The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Award for young author

    Award for young author

    Ebonyi State Governor Martin Nwancho Elechi, in his inaugural address in 2007, declared that one of the cardinal measures of ensuring material and human development of his people would be entrenchment of attitudinal change.

    He explained that change of behaviour would need to be effected by all strata of the society, including the civil service, the private and public sectors.

    While being sworn in for a second term in office and during the 2011 Democracy Day held at the Abakaliki Township Stadium on May 29, 2011, Elechi said: “Let us also work assiduously towards the enthronement of a disciplined society where work ethics, especially dedication to duty, becomes our known attribute. Attitudinal change is not just time consciousness and punctuality, it calls for self-remoulding and self-orientation to catch up with the best global practices envisaged in our Millennium Development Goal Number 8.”

    To guarantee the actualisation of the attitudinal change policy, the governor had established the Office of the Directorate of Attitudinal Change with Mr. Ken Uhuo as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Attitudinal Change.

    The Directorate has sustained collaborative relationship with the State Ministry of Information and State Orientation in key areas of information dissemination and

    re-orientation of the Ebonyi people in various spheres even in the remote areas of the state.

    The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Chief Emmanuel Chike Onwe has provided a platform for the appreciable collaborations.

    Invisible as the success or failure of the policy of change is, various people have scored the policy either high or low.

    While some people say the success is half measure, some others see it as a policy thrust that has positively impacted on the affairs of the state in its material and human development efforts, especially in the area of crime reduction in the area.

    To encourage whatever the governor might have perceived to be the success stories of that policy, he recently set up an Executive Council Standing Committee on State Honours Award.

    To underscore how much the award means to the governor, the Deputy Governor, David Umahi was appointed to lead the assessment team while the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Fidelis Mbam serves as secretary of the committee.

    Others in the team were the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Igwenyi, Chief Chike Onwe, Mr. Ken Uhuo; the Personal Assistant to the Governor on Higher Education, Prof. Mike Otuma Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Chinyere Aloke and the Personal Assistant to the Governor on

    Special Duties, Mrs. Augustina Nwaiboko.

    While setting up the committee, Governor Elechi had his strokes on attitudinal change stating that, “in spite of the national aspirations for accelerated development, a climate of unbridled materialism has accentuated the virtual collapse of the core values, accounting for the country’s stunted growth.

    “Under the prevailing situation, it does not take a prophet or a rocket scientist to apprehend the trajectory of ethical rebirth to nation-building.

    “As a philosophy of governance and a model for social relations, the doctrine of attitudinal change rests on an integrated tripod: advocacy, sanction and reward.

    “Advocacy underpins public enlightenment on citizenship rights and obligations; sanction involves the application and enforcement of extant provisions against breaches of acceptable conduct; while reward involves the reinforcement of excellence and diligence, through special benefits, awards or recognitions to deserving persons and institutions.”

    Continuing, he said: “I am not under any illusion that there are many people who will find change either too difficult or even impossible. To such people, the promise I make is that, while we shall always strive to lead by the force of personal example, neither the recourse to expediency nor the threat of blackmail shall deter us from applying the sanctions that go with crooked actions.

    “At the same time, we shall not fail to give special rewards to those who make uncommon contributions to the growth of the commonwealth through hard work, honesty and discipline. To this end, we shall introduce awards and prizes for honesty, discipline, high productivity and environmental cleanliness.”

    That was Elechi’s eloquent mandate for the Executive Standing Committee on State Honours Awards. The committee set out to do the selection from among three million Ebonyi people and residents and on Thursday, May 29, 2014 made public their findings at a splendid ceremony at the Governor’s Lodge, Government House Abakaliki.

    That day, 103 recipient of the award comprising individuals and institutions were decorated by the governor and were given various prizes. Some of them went home with N500, 000 while others got N50, 000.

    The high flying recipients included Princess Mary Adaeze Ekuma (MON), currently, the Chief Instructor, Catering Services, Government House, Abakaliki. Her award is for dedication and diligence in service delivery, Comrade Chinedu Ogah (OON), 38-year-old youth leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was given an award for responsible youth organisation and leadership.

    Dr. Ngozi Obichukwu, Focal Person, Ebonyi State Millennium Development Goals/Conditional Grants Scheme received the award for outstanding performance in public service delivery.

    Three organisations, Ebonyi Youth Assembly, Mater Misericodae Hospital, Abakaliki; Rural Improvement Mission Hospital (Presbyterian Church) Hospital Ikwo were given awards for excellence.

    This year’s Attitudinal Change Policy Awards by Ebonyi State Government threw up many youths award recipients.

    But one person whose award was most celebrated is Obinna Udenwe, a rising literary giant and author of two books which have received international acclaim.

    He was honoured for his literary creativity having authored a book, Dancing Bird which has received wide acclaim globally and in the social media.

    When the writer started writing in 2005, little did he know that he has begun a journey that will bring him such recognition and afford him the opportunity to dine and wine with top echelons of the society.

