The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Lawmaker’s empowerment excites constituents

    Lawmaker’s empowerment excites constituents

    The number of the unemployed keeps increasing, even as white-collar jobs are hard to come by. Those in position of authority encourage the jobless to be self-reliant through the provision of empowerment items. OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE reports that the lawmaker representing Ohaozara-Onicha-Ivo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Linus Okorie has given empowerment items worth N65m to some of his constituents.

    As the country grapples with the challenge of unemployment as a result of lack of white-collar jobs, wealthy individuals and those in position of authority have been encouraging individuals, especially young school leavers and graduates to redirect their attention from being job-seekers to job-creators and employers of labour.

    Lawmakers are not left out in the quest to empower members of their constituency through skill acquisition programmes and empowerment items.

    In the circumstances, the countrified town of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State sparkled as residents shirked all their commercial and other activities to converge on Isiama-Onicha, the country home of the member representing Ohaozara-Onicha-Ivo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Linus Okorie. They gathered to join several distinguished guests who came from far and near to witness a unique moment when many members of the lawmaker’s constituency were empowered with various items to make them self-reliant and, possibly employers of labour.

    For them, it was a rare opportunity to witness such an event which, they said, was the first in the state since the return of democracy in 1999.

    During the event, Hon. Okorie gave out empowerment items valued at over N65m to some of his constituents.

    Great crowd of members of his constituency witnessed the event which was described as unprecedented. What made the exercise remarkable was that some members of his constituency went home with cars, motorcycles, tricycles, hairdressers, power generating sets and other empowerment tools worth millions of Naira.

    Tagged “Hon. Linus Okorie Empowerment Scheme,” the items distributed included 245 motorcycles, 30 tricycles, 18 cars, 20 grinding machines, 20 industrial sewing machines, 98 power generating sets, 30 hair dressing sets, 10 barbing sets; 10 vulcanising machines, two Dorman sawing machines and 18 computer sets.

    Speaking at the event, Hon. Okorie advised his constituents to form agricultural co-operative societies in order to take advantage of the Federal Government’s policies and programmes towards boosting the agro sector as alternative economic base.

    Okorie promised to assist co-operative societies that were able to acquire large expanse of land to access Central Bank of Nigeria’s low interest agric loan and other commercial bank loans.

    He said with the dwindling price of oil in the international market, Nigeria, which operates a mono-economy based on oil, has no choice than to embrace agriculture which he insisted holds the key to the nation’s economic diversification.

    The lawmaker said the Federal Government and banks should do away with collateral as prerequisite to accessing agricultural loans. Instead, he said, it should use lands as the basis for granting of loans.

    Hon. Okorie, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, announced that he secured 56 federal jobs for youths in his first and part of his current second tenure.

    Okorie praised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the state governor, Chief David Umahi, noting that there is no amount of empowerment he could provide that could be commensurate with the mandate given to him by his constituents.

    He appealed to members of his constituency to make good use of the empowerment items to boost-up their welfare, adding that he will tap from his oversight functions to enhance agricultural practice in his constituency and in the entire state.

    The state Governor, Umahi who was represented at the occasion by his Special Adviser on Rural Development, Ogbuefi Enekwachi Akpa commended the lawmaker for the gesture, saying it was the first of its kind since1999.

    One of the beneficiaries, who identified himself as Bernard and who received a motorcycle, said he was grateful to Hon. Okorie, saying he would possibly go into commercial motorcycle business.

     

     

  • Group seeks women’s input in community agenda

    A group, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEH-RD), has canvassed for women’s  participation in oil community agenda because they suffer more from environmental despoilation.

    This is contained in a commu-niqué issued by CEHRD, civil society organisations and the media at the end of a forum on “Human Rights and the Environment in the Niger Delta” held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The forum, which was orgainsed by CEHRD with the theme “Feeling the Pulse of Communities: Oil Corporations and Human Rights Violations in the Niger Delta” also resolved that women are the integral part of society and therefore their interests must be protected, especially as they are the most impacted by oil activities.

    In the communiqué signed on behalf of the group by the Head of Governance, CEHRD Mr. Lawrence, it was also advocated that women be included in community decision-making and constitution drafting for elections to be democratic.

    While advising that communities be sensitised to the rights of women, the forum also urged women to be more organised.

    The forum also stated that for there to be a harmonious working relationship between the oil companies, regulatory agencies and oil communities, the “Petroleum Industry Bill should be passed into law in order to give NOSDRA the needed muscle to do its work.”

    Oil-impacted communities were also advised to begin to look beyond the usual corporate social responsibility projects such as roads, schools, scholarships and demand equity shares in in-coming oil companies to their areas.

