The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • NUJ honours Orji at summit

    NUJ honours Orji at summit

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zone C comprising the Southeast councils, has held its third media summit in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, where the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji was honoured with the Man of the Year Award.

    Speaking with newsmen during the media summit, the Vice President of the zone, Chris Isiguzo said the annual event, which is part of their social responsibility, will serve as a forum for media practitioners to interface with different arms of government.

    Isiguzo said that the forum will be used to create an atmosphere where good governance, media practice and investment as well as the nation’s democratic process will be discussed.

    He said, “We will use the forum to create an improved atmosphere for the general well-being of the people because most of us have seen that people of the zone have nowhere to express themselves and there is need for them to have a voice”.

    He said that the summit is expected to be used to mobilize captains of industry and other stakeholders on the need for them to invest in the media industry in the South East, stressing that by so doing that the people of the zone will have a voice on national issues.

    The vice president of zone C said that the governor of Abia state, Chief Theodore Orji is expected to be the special guest of honour, while the former information minister, Mr Frank Nweke Jnr will deliver the keynote lecture with the theme, ‘Harnessing the Dividends of Nigeria’s Diversity’.

    Isiguzo said that the summit will also be used to honour prominent Igbo sons and daughters who have distinguished themselves in different areas of human endeavours for the zone and the country in general.

    He said, “Our star award, man of the year went go to Governor Orji and this came after a painstaking look at his achievements as the governor of Abia as well as his performance within the brief period he has held sway as the chairman of the zone’s governor’s forum”.

    Isiguzo noted that the governor has made enormous contributions in the socio-political development of the people of the South East, “You can agree with me that his achievements are not in doubt, hence his choice”.

    He explained that the summit will be used to showcase the desire of the leadership of the union in the zone to establish a resource centre in the South East, adding that it is expected that funds will be raised for the project to take off.

     

  • Imo builds hospital for the needy

    Imo builds hospital for the needy

    Ailing and indigent patients must not be allowed to die for lack of care, neither should they be held back at the hospital where they are treated just because they cannot pay their bills. It is a common scenario, but in Imo State great care has been taken to ensure that the poor and needy do not end up in agony. A hospital has been built in the state where financially weak persons are treated for free. The hospital also boasts a cancer centre. It is the first charity healthcare facility in the state, built by the Imo Foundation. Many see the development as the stuff of good governance, a huge relief for many when it fully takes off.

    The facility, according to the Director General of the foundation, Mrs. Ngozi Njoku, was conceived to reduce the cost of taking indigent patients to distant hospitals or even outside the country.

    She described the Imo Foundation as the humanitarian arm of the state government, which caters for the needs of the less privileged, adding that since inception, the foundation has become a one-stop place of succour for the people.

    Conducting reporters round the newly completed hospital, the DG stated that the foundation has organised numerous free medical programmes with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Imo State medical practitioners based in the United States.

    She said that before now, the foundation sponsored various medical trips to India and other countries for helpless patients, including those going for kidney transplant, and treatment for cancer and other terminal diseases.

    She said the cost of sponsoring an increasing number of helpless patients overseas was beginning to take a great toll on the resources available to the foundation and this, she added, inspired setting up  a charity hospital, where volunteer doctors will perform surgery on the patients.

    Said she: “The charity hospital concept was as a result of the fact that many of our poor patients are unable to pay required deposits in the hospital and as a result they suffer untold pains for cases that need surgical attention”.

    Njoku further noted that the concern for cancer patients, gave rise to the Cancer Palliative Centre, also in the hospital.

    “During my last trip to America,” she said, “I visited the Managing Director of the World Cancer Centre in search of collaboration and partnership and the meeting was quite rewarding and we are expecting that our cancer patients will receive adequate help in various ways”.

    She explained that the hospital has a 20-bedroom facility that will accommodate health personnel coming to provide medical service.

    “The cottage hospital has three theatres, one recovery room, a laboratory, two consulting rooms, two wards, among other departments. The project when commissioned will be the first charity hospital in this part of the country”.

    The DG hinted that the Cancer Palliative Centre will reduce the trauma of cancer patients.

    “The palliative centre will serve as a place where those suffering from cancer will be counselled by experts and given the needed medical and spiritual support to reduce their suffering so that when eventually they pass on it will not be out of pain and frustration”.