    Presenting him with the award, Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi noted that “Obinna Udenwe’s impressively meticulous documentation of his literary achievements places him ahead of his contemporaries. His enduring popularity has been ensured by the breath and perceptiveness of his work, both locally and internationally.

    “With effervescent and bubbling initiative, Obinna Udenwe, at the sacrifice of the rest, (apart from the mental strain), has furnished the world with much to remember through a melange of literary works, with the marvellous capacity of audience manipulation.

    “With his uncommon intellectual graciosity, he explores in rich vocabulary and cold-blooded details, African values in his anthologies, and in so doing, has etched Ebonyi State on world map. Obinna Udenwe’s pan-African bent and youth capacity-building initiatives find expression in entrepreneurship development, leadership and governance skills.

    “The social media is awash with his works which dwell extensively on global challenges and Africa’s economic and socio-cultural development. Obinna has travelled extensively for symposia, workshops and conferences, during which he interfaced with notable literary icons.

    “He has been on delegations, sometimes representing Nigeria and West Africa, to the United Nations during which he interacted with world leaders one on one.”

    His new book Satans and Shaitans slated for publication in London is expected to be on the shelf in September this year.

    Apart from the individual award, Udenwe’s foundation, Ugreen Foundation also got another award for its human capacity development programmes. He is currently a nominee of the African Literary Icon project for using Ugreen platform to transform and build the African literary tradition”, the governor added.

    “Through his organisation, Obinna Udenwe has encouraged the development of young and budding writers; to give vent to their creative talents. Ugreen Foundation organises talk shops in which young Ebonyians are encouraged to proffer solutions on how to move the state forward,”, Elechi stated.

    The recipient expressed surprise at the honour bestowed on him and his organisation by the state government.

    “I feel honoured because it shows that whatever you are doing, even if you are doing it in your room, you will be noticed and rewarded in due course. I started writing in 2005, and I never knew that a day like this will come when I will be rewarded by the state government.

    “We were also surprised that my organisation received an award for promoting literature in the state. Ugreen Foundation promotes knowledge building and is also interested in getting the young people to be interested in democracy and leadership.

    “I started Ugreen Foundation in 2008 and since then, we have continued to partner with other young people to ensure that young people are trained in leadership in order to ensure that they get to know what democracy is all about and also in knowledge building.

    “We have the creativity class where we bring in budding writers and train them on writing and oratory. We didn’t know that the state government was monitoring all that and felt that we should receive a pat at the back.”

    He noted that he went into promotion of literature and writing because of the poor reading culture among the youth of the country today.

  • A kind gesture

    A kind gesture

    They recognised a kind gesture when they saw one. They talked about it, jumped and danced.

    That was the impact of the visit of Anamabra State governor’s wife, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano to pupils living with disability in the state. She went to their schools with various items and a promise to bring their suffering to an end. She took with her bags of rice, beans, cartons of tomatoes, noodles, sugar. There were bales of wrappers, shirts and live cows, among others.

    The people loved it, some saying it was the first time the wife of a governor will visit the area.

    Not only that, the Anambra First lady commissioned a water borehole project which she initiated and completed herself for the students.

    She also gave out N50,000 to each of the centres for the meantime for the upkeep of the children.

    Besides, she frowned at the abandonment of the blind, deaf and dumb children by successive administrations, adding that the fact that they are handicapped does not make them less human beings.

    The schools the governor’s wife visited were Basden Memorial Special Education Centre, Isulo in Orumba South local government area and Special Education Centre, Umuchu in Aguata Local Government Area.

    Mrs. Obiano also took time to visit Zion Hospital and Maternity home in Enugu-Ukwu in Njikoka local government area where she promised to adopt an abandoned baby boy by unknown person if nobody comes for his adoption.

    The site of dilapidated and collapsed buildings in the centre made the Anambra first lady to weep, while appealing to the philanthropists and good spirited Anambra citizens to come to the aid of the pupils.

    She reminded the people that the children were not the cause of their problems, rather, the way God wanted them to be.

    Furthermore, she lamented on the abandonment of construction work by contractors and those who claim to be representing donor agencies, accusing them of not doing the job.

    “Those people only rushed to the schools this morning to pretend doing some work on hearing about my visit, we cannot continue in this manner in this state, this is not acceptable to the present government”.

    Twelve-year-old visually impaired Master Nnaemeka Unegbu, who radiated joy as if he was seeing the items or what the governor’s wife had done, said God had used their mummy to remember the needy.

    Also, 10-year-old Uju Okonkwo commended Mrs. Obiano for the gifts, adding that before now, they were forgotten citizens of Anambra State because of their plight.

    “God has used our mother to bring joy and happiness to us; we appreciate your good work and God will equally remember you in a special way one day”

    The Administrative Secretary of Basden Memorial Special Education Centre in Isulo, Mrs. Ebere Ichoku regretted that former Governors in the state never visited the school since its inception 18 years ago.