    While urging civil society organisations to sensitise communities for awareness on the divestments springing up in the region, the media was enjoined to “inform the public on divestment, protect public interest and work with civil society to enthrone respect for human rights and environment in the Niger Delta.”

  • Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    Old Boys plan infrastructure upgrade at alma mater

    The 2015 homecoming of Ngwa High School, Aba Abia State Old Boys’ Association attracted the presence of some of the Alumni of the school who made the event colourful, 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.

  • NACA takes HIV/AIDS campaign to Southeast

    NACA takes HIV/AIDS campaign to Southeast

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has embarked on an aggressive enlightenment campaign to create awareness on HIV/AIDS and other prevalent diseases. The programme was tagged “Free Multi-disease Outreach.”

    The campaign aimed at curbing the spread of AIDS which has been on the increase recently due to emergence of other health challenges in the country.

    At the launch of one of such exercises in Njikoka Local Government Area in Anambra State, the Director-General of NACA, Prof. John Idoko who was represented by Mr. Moses Rock, attributed the recent rise in the spread of AIDS to lack of priority.

    Speaking, the Project Coordinator of Anambra State Agency for Control of AIDS (ANSACA) who was represented by Miss Ngozi Welumkalu commended NACA for the initiative, pledging the state’s effective collaboration with the agency.

    On his part, the Igwe of Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area, His Royal Highness (HRH), Igwe Mbamalu Okeke praised the Federal Government for providing Medicare at people’s doorsteps, promising that the traditional institution will do its best by educating and mobilising the people to access the free services.

    In his remark, Public Health Coordinator, Mr. Igwe expressed appreciation to the organisers of the programme, adding that the exercise has injected a new lease of life in the health sector.

    Commenting, a facilitator of the programme, Mr. Cosmos Nnabude said the outreach became imperative in order to bridge the gap between low income earners and affordable access to Medicare. He pleaded with rural dwellers to make optimum use of the programme which focuses on general health issues.

    Highpoints of the programme were free testing for HIV/AIDS, blood pressure, blood glucose, BM assessment, de-worming, free distribution of drugs and insecticide-treated nets, among others.

  • Imo community elects new youth leaders

    Imo community elects new youth leaders

    Elections into leadership positions in youth organi-sations are often fiercely contested with its attendant challenges. So, there is always the air of apprehension and anxiety whenever these elections are scheduled to hold. The reasons for this are the youths’ exuberance and the interference of those willing to have control of the youth body for obvious political reasons.

    But surprisingly, this was not the case during the election of Ama Imo Youths Association (AYA) in Umukabia community in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

    The election conducted at the Eke Umuodu-Ama Imo field by the officials of the Youth Department of the Ministry of Youths and Sports, was not only transparent but was also peaceful; devoid of the usual skirmishes and violence that often characterise youth elections.

    There was adequate security and the turnout was impressive, irrespective of reported threats by a section of the youth who could not meet up the requirements to qualify for the election.

    Prominent indigenes of the community, including the Bayelsa State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Desmond Agu, witnessed the election, aside from other observer groups, which included non-governmental organisations and representatives of various youth’s groups across the state.

    Akin to every other election, the photographs of the candidates were pasted at strategic locations in the hilly community, especially around the market square and around the venue of the election, a confirmation of thorough campaigning by the candidates.

    At the venue of the election, it was taxing for security operatives, made up of the police and NSCDC officials, to control the large number of youths who thronged the venue of the election to cast their votes.

    Reading out the guidelines for the election shortly before the voting began, the Presiding Officer and the leader of the team from the ministry, Mr. Kelvin Ekeh, warned that any candidate who violates the rules will be disqualified. He assured that the election would be conducted in a transparent manner in order to produce a genuine winner.

    He urged the candidates to accept the result of the election in good fate, adding that, “in every election, there are bound to be winners and losers but my advice is that, as brothers, we should accept the outcome of the election with candour.  We are here to ensure that the right things are done. We have no preferred candidates; our business is to conduct a free-and-fair election that will usher in a new and acceptable leadership for the youth organisation”.

    Continuing, Ekeh said: “Today’s exercise is very important to the Ministry of Youths and Sports because it will engender peace among the youth of this community and give them a sense of leadership, which will encourage and attract youth empowerment programmes that will meaningfully engage the youth and keep them away from crimes.”

    Also in his address, the NSCDC boss said the election was a collective resolution to elect a formidable and functional executive that will pilot the affairs of the Ama-Imo Umukabia Youth Association, which he said will be critical to the development of the community.

