, Orji said that the scholarship scheme is for indigent and brilliant students from his senatorial district who were chosen after their application and interview.
Orji who was represented by the chairman of the scheme, Mr. Emma Nwabuko said that ten students from the six council areas were chosen making number sixty, “Five of the students must be indigent while the other five must be brilliant students”.
The senator said that the beneficiaries were chosen based on the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) for the brilliant ones while the indigent ones were chosen based on their performance during the interview.
Orji said, “Those who are benefitting applied through online and after meeting with the criteria the board set, were invited for an interview and today we are issuing them their cheques to collect their monies which is N100,000 per student”.
He regretted that many students who would have benefited felt it was a scam, “But after the interview we started receiving more applications probably because they had realised their mistakes”.
The Abia Central senator made it clear that the scheme is an annual event, stressing that the beneficiaries stand the chance of getting another cheque during the next academic session so long as they do well in their examinations.
Orji said, “The beneficiaries for this 2015-16 academic session stands the chance to apply for next session so long as they do well in their examinations to enable them qualify, so all you need do is to read your books and pass your examinations.”
He explained that the students were chosen from different universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education across the country, stressing that the higher institutions of learning are not based in the state alone.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries Emenike Favour, of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike who is studying statistics, thanked Senator Orji for putting up the scheme and assured him that they will not disappoint him.
Enugu state Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been honoured in Dublin, Ireland for his leadership role as governor and contributions while he was chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Marine Transport.
The governor won the award alongside other awardees, including a female Irish professor and women’s rights activist, Fionnuala Waldron, former Charge d’Affaires of Nigerian Embassy in Ireland and a former Nigerian ambassador, Benedict Onochie Amobi, among others at the event put together by Metro Eireann, Ireland’s first multicultural newspaper.
The event, which held in the capital city, came two days after scores of investors gathered at Dublin City’s Westin Hotels to brainstorm at a mini investment summit which offered the Enugu State delegation to Ireland the opportunity to lay bare the vast investment opportunities in the coal city.
The investment summit also organised by Metro Eireann which is run by Metro Publishing Consultancy Limited, the primary source of news and information on Ireland’s growing immigrant and ethnic communities and run by a Nigerian, Chinedu Onyejelem, opened up a lot of vistas forthe Enugu delegation to enter into concrete and temporary agreements on mutual cooperation in the areas of agriculture, education and commerce and industry.
At the awards, Ugwuanyi who featured in the internal category, told the elite gathering made of diplomats and serving and former Irish government officials as well as members of the Nigerian community in the European country, that his 11-man delegation was in town to seek investment in view of the scary slump in global oil prices which is currently putting Nigeria’s economy on edge.
He told the gathering which was also addressed by a former Irish minister of Trade and Development, Mr. Joe Castelo, that he was dedicating the awards to the good people of Enugu state back home, whom he described as the true heroes of democracy in view of their support and decision to join his administration in a current stoic philosophy of belt-tightening to shore of the economy of the state.
Nigerian Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires in Ireland, Mr. Olusola Iginla attended both the investment summit for Enugu and the awards night and on both occasions commended the exemplary drive of the Enugu governor during the three-day working visit, saying it is the needed disposition for all political office holders in Nigeria in view of the current economic gridlock staring the nation in the face.
Chairman of the state Economic Advisory Committee, Prof. Monsgr. Obiora Ike, who was also on the delegation read the citation of the governor at the awards event and told the gathering that the coal city state was lucky to have Governor Ugwuanyi at the helm of affairs at this critical period and declared that with his wealth of experience as a parliamentarian for 12 straight years and a visible combination of clusters of virtues of good leadership and disarming humility, there was no doubt that the people of the state are in for good governance.
Apart from Mr. Terence Modebe, a Nigerian-Irish who is already working on a range of investments on agriculture in Adani, Enugu State as well as on other economic ventures, in the state, the Enugu delegation held very crucial talks with other prospective investors who look good to storm Enugu shortly.