    Calling for collaboration and support from public-spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations, Njoku said that more funds are required to cope with the growing demand of catering for the needs of the sick and poor by the Foundation.

    She added, saying, “Currently the foundation has no budget from the government but depends on voluntary donations from civil servants in the state who part with certain percentages of their salaries monthly. We need adequate funding to cope, because of the huge cost of flying indigent patients abroad for treatment but the state governor and the state first lady have been very supportive but more needs to be done”.

  • Anambra community bemoans plight

    Anambra community bemoans plight

    The sleepy community of Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State has not seen the best of times in terms of development. Residents say they feel neglected and forgotten.

    Their roads are impassable, where they exist. According to them, the last time they had cause to smile was when former governor Chris Ngige opened  one of the roads linking Umuchu to Umunze in Orumba North Local Government Area.

    Since then, the woes of the communities have multiplied, while the farm products by the rural dwellers have equally suffered tremendously because of lack of access roads.

    Worst hit are Ojogwo-Akukwa link road, Nkpologwu-Umuchu Road and Uga-Umunze Road through Igbo-Ukwu.

    The community has written many petitions to various administrations in the state to come to its aid. Their efforts were fruitless.

    All the roads in the community, The Nation gathered, are less than 6km in total.

    If they were passable, the link roads, apart from their  economic advantage to the state, would have  provided jobs for the teeming unemployed graduates, artisans and citizens of the state. For one, they  lead to the Potters Business Park being constructed by Godwin Ezeemo to develop the area.

    Ezeemo is the proprietor of the Potter Park, which houses Global Orient Waterwell Limited.

    Also, it has Orient Feed Mill Limited which is also operational, Sokka International Limited (Operational), Honeywell Hotel Limited which is under construction and other allied businesses, also under construction.

    Good roads would have helped a great deal by complementing these facilities.

    The Nation further gathered that these establishments have over 150 staff in their employment.

    One of the community leaders, 68-year-old Evans Muoneke, told The Nation that the state of the roads has become very worrisome to the residents of the community.

    Madam Cecilia Akunna, a farmer, also told The Nation that the roads are impassable during the rainy season, adding that the leaders and elders of the community have written letters to the state government without any response.

    One of the petitions by one the community leaders, Ezeemo, read in part, “It is important to inform His Excellency that the present state of the link road is worrisome and it causes a lot of damages to raw materials, finished goods and vehicles to and fro from the establishments in the area”.

    The petition, addressed to Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, was written on August 27, 2014.

    Another mail  to the governor which was signed by over 40 indigenes of the community, said, “the erosion from the said link road, if not taken care of now, will cause further damages to the entire town and particularly, the businesses by our sons located in this area that provide  employment to the populace”

    Ezeemo also in the letter to Obiano, appealed to him to look into the requests of the community to save them from being cut off from their neighbours from Uga, Akokwa in Imo State, Nkpologwu among others.

    “We appreciate the efforts of His Excellency in making the state to be one among the States in the Federation that is safe. I am hopeful that our appeal will receive your kind attention”

    However, Ezeemo who spoke with The Nation on phone said he would equally want Obiano to officially lay the foundation stone for the business park and officially open the HoneyWell Hotel in the community being planned on 28th December, 214 by the Grace of God.

  • Abia assures business owners

    Abia assures business owners

    Investors and business owners in Abia State have been assured of the state government’s commitment to promoting trade and investment in the state and Aba in particular.

    Governor Theodore Orji who was a special guest of honour at the second edition of a business summit organised by a group of business professionals, Abia Think Tank Association (ATTA), said that as part of his administration’s efforts to ensure that business activities continue to thrive in the state and the once troubled commercial city, the state government invested heavily in security.

    Orji, represented by the state Petroleum Commissioner, Honourable Don Ubani, underscoring the importance of Aba to the economy of the state, said that as part of his administration’s efforts to further promote trading activities, his government is also working hard to ensure that power generation and distribution in Aba are stable.

    This, he said, will enable manufacturers to save cost of production and also maximize profit.

    According to Ubani, “the state government is not relenting in making the state and Aba the envy of all”, and urged participants of the summit to queue into the developmental programmes of Governor T.A Orji’s led administration.