    However, she appealed for more assistance in the area of funding, arguing that subvention of 580.00 naira monthly to the school is very poor.

    She sought for the upgrading of feeding allowance of 50,000 monthly, saying that the current daily feeding allowance of N33 a day per pupil or N11 per meal is not encouraging.

    Furthermore, she lamented that roofs of the school library, refectory, workshop and staff quarters among others are all leaking, while they need urgent attention.

    At the Special Education Centre, Umuchu, Mrs. Obiano assured the management that whatever is due to them will be given, adding that it was her own way of improving the lives of the children and the yet unborn.

    Again, she promised to explore possibility of recruiting a computer instructor and to make good of the bus and not for somebody to convert it into personal use.

    The school principal, Mr. Sunday S. Nwafor told the Nation that their needs are many since the foundation was established in 1997.

    These, according to him range from teaching equipment, funds, electricity to run the school effectively among others, while commending the Governor’s wife for her magnanimity.

    According to Nwafor, “We are in dire need of water, electricity, clinic, renovation of classrooms, teachers and additional care giver to help cater for the pupils because of the nature and condition of their appearance”.

    When Obiano’s wife got to the maternity home in Engwu Ukwu, she was shocked in seeing an abandoned baby boy where she took up the hospital bills.

    The Medical Doctor of the hospital, Oliver Onwughalu told the Nation that the baby weighed 28 kilometers and thanked Mrs. Obiano for her Care and benevolence.

    After the Commissioning of the borehole at Isulo, Mrs Obiano told the Nation that what she decided to do was to make the conditions of the pupils more conducive and also in fulfillment of her earlier promise to the centre when she visited the place early in the year.

    According to her, “I realised that some of their greatest challenges were lack of portable water where they travelled over two kilometers in search of water, poor feeding and infrastructure, even the condition of the school is highly deplorable”

    “For the fact that they are handicapped, does not warrant such abandonment, they are human beings and must be attended to by all of us”

    “Those with sight challenges can be trained through Braille reading, the dumb, through sound education” she told the Nation.

  • NDLEA arrests 187 drug trafficking suspects in Imo

    NDLEA arrests 187 drug trafficking suspects in Imo

    The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said its officers arrested 187 suspected drug traffickers in Imo State between June 2013 and June 2014.

    The Imo State Acting Commander of the Agency, Assiana Nimbang, who disclosed this to Newsmen in Owerri, the state capital, during a press briefing to mark this year’s United Nation’s Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, said that 170 males and 17 females were arrested within the time under review.

    She also revealed that the Command made a seizure of 54gms of cocaine, 226gms of heroin and 868.4kg of Indian Hemp, while 17 convictions were secured at the Federal High Court and another 112 Drug dependent persons were rehabilitated to handed over to their families.

    The NDLEA boss further expressed worry over the involvement of pregnant women and nursing mothers in the illicit, adding that, “it is really worrisome that the men now use pregnant women and nursing mothers to sell hard drugs in Owerri and it is difficult to arrest and detain a nursing mother or pregnant woman”.

    She also lamented the poor level of cooperation from the public, stressing that the war against drug trafficking should not be left for the Agency alone but should be a collective responsibility of everyone.

    In her words, “we are worried that people don’t come forward with credible information that can help us fight drug abuse. It is everybody’s responsibility and we should all be involved. The people should come up with information to help the NDLEA because the attitude presently is not encouraging”.

  • Ihejirika praises Jonathan at youth council inauguration

    Ihejirika praises Jonathan at youth council inauguration

    Ihanaeze Youth Council, the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been inaugurated with Mazi Ikechukwu Isiguzo as its chairman. Isiguzo is the first elected chairman of the group since the previous leaders were selected.

    The ceremony attracted prominent Igbo leaders, youth organisations from the Southwest, Southsouth and North of the country. The occasion was co-chaired by former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika and the publisher of Champion Newspaper, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.

    Abia State Governor and Chairman, Southeast Governors Forum, Chief Theodore Orji was also there as well as the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Enwo Gary-Igariwey. Traditional rulers and politicians were equally there.

    Ihejirika in his remarks urged Nigerian youths to fight insurgency and insecurity that is fast spreading in Nigeria. Making his case, he said that the Nigerian youths should understand the enormity of President Goodluck Jonathan’s effort in combating insurgency.

    The retired general urged the Igbo youths to liaise with the youths of other nationalities across the country to complement government’s fight against insecurity. He equally urged the youths to help inform the larger society so they could vote wisely when it comes to election time.

    Ihejirika said: “President Goodluck Jonathan is performing very well. There is so much we can do in this country but without security we cannot do much.

    “When you empower the youths, you fight insecurity, youths must not go to sleep. I therefore call on youths both within and outside the south east to wake up and help government quell insecurity in the country. Anybody who loves youths loves this country.”