For instance, president of the Dublin City University, Prof. Brian McCraith, whose institution had earlier signed a memorandum of understanding with the Enugu Government on education development would be attending an Economic Summit being put together by the state government in March this year. A good number of investors and other businessmen who held talks with government delegation have expressed readiness to participate in the summit.
The awards night featured multi-cultural displays by cultural troupes with backgrounds of the Igbo of Nigeria, India and the Congo of East Africa and they added colour to the event.
In a routine drill contest organised for soldiers of the 14 Brigade Command in Abia State, a unit near Aba, the commercial capital of the region, shone and it was accordingly honoured, Sunny Nwankwo reports
There is no war, but that does not mean soldiers should forget about keeping fit and being better combatants. That was why the 14 Brigade Command Headquarters of Nigerian Army in Ohafia, named after former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, brought together over 200 soldiers from various formations to go through their routine drill. And to spice things up and inject serious into it, the battalions had to vie for a prize. The 144 Battalion in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state won the prize: a golden cup.
The exercise was in compliance with the directives of the new Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai.
Brig-Gen Bamidele Omozoje, the brigade commander, urged officers and men under his command to work harder to reach the point of proficiency required to enable them fulfil their constitutional roles.
Omozoje who also was the review officer of the competition stated that the need for the exercise could not be over-emphasised, adding that drill provides the command with the opportunity to evaluate the performance of soldiers.
Speaking further, the brigade commander said that the competition was part of the scheduled training arrangements for the Nigerian Army as directed by the COAS.
“The activities we are witnessing today are part of the training activities scheduled for this year 2015 and we have decided to go ahead with it despite all the challenges in line with the Chief or Army Staff’s vision to have a very professionally responsive Nigerian army in the discharge of its constitutional roles.
“And so we are here this morning to witness the…inter-battalion drill competition. In the army drill is key because it is the foundation for establishing team work among its personnel and also for building comradeship.
“That is why we are here this morning. I urge all participants to put up a very good display so that at the end of the whole exercise everybody who is present would have gained something”, he said.
He thanked all the soldiers who participated in the exercise including guests for being part of the programme and contributing to its success.
Four units of the military formations in Abia state took part in the event which lasted for about four hours.
The participating units included 14 Brigade, Ohafia; the 144 Battalion, Asa; 143 Battalion, Ovim hosting Nigerian Army Language School and 145 Battalion, Ohafia with its Forward Operational Base (FOB) at Umuahia.
The competition ended with 144 Battalion, Asa in Ukwa West adjudged the best in the drills competition and were presented with a Golden Cup by Omozoje which was received by 2nd Lt. Noah Shigaba on behalf of the 144 Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Sidi Umar.
For the indigent widows, the physically challenged and unemployed youths in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, the 44th birthday anniversary of the lawmaker representing Njaba Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Ambassador Uju Onwudiwe will remain a turning point in their lives.
Two hundred of them drawn from the 20 autonomous communities in the constituency received various empowerment packages including 12 brand new motorcycles, cash to set up small businesses and clothing, among other items.
The smile on the faces of the beneficiaries as they lined up at the Central School Okwudor to receive the gifts, spoke volumes of the joy of getting a lifeline that will certainly ease their economic hardship.
Some of the aged women who could not hold back their emotions wept openly as they prayed for God to reward the legislator, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking at the occasion, the celebrant who was flanked by her husband, Mr Innocent Onwudiwe, said that the gesture was her humble way of given back to her constituents and to share the joy of the moment of her birth with the less privileged in the society.
She noted that the occasion had fulfilled her covenant with God to assist the indigent widows, youths and the physically challenged, if she was elected to serve the people.
According to her, “I could hear the voice of God telling me to celebrate this with indigent widows. I have no choice than to fulfil the promise I made to God. I can see they are very happy. This is the first time I brought people from Njaba for this type of occasion. Today is really one of my happiest days. I am fulfilled and inspired. I am ready to sustain it as long as God keeps blessing me”.