    According to him, the Youth Association in the first place, was conceived to energise the youth to key into the youth initiative and development programme of the State and Federal Governments.

    While commending the state Governor, Rochas Okorocha for his efforts in ensuring that the youth are carried along in the scheme of things, Agu, said the need for the Youth Association to have elected executive members was to pilot, facilitate and attract youth empowerment programme of the state government to the community.

    He said: “The organisational structure and integration of youth movement of this calibre is not an easy task. Therefore, those of you who will be elected and inaugurated as leaders of the association would have to see yourselves as been opportune to serve your people and to bring your experiences to bear in reforming, rebranding, re-orienting and restoring the glory and dignity of Umukabia Youths.

    “Similarly, I urge those of you who will be elected officers of the youth association to partner with the state government and other relevant stakeholders in youth matters to attract development to the community. You should not use the office to fight against government or witch hunt anyone in the community. I further urge you to display high sense of maturity, candour, honesty, humility, brevity and above all, the fear of God.”

    Also commending the exercise, the President-General of Amaimo Umukabia community, Mr. Fortunatus Madu, said the emergence of the new leadership of the youth association will complement the efforts of the Town Union in tackling the numerous challenges confronting the community.

    He advised the youth association not to see itself as a parallel organisation with Town Union but should collaborate with it in order to be properly guided in the overall interest of the community.

    One of the observers and the Executive Director of the Human Security and Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, Mr. Taritein Boco, commended the organisers for the peaceful conduct of the election.

    He noted that the emergence of the youth leadership will help coordinate efforts to develop the youth of the community by collaborating with the government and other relevant agencies and stakeholders.

    Those who emerged to lead the association for the next three years after the keenly contested election were, Alaegbu Louis (President), Madu Bernerth (Vice-President), Egwim Chinedu (Secretary) and Okezie Johnson (Financial Secretary), among others.

    In his acceptance speech, the newly elected President promised to carry every youth in the community along, irrespective of political or religious differences.  He appealed to those that lost the elections to join hands with the new leadership to move the community forward.

    He also solicited the support of well-meaning indigenes of the community to assist the youth through scholarships and other youth empowerment programmes, assuring that his team will work closely with the state government and other related agencies to improve the fortune of youths in the community.

    He said: “We are going to use this youth platform first and foremost to bring the attention of the state government to the many challenges facing our community, which include dilapidated roads, lack of water and electrify, among other problems that have made life in our community a nightmare.”

  • Towards better health care delivery in Anambra

    The Divine Hope Health Care Association under the auspices of the Federal Government’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has been launched in Iyi-Enu General Hospital in Ogidi Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State. Many dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony.

    Speaking at the event, the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Most Rev. Owen Nwokolo, who was represented by Venerable Obi Ubaka, said it was the wish of the people that they must have good health.

    He thanked God for the vision, the will and the people who had made Iyi-Enu Hospital thick.

    “People have to spend in order to get good health; NHIS brought health care closer to the people in communities in Nigeria.

    “While the Federal Government is performing its responsibility, Iyi-Enu Hospital is also performing its own responsibilities to guarantee the spiritually and physically health of the people.

    “The NHIS is our own and all hands must be on deck to make it work. The diocese of Onitsha has been behind the success in the hospital,” he said.

    During the inauguration, five-year-old Onyinyechi Ibe and 29-year-old expectant Molokwu Ijeoma received their identity cards for NHIS.

    The Acting Executive Secretary, Chief Executive NHIS, Mr. Femi Akingbade, said the partnership between the body and Anambra State government was yielding positive results under the informal sector as Divine Hope Health Care Association.

    He said the association is the 3rd Community-based Health Insurance Programme to be inaugurated after that of Igbo-Ukwu in 2012, Immaculate Heart of Mary and Anaocha Mutual Health Association in May, this year.

    “As you know, the NHIS, as an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria was established to improve on our health by significantly reducing financial barriers to access to health care services through pre-payment mechanisms.

    “Towards achieving this, a number of programmes were designed and developed, targeting the different socio-economic groupings in our diverse country.

    “We are aware that the Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has expressed interest to log on to the state’s Socio-Health Insurance Scheme (SHIS) for all citizens of Anambra State.

    “One of our key driving forces as an organisation is the presidential mandate to ensure universal coverage for Nigerians by the year 2015,” he said.

    Akingbade further said their major challenge as they strive towards achieving their target, remained extending the benefits of health insurance to the formal sector.

    “We are aware that Nigeria has a very huge informal sector (80 per cent of the total population) and we recognise the fact that the achievement of our targets and goals are only possible if we are able to provide health insurance cover for this sub-sector,” he stated.