    Governor Orji in his own speech stated that since his government embarked on laudable youth empowerment projects, kidnapping has reduced in his state.

    He noted that when it comes to war, it was always the youths that are used to fight wars and cited the instance of Biafra war which was fought mostly by the youths.

    Orji said: “If you have not taken care of the youths, then you have not done anything. We don’t want war again but the unity of this country because Igbos lost all for the unity of this country.”

    Governor Orji urged the Igbo youths to be proud of their heritage, the values and the culture, while reminding them not to be intimidated by anybody since the country belongs to all Nigerians.

    The chairman of the Ohanaeze Youths Council, Mazi Isiguzoro vowed that the council under his leadership “shall fight insecurity in Igboland, both South East and beyond to standstill.” He noted that kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities were being perpetrated by mainly Igbo youths.

    He added: “We have what it takes to go after these miscreants who give Igbo youths a bad name. With the collaboration of our governors as chief security officers of their various states and in partnership with security agencies, insecurity in Igbo land shall be reduced to to the barest minimum within one year.”

    Isiguzoro said his second point in his agenda is youth empowerment which he said is a panacea to insecurity. The Youth Council in that regard launched the Igbo Youth Development/Skill Acquisition Centre. Governor Orji of Abia State granted the centre N1.5million for take off. The centre shal have sections on ICT, entrepreneurship training, skill acquisition etc.

    The youth leader also hinted that he planned to embark on a re-orientation of Igbo youths. “One of the basic problem facing today’s Igbo youth is that of internalizing Igbo cosmology as seposed by Igbo ethos such as igwebuike, onye aghala nwanneya, ezi aha ka ego etc,” he stressed.

    There were goodwill messages from the Ijaw Youth Council, IjawNational Congress led by Charles Ambiowei, Yoruba Youth congress and others.

  • Eat according to your type

    In general or simplistic terms, if you are a protein type it means one of two things — either your cells tend to burn carbohydrates too quickly (meaning you are a fast oxidizer), or the parasympathetic branch of your autonomic nervous system is stronger and more dominant than the sympathetic branch. This means you need a high-protein intake in order to strengthen your sympathetic system, and in turn acidify your too-alkaline metabolism. Or you need protein to slow down your overly rapid cellular oxidation rate, thereby alkalinizing your too-acid metabolism.

    Protein types do very well on a diet that includes plenty of high-density, high-fat proteins known as “high-purine” proteins.

    These include foods like red meat, dark meat chicken and turkey, and various kinds of seafood such as salmon, tuna, herring, sardines, mussels, caviar and anchovies. Most protein types can also eat freely of whole fat foods in the form of cheese, eggs, cream and milk. It’s especially important for protein types to include a significant amount of protein at every meal, and to moderate their intake of carbohydrates (grains, vegetables and fruits), especially the carbohydrates that are high in sugar and starch.

     

    The Carbo Type Diet

    Generally speaking, if you’re a carbo type you need a higher percentage of carbohydrates in your diet in order to strengthen the parasympathetic branch of your nervous system, which is weaker than your sympathetic system, and thereby alkalinize your too-acid metabolism. Or you need more carbohydrates to speed up your naturally slow cellular oxidation rate, thereby bringing it into balance by acidifying your too-alkaline metabolism.

    Carbo types typically do well on a low-fat, relatively low-protein diet — one that includes liberal amounts of carbohydrates in the form of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. However, carbo types need to remember that a “low-protein” diet does not mean a “no-protein” diet. In fact, most carbo types will find that they need to include protein at most meals, but they need to focus on leaner, lighter meats, seafood and poultry than protein types. They should restrict their consumption of red meat in favor of light meat chicken and turkey and lighter seafood such as haddock, cod, perch, sole, catfish and flounder.

    If you’re a carbo type you should stick to low-fat dairy products, but you can eat a very wide selection of vegetables, fruits, and grains. However, many carbo types, like protein types, do best by focusing on vegetables that contain low or moderate levels of sugar and starch.

    The Mixed Type Diet

     

    If you’re a mixed type, it means you’re somewhere in the middle of the other two types, which have more pronounced or clear-cut metabolic imbalances. You actually need to eat a mixture of protein type foods and carbo type foods. This will accomplish two things: 1) it will support both sides of your autonomic nervous system — both the sympathetic branch and the parasympathetic branch; and 2) it will keep your cellular oxidation rate, which is neither too fast or too slow, in balance.

    Mixed types need to consume relatively equal ratios of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. They also need to eat a mixture of high-fat, high-purine proteins and low-fat, low-purine proteins. The same applies to all of the other foods contained on the protein type and carbo type diets — including grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits.

  • Aba after Boko Haram suspects’ arrest

    Aba after Boko Haram suspects’ arrest

    The arrest last month of 486 persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect has altered the security equation in Aba, Abia State’s commercial hub, with security agencies stepping up surveillance as residents tread softly. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    Most of the 486 suspects have been freed, but that has brought little relief to residents of Aba, the economic nerve of Abia State. One of the remaining suspects still in detention is said to be on the wanted list of the military. That is cause for concern, even though nothing is proved yet. Even the release of most of the suspects has been criticised, especially in the Southeast, with some arguing that it was hasty.