Earlier at the thanksgiving Mass at the St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Okwudor, Rev Father Jerome Okoronkwo in his homily, spoke on the love of God for mankind, urging Christians to show the love of God in their daily lives.
He commended the celebrant for choosing to celebrate her birthday anniversary with the poor and needy and by remembering them through her empowerment scheme.
The cleric who is also the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Imo State University, called other politicians in the state to assist the indigent people with their wealth.
The visibly excited beneficiaries commended the Lawmaker for remembering them even when the elections were over, “we are happy today because most politicians after voting for them will just disappear only to appear during another election. But Hon Uju has proved that she has the people at heart and we commend her for this kind gesture”.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal has inaugurated some projects executed by Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi.
Lawal, who was on a one-day visit to the state, was so impressed with the Umahi progress story that he joked saying he was surprised people like the governor were in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said Umahi’s achievement was a challenge to all governors, including those of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said he would recommend Umahi’s ‘pragmatic type of governance’ to President Muhammadu Buhari, since according to him, it should be a model for other governors to emulate.
The SGF said, “Governor David Umahi has performed more than what we see others do in the last six months. I will tell Mr. President that this state is a model of development for our country.”
Turning to the governor, he jokingly added, ”Sometimes, we get surprised that people like you are found in the PDP but there is a cliche that says good men are found everywhere.
“We like such people but we will not envy them if they remain in PDP because they also challenge APC governors to perform. That is the essence of opposition and competition in politics.”
The SGF applauded the prudence and integrity with which Umahi was managing the lean resources available to the state.‘
Lawal, who appealed to all Ebonyians, members of the State House of Assembly and the Executive to continue to cooperate with the governor to enable him do more, stated that “with the governor’s performances so far, he will win his election for a second term if in the APC.” The SGF had inspected some projects in Abakaliki, including flyovers under construction and inaugurated the CBN Road in the Centenary city.
At one of the sites, Lawal, who was in company with the Ministers of State for Niger Delta and Labour and Productivity, Bar. James Ochili and Dr. Cladius Daramola,observed that the cost of the three flyovers was an indication that “the governor belongs to a cream of leaders in the country who are not greedy and corrupt.”
Lawal, who was honoured with a Chieftaincy of ENYIOMA of Ebonyi State by the state Traditional Rulers Council, noted that his visit to the state was not for politics, but as a functionary of the Federal Government.
He assured that he would assist in facilitating the Federal Government’s refund to the state of the over N10bn spent on the construction of federal roads in the state.
Speaking at a state Banquet, Umahi said the appointment of Lawal as SGF was an act of God.
There is a reason for the high spirits at the institution. The ambience is great. Space seems to be put in better use, as new lecture halls, staff offices, faculty buildings, Senate building and hostels stand in their right places. There are lawns and flowers and the air seems purer these days.
There is more. Road network has improved and you can drive or walk with more ease.
Still, the story of FUTO is more than infrastructure or greenery. It is one of cleaner academic processes leading to its leap from its 48th position out of 100 Nigerian universities in 2011, to 12th, according to a web ranking.
FUTO stakeholders have Vice Chancellor Professor Chigozie Asiabaka to thank for that.
He relished the improved facilities but the VC was just as happy with the school’s integrity profile and the harmony in the work force.
Unlike in the past, when the university was bedevilled by decayed infrastructure and disenchanted work force, FUTO is better positioned to compete favourably with other leading universities in the world in terms of academic quality, first-class infrastructure and human capital development.
The students and staff alike in a chat with The Nation attributed the success to the VC’s ingenuity as well as the commitment of both the academic and non-academic staff of the institution.
The VC, now in his fourth year, said that on taking office, he laid out his vision and mission which was to “re-position FUTO to be a top-ranked world-class university of excellence in technological knowledge production and dissemination, through teaching, research and service to humankind.
“I laid the roadmap for my five-year tenure. I espoused my vision and mission and these were encapsulated in my mantra the ‘Quest for Excellence’, which means following the part of transparency, accountability, probity, zero tolerance for corruption and equity in the daily activities of the university”.