    The Petroleum Commissioner used the opportunity to promise Aba residents that work would commence immediately on some of the roads that were already bad in the city as soon as the rainy season ends and dry season sets in.

    He expressed hope that the business summit would provide the businessmen in Aba to rub minds together and proffer solutions on how to restore the “lost glory” of the business community.

    President of ATTA, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, in a key note address captioned “A Fresh Wave of Thinking on Aba,” said that the passion for the summit was borne out of the association’s concern for a robust socio-economic and political development of the Abia State, Southeast and the entire nation.

    Ohuabunwa disclosed that this year’s business summit was the second in the series of what has become an annual intellectual discussion programme by his group (ATTA) to appraise what he described as “critical challenges of development in Abia State with Aba being at the heart of it”, adding “based on distillation and articulation of intelligent ideas and solutions proffered by key speakers, resource persons and participants of this business summit, it has become a veritable platform for unlocking the hidden treasures to unleash creative energies for the sustainable socio-economic development of our people.”

    ATTA President who is also President Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce said that the vision of the annual Aba Business Summit is to pursue sustainable people oriented programmes which would boost economy of the state and the country, create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed Abia and Nigerian youths, promote productivity and also exposing businessmen to international best practices of doing business.

    Ohuabunwa while lauding the state government’s efforts in tackling developmental challenges in the state, said the T. A Orji administration has made tremendous efforts to leave behind concrete developmental structures through the governor’s  legacy projects across the state and expressed hope that his successor in 2015 will ould continue on the same developmental pace.

    He urged stakeholders and participants at the business summit to redouble their efforts and pull resources together “to create a new model city of Aba with world-class infrastructure to drive the economy of Abia, southeast and Nigeria forward.”

    Some of the participants thanked the organisers of the summit for engaging their minds in a such manner.

    They also requested that more groups be involved in order to ensure a wider participation and consensus.

  • NBL donates classroom block to school

    NBL donates classroom block to school

    As partof its corporate social responsibility to its host community and state, Nigerian Breweries Plc has built and  handed over a school block of six classrooms with fully equipped library and toilet facilities to the authorities of Ngwa High School, Abayi in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State.

    The handing over and commissioning exercise was attended by the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Emeka Ananaba, Anglican Bishop of Aba North Diocese, His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Nathan Kanu, commissioners, Special Advisers, members of staff of the Nigerian Breweries PLC and some members of the school’s Old Boys Association.

    Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, at Ngwa High School, the Aba Brewery manager, Mr. Udah Ukeje who represented the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NB PLC, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde said that the project was built through Felix Ohiwerei Trust Fund Foundation with the aim of enhancing the educational standard of Abia State children.

    According to Verdelde “Education remains the most veritable tool to develop and transform the child for a bright future and enhance sustainable development of our country. Nigerian Breweries Plc, being a world class company recognises the importance of education for our youth, hence our resolve to continuously support education all over Nigeria and Abia in particular”.

    “The Nigerian Breweries, Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund was established in 1994 to play an active role in funding Education, research development and encourage academic excellence in Nigeria. Prior to today, Abia State has benefitted already from this foundation with the construction and donation of blocks of six classroom/library in the following schools; Eziama High School, National High School, Ahiaba High School, Ohuru Primary School, Constitution Crescent Primary School and Osokwa Secondary School and today, Ngwa High School has joined the league of beneficiaries of the Nigerian Breweries, Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund. This school block has six classrooms furnished with tables and chairs for all teachers and pupils, a library with workstation, books and conveniences for each class,” NB PLC CEO added.

    Vervelde further lauded Governor T. A Orji’s efforts in revolutionizing and rehabilitating the educational system in the state, adding that they were investing in education in the state because they know that the government would not carry the burden of developing education in the state alone.

    He urged the school authority to make good use of the project for the purpose for which it was built for.

    In his speech, the governor of the state represented by his deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba thanked NB PLC for their support and urged other private organizations in the state to emulate the gestures of the brewing company by taking up any project that would affect the lives of their host community(ies) and the state in general positively.

    The first Senior Prefect of Ngwa High School, Mr. John Ije Obasi in an interview thanked school block donor for choosing his alma mater as one of the beneficiaries of their educational programme and also provided him the opportunity of coming back to a place that molded him into becoming a pharmacist today.