    Residents of the   commercial city have become jumpy and are looking out for themselves. Security agencies have also scaled up their surveillance in order to prevent any push down south by violent elements wreaking havoc in the North.

    The military arrested the suspects  along Aba-Port Harcourt expressway last month, triggering wide media reportage.

    Since the Director of Defence Information, Gen. Chris Olukolade issued a statement alleging that a “terror kingpin on the list of wanted terrorist of security forces in Nigeria has been detected in the ongoing screening of the 486 suspects nabbed while travelling in over 33 buses at night on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway” on June 15, residents of Aba have been living apprehensively, a throwback to the days of  kidnapping in the state.

    Though the said Boko Haram kingpin who was identified among the suspects has been relocated out of Abia, residents of the state, especially Aba, including security agencies in the state, have been vigilant since the arrest.

    This situation has caused security and para-military organisations in the state to engage in one form of counter security measures or the other to ensure that the people’s agitations are dealt with.

    At the gate of Aba South Local Government Area, security personnel including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) security personnel mounted a stop-and-search operation on vehicles going into the council’s offices.

    A military source, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, said they were instructed to stop and search vehicles in order to avert any possible security breach in the Area.

    Though the personnel refused to comment further when quizzed by the reporter, he however attributed their actions and presence at the council’s gate to the outcome of a security meeting after the army arrested 486 suspected members of Boko Haram insurgents in the state.

    Efforts to speak with the Divisional Officer of NSCDC, Aba South Paul Nze failed, but the Public Relations Officer of the agency, Mr. Victor Ogbonna said that the officers would not have been carrying out the stop and search operation at the Aba South gate without any operational manual.

    According to Ogbonna, “Aba South itself can have an operational manual given to them. So, what you need to do is to go and find out where the operational manual is coming from. It can be done. If the local government authority demand that, I think it is suppose be done. Find out if they are given that mandate. We cannot do without mandate. Before it is done (stop and search) we must get an operational manual. You must tell us what to do. If they tell us what to do, we might decide to put it down on paper as evidence, which is how we work. We cannot just come out like that and begin to work. There must be an operational manual given to us; there must be an agreement

    A check around churches, police station and other corporate offices show that security has been tightened in such places.

    Parishioner in some of the worship centers in the commercial city told our correspondent that after the news of the suspected Boko Haram members’ arrest, their churches have made moves to install Close Circuit Cameras (CCTV) within their church compound.

    Another source however disclosed that security officials in their church now use metal detector to search even parishioners thoroughly before they could gain entrance into the church premises. This development the source said though they were not comfortable with, they have to accept in good fate because it was for their own security as “no one prays to die while coming to receive salvation from God.”

    Checks by our reporter around police stations in Aba, Enyimba City has it that security has equally been improved as station guards quizzes and thoroughly scrutinize any person whose movement in and around police stations look suspicious.

    It was also gathered that because of the economic importance of Aba to Abia, State, south east and indeed, the Igbo nation, virtually all the security agencies in the state have deployed more intelligence personnel out in the streets of Aba, including markets for prompt security and intelligence gathering reports.

    The Aba Area Commander, Nigerian Police, ACP Peter Wagbara had assured residents of the commercial city and its environs of their safety.

    Wagbara who was reacting over the tension and fear being expressed by some residents after soldiers intercepted the said suspected members of Boko Haram disclosed that the command has increased its intelligence gathering and patrol within and outside Aba.

    According to the Area Commander, the command has equally redesigned its operational strategies in crime fighting and to further beef up security of lives and property in the densely populated business community.

    “We don’t want to take chances, not with the reported escape of two buses in the convoy of the travellers intercepted by soldiers somewhere close to Aba. We have deployed our officers and men to some flash points in and around the city to fish out criminals and strange elections.”

    He added that police was intensifying its stop and search operation especially among the tricycle operators which according to him had in recent times become the major operational means of criminals particularly kidnappers.

    He said that in addition to the already taken measures, in order to strengthen security inside the area command, that all illegal structures within the premises had been demolished.

  • NGO reaches out at anniversary

    NGO reaches out at anniversary

    It is 20 years since a non-governmental organisation, Agape Foundation for Literacy and Rural Development came to life in Ebonyi State but in marking the anniversary, it chose to reach out to more people in need. The event took place at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki, the state capital.

    The NGO organised free malaria tests for residents, gave out treated mosquito nets distribution as well as sensitised the people on healthy living.

    Recalling how the foundation began, the vision bearer and Executive Director of Agape Foundation, Pastor Gabriel Odom in his address said he was motivated by the daunting situation of hopelessness amongst the rural people of Ebonyi State adding that the drive to change the situation caused him to resign his job.