There was opposition but it did not matter. Asiabaka, in his own words, “still went ahead to stop the exploitation and abuse of our students through the sale of handouts and insisted on the release of examination results four weeks after the end of each semester examination. I also stopped the exploitation of parents and guardians and indeed candidates wishing to gain admission into FUTO by putting an end to examination racketeering. The exploitation of our graduates within and outside the country was also stopped by ensuring that they get their transcripts within 48 hours of application and the collection of their certificates immediately after convocation.”
Another major area of development that has been highly commended within and outside of the university is the full computerisation of the activities of the institution. Today all transactions of the university are done electronically including admissions, financial transactions, Senate and Council meetings, among others.
He said, “Unlike what was obtained before I assumed office, all the activities of the university are now computerised. Today we have the e-Senate, e-admission, e-payment, etc. In the past Senate and Council meetings normally take up to two days but today as a result of the e-Senate, all meetings can be concluded in a matter of hours. The e-transaction has blocked leakages of University funds and made the system more efficient.
“Information and Communication Technology deployment in the University has witnessed a substantial leap in the last four and a half years. When we came in, we worked hard to achieve early deployment of a campus-wide internet access facility and the establishment and use of Edu-portal Solution in FUTO. The adoption of this platform significantly aided the computerisation of major university activities such as online processing of applications for admission and post-UTME placements, On-line payment of school fees and processing of students’ clearance, Deployment of FUTO-TPS (Transcript Processing Solution) for processing transcripts and Automated Staff pay-roll system and use of Electronic Payments for settlement of bills”.
On the academic activities, which he said is the main purpose of establishing any academic institution, the Vice Chancellor, hinted that, “our curriculum and academic contents have become more dynamic and robust in tandem with aspirations of a globalized knowledge driven economy. Within the last one year, the university presented programmes in the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Engineering and Engineering Technology, Health Technology, Environmental Sciences, Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences and Management Technology to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for accreditation. A total of 41 programmes were assessed and 39 got accreditation and we have commenced the process to have a Medical School in FUTO.”
The university according to The Nation findings, has also made good progress in the area of internalisation through the establishment of concrete academic linkages and the promotion of viable outreach programmes both locally and overseas. Some of the affiliating Universities include, the University of Georgia, Athens, Dillard University, New Orleans, The City University College, Cork, Ireland, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary, Egerton University, Njoro Kenya and Galilee International Management Institute, Isreal, among others.
•Prof. Asiabaka
Asiabaka who was quick to attribute the success of the last four and a half years to the team spirit exhibited by the staff, said that he, more than any other previous Vice Chancellor of the university, is committed to staff welfare.
He said, “My administration has consciously pursued a policy of improving the welfare of our staff. Promotions of deserving members of Staff, both teaching and non-teaching have duly been released. Basically the University is created for the Staff and it is on record that this administration has surpassed any other administration in terms of staff welfare. When I assumed duty as Vice Chancellor the first thing I did was to start looking at how do I make the Staff work because one individual cannot do the work.
“When I came in the issue of staff promotion was addressed. It is on record that I have promoted more people than anybody, from 2011 to today, we have promoted a total number of 466 academic staff, 44 of them to the rank of Professor, 73 as Associate Professors and in the non-professorial cadre, I promoted 349. In all in the last four years I have promoted a total of 466 academic staff and 2,205 non-academic staff. Under my leadership the University instituted long service award and rewarded recipients with handsome gifts.
“We have also as a matter of policy recruited all first-class and second-class upper degree graduates of this university through the graduate assistantship scheme to create a new set of young and vibrant generation of academic staff.
“On post-graduate training, the University is sponsoring 75 Ph.D students in both foreign and local universities, 30 Master Degree students, apart from sponsorship of national and international conferences”.
On students welfare, the Vice Chancellor, observed that the students as the main focus of the University system are accorded a pride of place, adding that his administration took “positive steps that strengthened the Students’ Affairs Unit”, which he said improved on Students’ Support Services.
National Orientation Agency (NOA) Director-General Mr Mike Omeri has sought the collaboration of all in the fight against corruption.