    Principal of the school, Venerable Chikezie Aliche in an interview also thanked the brewing company for their magnanimity and promised that they were going to make sure that the project would be put into good use.

    Highlights of the event was a presentation by the school’s cultural dance troupe to entertain some of the guests that attended the commissioning exercise.

  • Orji’s son vies for Abia Assembly

    The first son of Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, Chinedu, has expressed his interest in the state House of Assembly by obtaining his nomination form. If elected, he will be representing Umuahia Central constituency.

    Speaking with The Nation in Umuahia, the state capital, Chinedu said that he has been under immense pressure from his friends for over four years now to run for the state house of assembly seat to consolidate on all his good works for the youths of the state.

    Chinedu stressed that he is not going to the State Assembly to be its Speaker but to give quality representation to the people of his constituency and consolidate on the gains of those who were there before him.

    He said that he has no ambition to be a speaker, “I have been under immense pressure to run and if I have the ambition to be a speaker it will not be to the best interest of my constituency and other interest groups”.

    Chinedu said, “If I have an inordinate ambition, I would have sneaked myself into the House of Representatives or the state house of assembly and I would have been a high ranking member to enable me be the speaker, that is if ranking is the criterion to be a speaker”.

    The man who is popularly known as Ikuku by his admirers said since he did not sneak into either the federal House of Representatives or the state house of assembly, “It shows that I do not have any interest to be the speaker of Abia House of Assembly”.

    He however made it clear that despite the fact that he has no interest to be speaker, “It does not mean that anyone can intimidate me out of my democratic right to contest election into any elective position in the state now or in the future because I know that I am competent”.

    Chinedu said that he is one man who cannot easily be controlled when he knows that he is standing on the right part, stressing that this part of his life may lead to his being impeached easily as the speaker at the slightest opportunity.

    On the question that stakeholders from the central zone of the state may force him to be the speaker of the house of assembly, he said, “I will never accept to be the speaker because of the reasons I had earlier stated”.

    He explained that none of the house members from Abia Central senatorial district have been told not to return, saying that only those who have spent twelve years in the legislative arm of government have been told by their people to allow others to go and represent them.

    Chinedu dismissed the insinuations at the figments of the imaginations of the enemies of the state, stressing that the state has been known to be peaceful and save for a long time since the era of kidnappings and violent killings were stopped, “Since they have nothing doing they decided to cause trouble through spreading false rumours”.

  • Security agencies team up against crime

    Security agencies in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have assured residents of their enhanced safety, as all law enforcement units are committed to crushing criminals in the Enyimba City.

    The security organisations said they are pooling their resources together to make criminality unattractive.

    This was the position reached at the end of a monthly meeting involving the police, army and other paramilitary agencies to boost the existing relationship among them and enhance the  web of security in the commercial city.

    Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Aba Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara said that the meeting between the security agencies was in line with the visions of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adamu Ibrahim to achieve internal security within the state which serves as melting pot for most economic and business activities in the state and the entire southeast.

    Wagbara maintained that for the war on crime to be fought and won, there was the need for security organisations to synergise and fight it collectively.

    “We have conquered September, October and we are now in November with December in view. Like we overcame other months, we are going to conquer the remaining months like we did it in the last months.

    “This monthly meeting helps us understand each other and limit the level of rivalry that sometimes exists especially among the junior officers.

    The convener of the security meeting used the opportunity to seek the support of the public in crime fighting in the city as he advised communities around the commercial city to form a neighbourhood watch or local vigilante that would work in closely with security agencies in Aba and its environs to tackle crime in their areas.

    Earlier in an interview, Maduako Emmanuel, Deputy Comptroller of Prisons Aba said that the meeting has helped to foster the existing relationship between his agency and others security agencies, adding that it has also provided the grounds for them to let others know areas where they (prisons) needed their assistance, adding that the meeting would bring a lot of improvement in terms of security in Aba.

    “All of us, we are here to synergize to make sure that we work together. We have one goal as security agencies; to bring insecurity down and to make sure that we have security at its brim, because if we are working differently there is no way we can achieve success  but if the army, navy police, civil defence and others come together we will be able to work fine.

    “So, that is why we have this meeting every month to talk about lapses where we have problems and others who have more experience can educate us, then we will be able to know how we can be able to forge ahead.