    “When we started 20 years ago,” he said, “I was motivated by the daunting situation of hopelessness amongst the rural people of  this State. Then, before the creation of the State, life was meaningless to them, and it was palpable. They did not know where to look for solution to their distress. So they resigned to fate. Their illiteracy was excruciating and their ignorance over powering.”

    “The drive to change the situation compelled me to sacrifice my job at the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). It is pertinent to inform you that I had no money or knowledge with which to realize my dream, but I trusted in God who called me for the service.”

    Pastor Odom further said the mission of his foundation is to liberate the people who have various limitations imposed on them adding that realizing that education is the most potent weapon to be used to change the World, the Agape Foundation started at a very modest level by establishing an adult literacy centre at Sharon, then a ECCDE centre at Iboko, and Obegu Odida, which he said now operate full-fledged Primary and Secondary schools.

    Enumerating other achievements of the foundation, he said,  ”We have also undertaken such intervention in Ihie, Amasiri, Afikpo North Local Governmenmt Area. We are also involved in many other areas as could be seen from our five thematic areas. Precisely, we concentrate on the reduction of illiteracy ( adult and young) youth dropout from school and increasing access to learning in the rural and peri-urban areas, increasing female enrolment and completion of basic education, female empowerment, provision of affordable alternative means of livelihoods to Nigerians, sensitisation campaigns, advocacy for good governance, leadership and constitutional reform. “

    “Other are provision of opportunities and facilities to rural and urban neighborhoods with micro-credit scheme to support and promote their small scale businesses, monitoring for the teaming school leavers who engage in various social ills as a result of frustration due to unemployment, as well as empowering them through skills training and assistance to establish small scale industries through co-operative effort.”

    While pointing out that NGOs were doing a lot across the country to uplift the living standards of the people, he however noted that there were still much left undone to reduce the poverty cycle, and the quagmire of hopelessness.

    “My conviction is that the business of overcoming poverty, illiteracy and hopelessness is not an act of charity but that of justice. Justice itself springs from love. Love points to the fact that the most important thing in life is what we do for our neighbors. We as Nigerians must begin to realise that material possessions are really not real possessions. If the many who have been stupendously blessed by God will remember that they owe God the duty to share, the world will be a better place devoid of the pains, distresses, hatred , poverty, frustrations, hopelessness and misery,” he added.

    He pointed out that in Nigeria, government and NGOs could collaborate towards the enthronement of justice and improved living standard for the people as he concluded with a call on government to grant unqualified right to education and decent means of livelihood to Nigerian.

    The chairman of the occasion, Group Capt. Isaac Madaki (Rtd) said he is happy to identify with Agape Foundation adding that as someone from less privileged area he never played with anything that had to do with helping the less privilege especially those ones that concerned education.

    “I came all the way from Kaduna to attend this programme because I am happy to identify with Agape Foundation. I hailed from less privileged area and I don’t play with anything that has to do with helping the less privilege especially the one that concerned education,” the Chairman said.

    He further called on the people to give their support to the foundation so the transformation undertaken by the Foundation would reach all the people; just as he also called on government to create enabling environment for NGOs to thrive.

    Delivering a lecture entitled: MGDs, Rural Development and Social Responsibility, the guest lecturer, Dr C. J. Uweke, a senior lecturer in the department of Medical Biology, Ebonyi State University, (EBSU) enjoined the people to support and cooperate with the foundation so that the mission of liberating the rural people would be fully realized nothing that developing the rural areas should be everybody’s business.

    Dr uneke explained that the role of non governmental organizations was indispensable to the development of rural/urban areas adding that NGOs have made significant impact in the areas of agricultural development, appropriate education with rural consideration, improvement in the health sector, support to HIV/AIDS orphans, housing and access to clean water, information technology and rural transportation, promotion of women rights and civic participation.

    The guest lecturer called on NGOs to when appropriate, corporate with other civil society organissations, government and inter governmental agencies, and for profit corporations to achieve.

    The event which drew people from within and outside Ebonyi state featured lecture, special/cultural dances, debates, cutting of anniversary cake, free distribution of Malaria Insecticide Treated Net and free Malaria Diagnostic Test at the venue.

    The foundation also donated over 1000 mosquito treated nets worth over N500, 000 to families of officers and men of the Ebonyi State Police command.

    Receiving the treated nets at the police headquarters in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Police Commissioner Maigari Dikko regretted that most police officers do not constantly check their health condition which he said has resulted in some avoidable deaths.

    Dikko who noted that malaria contributes to the high number of deaths recorded among children and adults in the country stated that the water log drainages and the dirty environment of most compounds in the State increases the rate of the malaria scourge.

    The Ebonyi State Police Commissioner cautioned the State Area Commanders, the Divisional Police Officers and other senior police officers who are expected to distribute the nets to men and officers of the command not to sell the treated nets above N100 to enable those who are interested afford it.