The NOA has since mounted a nationwide campaign to sink the imperatives of the anti-graft fight into the mind of every Nigerian.
At the Staff Development Centre Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Mr Omeri stressed the need for everyone to promote value reorientation as part of efforts to stamp out corruption in the country.
Participants at the event were drawn from the academia, civil service, traditional and faith-based organisations.
Mr Omeri said fighting corruption is a collective responsibility and urged all public officials to reject corrupt practices in order to achieve national development.
He said, “Corruption has been repeatedly emphasised to be the bane of our national development. This is a social vice that has greatly impeded our developmental process and security; and it is contributing immensely to our socio and economic backwardness, hence the need for all Nigerian citizen to have an attitudinal change and shun corription in all ramification and also to make conscious efforts to compliment the present administration’s initioative in this regard”.
Represented by the Director Political and Civic Education of the Agency, Mrs Ngozi Ekeoba, Mr Omeri identified corruption as a threat to national unity and called on Public servants to lead the fight against the menace.
The Director, National Orientation Agency in the State, Dr. Emma Abba explained that the change agenda of President Buhari had placed a huge responsibility on the Agency and called on all field officers to rise up to the challenge.
In paper presentation, a lecturer in the Department of Public Administration, Ebonyi State University, Dr. Onwe S. Onwe identified lack of patriotism as the major cause of corruption in Nigeria.
He said: “The war against corruption in Nigeria started long ago. Several millitary and civilian governments promised to fight it and indeed tried by setting up different anti corruption agencies, but the end seems to be far. It is hypothesized that the environment of any society provides the necessary institution or platform for corruption to thrive or not.”
“Perhaps, the public officials have the capacity to recreate a formidable environment and platform that is capable of checkmating corruption in Nigeria. Therefore, the need for the role of public officials in fighting corruption is a crusade that every well-meaning Nigerian should be part of, at least, by doing what is right is right in our immediate environment”.
“This is necessary because Nigerian- the giant of Africa is ranked as one of the most corrupt nation in the world. If corruption war is won in Nigeria, the war agaionst insurgency will be easier, unemployment will be reduced, hunger and crime will also be addr3essed and Nigeria can regain her pride of place among her contemporaries”.
Some participants called on the Federal government to review criminal justice system in the country for effective prosecution of suspected corrupt politicians.
Governor David Umahi in a message to declare the event open stated that his administration was replicating the anti-corruption policies of the Federal government in the state.
There have been assurances that the Federal Government will ensure that Nigerians get better health care services, even in the communities. This is to guarantee and improve their well-being.
The Project Director, SURE-P/NACA Health Initiative Dr. Sebastine Wakok gave the assurance during the flag-off of a five-day free medical service outreach funded by the Federal Government at Awkunanaw Development Centre in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
He revealed that the programme was designed to provide free medical services to every Nigerian especially those without capacity to obtain medicare from secondary health institutions within urban cities.
Dr. Wakok who was represented by the Assistant Director, Policy and Strategy NACA, Dr. Chukwuagozie Ujam said the Agency has assembled a cream of highly trained medical practitioners to traverse the nooks and crannies of the country to provide free medicare services ranging from HIV test and counseling, sugar and blood pressure checks, de-worming of children and free prescribed drugs among others.
The Project Director intimated that the exercise will be an annual event across the country and encouraged the people of Nkanu West to come out en masse and access the free medicare which accompanied gift items and insecticide treated nets.
Accessing all services available at the centre, the Special Guest of Honour and member representing Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency in the House of Representative Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam lauded the Federal Government for sustaining the programme and urged his constituents to ensure maximum use of the opportunity to improve their lives.
On her part, the Project Coordinator, Dr. Anuli Emecheta stated that the outreach was aimed at improving access and opportunities to medicare for the rural dwellers stressing that the target of bridging barriers has been achieved.
She expressed satisfaction at the high turnout of the beneficiaries and called on stakeholders to intensify campaign to compliment Government effort in ensuring better health for all.