    “We still bring out these things so that when you have any problem; like in my place when you want to go for any arrest and I can’t handle it effectively, I can call the army, police or  navy to come and assist me because all of us are gearing towards one aim of trying to curb criminality. So that is why we are here.

    “Now that December is around the corner, this meeting will help us tackle crime and even traffic gridlock to make sure that the roads were free from traffic congestion. That is why we are synergising to make sure that we have a crime free festive period”, Idang John, Aba Area Commander Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), represented by Chief Superintendent of Corps (CSP),  Aba North  Divisional Officer, Mr. Nobel added.

     

  • Youth group backs lawmaker’s second term bid

    A group of youths in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State under the umbrella, Aba North Indigenous Youth Forum (ANIYF) has expressed its support for Hon. Uzo Azubuike’s second term bid at the House of Representatives.

    The lawmaker is seeking re-election to represent Aba North and South Federal Constituency in 2015.

    The group at the end of its caucus meeting said that they were endorsing Azubuike because according to them, he has impacted positively in the lives of his constituents, adding that re-electing the lawmaker would help to bring stability to legislative process in the country and ensure that the lawmaker continues in his service to the state and Nigeria as a whole.

    They also condemned a recent attack on the legislator by some group who had protested the second term agenda of Azubuike, accusing them of being sponsored by some politicians who want to cause hatred in the constituency.

    According to the communiqué which was signed by Hon. Mgbegasa Onuiri, president, Chinedu Aguwa, secretary and 11 others and a copy of which was obtained by our reporter, there was no native that belonged to AYI.

    The communiqué reads in part, “Most members of the so called AYI are not resident in Aba but are hired hoodlums and touts paid by some politicians tarnish Azubuike’s image.

    “We condemn in strong terms the activities of the so called AYI especially the criticisms they are levelling against Hon.  Uzo Azubuike, the member representing Aba North/Aba South in the House of Representatives.

    “Hon. Uzo Azubuike has through his people oriented style of representation brought joy to his constituents through regular distribution of various empowerment items. He has continued to empower the people, especially youths in the constituency. A lot of the people and students have benefitted from his soft loan scheme and scholarship programme which has been running even before he was elected to the House of Representatives.

    “While we made bold to say that AYI does not in any way speak or represent the interest of indigenous youths of Aba North, we also condemn the attack by the said group on prominent traditional rulers in Aba North for exercising their constitutional right of choice.”

    Listing out what they said was the lawmaker’s achievements since he was elected to represent them nearly four years ago, ANIYF said the constituency would not have a better alternative in Hon. Azubuike and advised the people to shun baseless sentiments, but rather should support candidates with proven records of performance.

    Nation had reported that a group under the banner of Aba Youths Initiatives (AYI) had last week protested any planned return of Azubuike who hails from Umuna-Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government, to the National Assembly to represent them, vowing that the lawmaker who they described as a “non-native” of the zone would not represent the constituency again in 2015.

  • ‘Prepaid meters coming next year’

    ‘Prepaid meters coming next year’

    The Chief Executive Officer of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Mr. Robert Dickerman has assured electricity consumers in the southeast that the power firm will supply prepaid electricity meters in the region by the first quarter of 2015.

    Dickerman in an interactive forum in Aba, the Abia State commercial hub, said that the prepaid meters were going to address the issue of estimated billing and also ensure that consumers are correctly billed for what they consume.

    According to him, the supply of the meter will be a gradual process, assuring that arrangements were already concluded on how to conduct a census to ascertain  the number of electricity users in the zone so as to enable the electricity distribution company have an idea of consumers that would need the meter.

    The EEDC CEO lamented the activities of vandals and some electricity consumers who enjoy the services of the company without paying for them. He urged customers to report such persons to security agencies, stressing that “no business or company no matter how big or rich survives with persistent loss of its revenue”.

    On what the company is doing to improve power supply in the region, the CEO said that they had improved power supply significantly from 29, 000mega watts to 35,000 mega watts within one year of taking over from defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, adding that 10,000 transformers were already on the ground to support the existing ones.

    In his speech, Chief Emeka Offor, EEDC Board Chairman and Grand Patron, Southeast Traders Association underscored the importance of Aba to the economy of the zone and the country at large, promising that the company was going to serve electricity users in the city well to ensure that they get value for the money they are paying for electricity.