    He further said the Community-based Health Insurance Program-me (CBHIP) and the State Social Health Insurance Scheme (SSHIS) were their strategy to reach out to the informal and formal sectors.

    Also, the state coordinator of NHIS, Mrs. Ossi Gertrude Ihekerenma, told Southeast Report that the state had been working hard in the area of mobilisation in Anambra State.

    She said the people had been yearning for such opportunity, adding that it was the 3rd time it had been carried out in the state.

    “It has not been long we began the Divine Hope here as a result of the commitment of the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Most Rev. Nwokolo. This is a programme the people want here.

    “We are bringing quality health care to the rural people with a token contribution. They will be attended to by trained personnel and the programme will reduce mortality and morbidity in rural areas. It is health care at your door steps,” Ihekerenma said.

    For Venerable Emma Mbanugo, many people die in silence because of the high cost of health care in Nigeria.

    However, he thanked the Federal Government and the NHIS for introducing such programme. He, however, warned that it should not be a reason for people to start rearing children like pigs.

     

  • Senator gives scholarships to 60 students

    Senator gives scholarships to 60 students

    Senator Theodore Orji representing Abia Central has initiated a scholarship scheme for brilliant students and children of indigent parents in his constituency.

    Orji, the immediate past Abia State governor, said his office has published the scholarship scheme in the newspapers. Ten students would be selected from each of the six local government areas that make up Abia Central senatorial zone, thus bringing the number to 60.

    Speaking during a visit to Ikwuano and Isiala Ngwa North council areas to celebrate Christmas with members of his constituents, Orji said since after the general elections, he has not visited home to see them due to exigencies of duty. He said he decided to do that now that the opportunity has been provided by the Christmas season.

    Orji further said the scholarship scheme will afford the indigent people in the zone the opportunity to send their children to school, stressing that after the advert, those who scaled through have been short listed.

    “But those who will get the scholarship will be those who have done well during the West African School Certificate (WASC) examination, while most of them will be children of the poor,” he said.

    The Senator explained that education is the basis of success. “When the people are well educated, they will help to reduce the load on the society and they stand the chance of being employed which will lead to increase in the internally-generated revenue for the state,” he added.

    “I am in some of the committees and such committees are expected to need people for employment and I am ready to help give my people such chance to be gainfully employed,” he said.

    Orji used the forum to urge his constituents not to disregard those peddling the rumour that he has been sleeping at the Senate, stressing that if he has been sleeping, the much progress he has made would not have been made.

    He said: “Those who have been saying that I have been sleeping at the Senate Chambers are only saying what they do not know. I have been able to sponsor seven bills which have passed first reading prior to their being passed into law outside the resolution and motions. When you sleep in the Senate, would you sponsor such number of bills in so short a time?”

    He advised the electorate to support the present administration under the leadership of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, stressing that people in authority need the prayers and support of the people they are ruling.

    Orji said politicians in the Southeast are under intense pressure as those who lost election have formed the habit of contesting election results unlike their northern brothers who allow those who won to continue while waiting for the next election.

    He explained that the several court cases from tribunal to court of appeal and Supreme Court are distractions for those who have won election.

    “In most cases, their intention is not for the interest of their constituents but for their selfish interest,” he said.

    Senator Orji later donated 120 bags of rice to each of the council areas which include Ikwuano and Isiala Ngwa North with the instruction that the traditional rulers in the council areas should be given 20 bags while the remaining should be shared among the people.

  • Philanthropist remembers wives of slain policemen

    Philanthropist remembers wives of slain policemen

    The atmosphere was sober, yet there was excitement in the air at the police headquarters, Owerri, Imo State when a concerned indigene of the state, Nze Franklin Iwunze, extended his empowerment programme and love to the wives of slain policemen in the area.

    The widows, who were about 30 in number, sang and drummed while welcoming their host.

    Apart from the women, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, accompanied by other top brass of the force, were on hand to receive Nze Iwunze.

    Addressing the gathering, Nze Iwunze, the Ogbuagu of Nkwerre, said he was touched by the death of policemen who paid the supreme price and sacrificed their lives in defence of the nation.

    He stated that although he invited the women to empower them financially, the widows needed the support of all Nigerians to survive and give their children quality education.

    He stressed that former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill once said “we make a living by what we get and make a life by what we give”.

    The philanthropist said: “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. I must be willing to give whatever it takes to enhance the well-being of others.

    “We are here in the spirit of the Yuletide to appreciate the families left behind by our fallen heroes who gave all they had for this country, laid down their lives in the quest to provide for us a habitable society, safe and secure for us to live in happily.”