    He commended the Foundation for the provision of the nets to men of the command adding that the nets if properly put in use by the families would reduce the scourge of malaria and Mosquito bites within the barracks.

    The President of the Foundation Pastor Samuel Odom said that the donation was in prompt response to the demand by the State Commissioner for provision of Mosquito Treated Nets to men of the Command adding that the donation was part of its effort in curbing the deaths rate recorded through malaria.

    The Foundation also conducted free Malaria test to officers and Men of the Command and also educated the officers on how best to use the Mosquito Treated Nets.

  • Flooding: Ebonyi on the precipice

    Flooding: Ebonyi on the precipice

    Flooding and erosion continue to threaten Ebonyi State, laeingd to loss of lives and destruction of properties.

    In 2012, devastating floods ravaged 14 states in Nigeria, killing an estimated 363 people and displacing 2.1 million people. Also 597,476 houses were destroyed while several farmlands and livestock were destroyed. In all, more than seven million people were affected by the flood.

    Ebonyi State was among the 14 states affected by the flood with at least three people confirmed dead and thousands of others displaced.

    In 2013, the state witnessed more severe flooding.

    According to the state governor, Martin Elechi, the 2013 flood disaster displaced about 332,938 persons in different parts of the state.

    He also said the effect of flooding, gully erosion and other natural disasters in the state has been so devastating and had caused the loss of property estimated at several billions of Naira, including cash crops and other agricultural produce.

    The state is also ravaged by gully erosion which is rampant in most local government areas of the country.

    But the worst hit is Afikpo South Local Government Area which has over 21 erosion sites.

    At present, erosion has so far submerged three buildings in the local government headquarters while the administrative building which houses the offices of key officers of the council, including the Chairman, is also at the risk of caving in any moment.

    The situation forced the council administration to construct a new 40 room administrative building in another part of the local government area to relocate the workers.

    The town, it was gathered, is in imminent danger of being cut off from their neighbours as the erosion is fast encroaching into the roads built by the state government which link the community with her neighbours.

    Already, the road linking the community with Ohafia in Abia State has collapsed, forcing motorists and other road users to resort to using track roads in order to connect the two communities. This situation has brought indescribable hardship on the people.

    In a bid to tackle the menace, the state government recently launched the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), which is a World Bank-assisted project for Ebonyi State.

    The Governor, during the launch at the Women Development Centre (WDC), expressed his hope that the intervention of NEWMAP would rewrite the ugly trend.

    Elechi further said the state government, in conjunction with the Federal Government, had put in series of intervention measures aimed at controlling and containing flood and erosion menace in the capital city.

    “I wish to implore you to kindly take time off your schedule to visit some of the major flood and erosion sites to appreciate ongoing remedial measures being put in place by the state in conjunction with the Federal Government.

    “Survey shows that Southeast zone of the country is at imminent danger as gully erosion alone contributes to environmental degradation and other associated damage estimated at millions of dollars annually.

    “It is for this reason that the Federal Government solicited the support of the World Bank and the response of the bank gave rise to the NEWMAP,’’ Governor Elechi said.

    He further commended the World Bank for its timely response to this daunting challenge and for its many partnering developmental initiatives in the state.

    He enumerated areas of assistance to include HIV and AIDS, Community-based Urban Development Project (CBUDP), Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) and Health System Development Project (HSDP), among others.

    Mr Amos Abu who is the task team leader of NEWMAP commended federal and state governments for tackling challenges of erosion menace, especially in the Southeast zone of the country.

    He said NEWMAP would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to address the problem of flooding and gully erosion in Ebonyi State.

    “Ebonyi State is the first among the five southeast states to key into the NEWMAP programme and we are optimistic that the project will go a long way in tackling the flooding and erosion menace in the state,” he said.

     

  • Ebonyi builds modern state capital  

    Ebonyi builds modern state capital  

    When Governor Martin Elechi assumed office as the second civilian governor of Ebonyi State, he said that he would prioritise every aspect of his administration because of the need to improve the well-being and status of his people in all sectors.

    His government, he said, will be anchored on three cardinal agenda namely civil service reform, attitudinal change and infrastructural development.

    To actualise these dreams, the government rolled out several strategies toward making the state a place and home for all, including awarding contracts for constructions of over 30 unity bridges, roads and two mega water projects at Oferekpe and Ukawu in Ikwo Local Government Area and Onicha Local Government Area respectively.

    On attitudinal change, the governor promised a reward for good quality and sanctions for bad behaviour, even following up with  public enlightenment.

    In his quest to make Abakaliki, the capital city, look like a modern city that will not only stand the test of time but also compete favourably with other state capitals in the country, Governor Elechi conceived the vision and idea of Ucho Udo City.

    Ochudo City is a modern city that will bring forth the beauty of Ebonyi State which goes by the tag of “the salt of the nation”. To actualise this the governor went to the Ministry of Defence to plead for a portion of their land to be ceded to the state government for him to try out the city of his vision.