    Offor who stated that efforts were ongoing to flush out bad eggs, instill discipline among staff and promote service delivery urged consumers not to hesitate in reporting any staff that was found indulging in any sharp practices to the management who he said would lose his or her job if culpable of the offence he or she was accused for.

    Some of the stakeholders who spoke at the event complained of high tariff and estimated bills, poor service delivery, sharp practices by EEDC staff, replacement of obsolete transformers, absence of power supply in their area for over a period of time and among others which they said calls for urgent attention to enable them enjoy the money they pay for electricity consumption.

    They thanked the company for finding time to come and talk to them and expressed hope that the management would go back and address properly some issues raised at the meeting. They suggested that the interactive session be held periodically at the Mandela Hall of Hotel De La Paix, Aba.

     

  • Brewery boosts school infrastructure

    A good of illustrious people have passed through it, one of them being the late Justice Daddy Onyeama, the first Nigerian to be appointed a judge at the World Court at the Hague. But its fame has not insulated it against the worm of decay.

    Central Primary School Eke, Udi Local Government of Enugu State was founded in 1910. It started with a class of six pupils. Among them was the grandfather of retired footballer, Nwankwo Kanu’s wife, the late Mazi Joseph Onyeador.

    The school was founded by Catholic missionaries with the approval of the legendary Chief Onyeama n’Eke. Onyeama, whose influence stretched all over Wawa land, being a strong and dreaded ruler, welcomed the idea of establishing the school as the white man convinced that Western education was good. That was why the school was established.

    It metamorphosed from a private missionary school managed by the Catholic Church to a public institution after the takeover by the government in 1970. Before its takeover, it had actually produced men of substance from Eke and environs. The takeover by the government, however, turned to be a curse as the infrastructures in the school started decaying. The buildings became decrepit while pupils studied under trees. The school and the community begged for assistance, but there was none coming.

    But mother luck recently smiled on them. The Nigerian Breweries PLC, which has its factory in the neighbouring community of Amaeke Ngwo heard their cry. The breweries after consultations with leaders of the community, through their community relations programmes, came to the rescue of the old school.

    The NB Plc built an ultra-modern block of six classrooms and a library for the school. The facilities have been commissioned and handed over to the school. Functional conveniences were provided for each of the classes in the block, furnished with tables and chairs for teachers and pupils. The library section has work stations and relevant books stocked.

    The managing director and chief executive of the the Nigerian Breweries PLC, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde at the handing over of the block, noted that the building took enormous resources and “it is our expectation that the teachers, pupils and the community will assist to protect and maintain it for sustainable use.”

    Verlverde turned to the pupils and admonished: “My dear children, it is our hope that this facility will improve your comfort and enhance your learning ability. As you learn in this complex, and acquire the desired knowledge for growth, you should always think of the right ideals for you to better Nigerians. You must shun violence and other vices  militating our economic development and nation building.

    The MD told the audience it was obvious the government alone cannot carry the entire burden of education, “hence this donation to our good people of Eke.”

    He further expressed appreciation of the “positive effort of the state governor, Barrister Sullivan Chime in the development of education in the state.”

    He said: “Education is the greatest legacy to be bequeathed to any child and remains very paramount to our existence and sustainable development. As a world class company, we have continued to support education in various aspects all over Nigeria in line with our ‘winning with Nigeria’ philosophy.

    The President of Eke Town Union, Nze Anthony Enu commended and thanked the NB PLC for rescuing the one of the oldest primary schools in Udi area. He wished the company “many more fruitful years of  business and mega expansion in their brewery industry and commerce which in a short while will translate into another and bigger dividends to Eke community.”

    Enu said: “ You will agree with me that today is quite unique because a promise made in February 2014, commenced in April 2014, completed and equipped in September 2014, is today in October 2014 being commissioned and handed over in grand style and fashion to Eke community for onward use to further promote education which will confer knowledge and power to our emerging youths.”

    Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Angela Aguji in her remark said the school and the community were “singing praises to the excellent, wonderful and marvelous work of the Nigerian Breweries PLC.”

    “The children are making you a promise to achieve success in their studies and be future hopes of Nigerian breweries workers.”

    The commissioning and cutting of the tape was done by the Enugu state commissioner for education, Prof. Chris Okolo who represented Governor Sullivan Chime.