    Nze Iwunze, who  stopped short of weeping as he spoke to the widows, said: “Your husbands have done their best. We cannot bring them back to life, but the greatest thing we can do for them is to always appreciate the families they left behind and show them love.”

    Speaking at the event, Lakanu commended the benevolent spirit of Nze Iwunze, pointing out that in his many years of service as a police officer; he had not seen anyone who thought it wise to remember widows of slain police officers, especially during periods of festivity. He enjoined other public-spirited individuals in the country to borrow a leaf from the Ogbuagu of Nkwerre.

    Responding on behalf of the widows, the Welfare Officer of the Police Officers’ Wives’ Association (POWA), Imo State Police Command, Mrs. Angela Chinweuba, praised Nze Iwunze for his kindness and demonstration of love.

    Mrs. Chinweuba said Nze Iwunze had set a record for being the first person or group in Imo State to remember wives of policemen who lost their lives in active service. She prayed God to reward him abundantly with good health and more resources.

    Highlight of the event was the official hand over of cash gifts and 80  bags of rice to Lakanu by Nze Iwunze for the widows. The donor said he hoped the cash gifts would assist the women to provide quality education for their children.

  • NEMA gives relief materials to victims

    NEMA gives relief materials to victims

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials worth millions of Naira to disaster victims in Ebonyi State.

    The tragedies include fires at Awolowo Street and Chief Liga’s Compound in Abakaliki where about 64 rooms were razed.

    The Federal Government Girls’ College in Ezzamgbo which suffered was among the beneficiaries.

    While handing over the materials to the government for distribution, the Southeast Coordinator of NEMA, Major James Eze urged landlords and tenants to ensure strict observance of safety standards at all times.

    He said: “The state safety enforcement officers should ensure that buildings meet the required safety standards, even as he said occupants of such buildings must possess serviceable fire extinguishers.

    “We urge landlords to insure their property against fire to protect them from financial ruin because no government would have the resources to assist in every misfortune suffered by citizens.”

    He also expressed dismay at the inability of the state fire service to react promptly to the fire outbreaks, leading to complete destruction of properties.

    Items donated included mattresses, bags of rice, beans, maize, mosquito nets, blankets, cartons of soap and detergents, among others.

    Receiving the items on behalf of the state government, the chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Rev. Ephraime Ononye promised to ensure prompt and judicious distribution of the items to the victims. terials to Rev. Ononye

  • NB advocates grassroots sports development

    The 4th Lawn Tennis Tournament sponsored by the Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc has ended in Onitsha Sports Club, Anambra State with a call for grassroots sports development.

    The tournament, which began in 2012 through the sponsorship of Nigerian Breweries Plc at the Onitsha Sports Club aimed at encouraging sports and physical fitness among members of the club.

    At the end of the tournament, Mr Kingsley Okoye emerged winner with the highest point of 18 while Mr. Kenechukwu Aniobi and Emma Odenuga emerged second and third respectively and received microwave sets as gift.

    Speaking at the grand finale of the event, the Public Affairs Manager of NB Plc, Mr. Patrick Ejidoh said sponsorship of the event was part of the company’s corporate social responsibilities to the society in which it operates.

    “We have been partnering with Onitsha Sports Club on Lawn Tennis for the past four years. We have also been funding the tournament.

    “We have organised the tournament in Benin, Makurdi, Enugu and Aba. We also organise Gulder Ultimate Search in Anambra and somebody went home with a car, courtesy of the NB Plc,” he said.

    In his remarks, the captain of the club, Mr. Uchenna Okpalaobiokoye expressed his happiness over the   tournament.

    He said since NB began sponsorship of the tennis tournaments, the lives of the members have improved physically and mentally.

    “We really appreciate what NB Plc is doing in Onitsha Sports Club. Since we began the tournament, there have been a lot of improvements in the lives of the members. The game of tennis helps the body to keep fit. We will continue to thank and appreciate them for their continuous sponsorship of the event,” Okpalaobiokoye.

    Also in his remarks at the closing ceremony, the President of the club Chief Felix Nwosu commended the NB for sponsoring the tournament, saying that the advantages of the championship could not be over-emphasised, as they enable members to be abreast of the rudiments of the game.

    He noted that the competition always raised the standard of their games and will make the participants to maintain good body fitness and good health, which keeps them busy and active as well as to upgrade the facilities of the section.

    Nwosu, however, urged other multi-national companies and organisations to sponsor other games in the club, saying the NB Plc has sponsored the tournament for four consecutive years.

    Highlights of the event were the awards of prizes to those who performed well in the tournament as well as luncheon for members courtesy of NB Plc.