    The Ministry of Defence granted his request and gave the state government land measuring about 1, 200 hectares. Since then, the government has been developing the land in which some gigantic buildings are being elected while some federal agencies like Central Bank, State Security Service and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have started erecting structures, some of which have been completed.

    In a chat with our correspondent, the Commissioner for Land, Survey and Housing Friday Nwaoha said the Ochudo City was the brainchild of the governor, who was in the forefront for the creation of the state and seeing that the present structures in the capital city do not qualify Abakaliki a status of a capital city.

    The commissioner stated that the state government, after securing the land from the Army, went into action to develop the land and the design was completed where the proposed Ucho Udo City was divided into 23 zones namely residential area, low and high density, government reservation area (GRA), commercial area, secretariat area, banking area and others.

    According to Nwaoha, some zones are being developed which include the secretariat where government is constructing secretariat buildings for the civil servants.

    He noted that the governor, after appraising the old city where the ministries were scattered and noting that connecting one ministry to the other is taxing, he decided to create an enabling environment for the civil service. So, the governor went to zone 17 which is the secretariat zone and put up about 11 gigantic blocks in place to accommodate all the civil servants.

    In each of the blocks, the commissioner said, two ministries can comfortable be accommodated to grant optimal service delivery to the people of the state and even beyond, adding that nine blocks have two lifts while the rest have three lifts each.

    He said the buildings which have been completed and are waiting inauguration cost the state government over N16 billion, even as he said that apart from the secretariat blocks, the road network of the entire Ucho Udo City, the street lights, the drainage system and the recreational facilities have been completed.

    “As I speak, the Central Bank, State Security Service and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) buildings have been completed while the giant power plant that the state is embarking upon are nearing completion.

    “Apart from these areas, at the residential zone action is on top gear for the allocation of land to those that applied for development, maintaining that Ucho Udo City is a reality and before the tenure of this administration elapses, the place must be a modern city that will give the state capital a face look,” he said.

    Before taking over the land, three communities namely Agbaja Unuhu, Enyimagu Unuhu and Igbeagu communites were occupying the ceded land in which they were asked to move from. This resulted in demonstration by the three communities.

    The commissioner said the communities knew they were occupying the land illegally, adding that the government, in its magnanimity, has carved out a community layout that will accommodate them.

    He added that the Ministry of Defence said the communities were well and dully compensated.

    On when the whole city will be ready, the commissioner said “we don’t have definite date for the completion. The total development of the city may be this year, next year or beyond. It will be a gradual process.

    It is now certain that Ucho Udo City has come to stay and will compete with any other cities in the world when completed. But what is in the mind of the people are when will these dreams materialise?

  • ‘Five more years for our VC’

    ‘Five more years for our VC’

    Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Prof Hillary Edeoga is having a hard time dissuading his students from pushing for his second term in office.

    The students have staged a peaceful demonstration urging his to run for another five-year term.

    Edeoga appreciated their solidarity and enthusiasm but told them that it is against the rule of federal universities for a VC to seek a second term.

    Addressing the VC at the front of the academic block, the senate president of National Association of Abia State Students (NAASS), Chris Nkuma said they have decided to celebrate the chief executive of the university whom he described as a man of peace..

    Nkuma said the day is a great day in the history of the university as the students of the host state for the first time in the history of Nigeria is celebrating their VC for his good works and described Prof Edeoga as an icon of development.

    He said that the students from the state are celebrating the VC and asking him to run for another term of 5 years because of his achievements in the university, having turned the fortunes of the institution around for the benefit of the students, staff and host community.

    The NAASS senate president said, “This the first VC to have given admission to students of the host state, introduced many new academic programmes including the medical and surgery college, which will help to improve the health sector of the state”.

    Nkuma said that the good works of Prof Edeoga are there for all to come and see and that, “We believe that because of his good works that his state and the country will one day remember him for higher position one day”.

    Responding, Prof Edeoga said, “Today I am a fulfilled man and this is the first time since I came to this university in 1999 to see this kind of support as I have been head of department, dean, deputy vice chancellor twice and now VC, I have never seen this type of support”.

    Prof Edeoga said that he is also happy that the reason he sort to be the VC of the institution which are the students are appreciating his achievements in the university and promised to do more before leaving office in the next one year and eight months remaining.

    He told the students that the rule governing federal universities which gives the VC a single term of 5 years, has no room for second term, “Therefore what you are asking will not be possible, but I am not leaving today or tomorrow, as I still have almost two years to stay with you people”.

    The VC said that from next academic year that the university will be introducing the medical and Surgery College which will be followed with a teaching hospital, stressing that it will help in the health sector of the state, as the people around will assess the health facility in the teaching hospital.

    Prof Edeoga praised students of the University for their Peaceful Disposition, while describing them as the best behaved students who have never rioted even when pushed to the wall since he assumed office as the VC of the university for the past 3 years.