The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

Scholarship for 50 students

At its launch in August last year, Louis Carter Foundation, Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State paid the hospital bills of many indigent patients in the area. Now, 50 bright but financially weak students have benefitted from the foundation’s public spirit, having been given scholarship.

There are criteria for selecting beneficiaries. Bright but financially weak students will be assisted to pursue their education, the foundation announced at the 60th birthday anniversary of the foundation’s chairman, Chief Louis Izuchukwu Onwugbenu, who also chairs the Louis Carter Group Limited.

On that occasion he handed over magnificent school building to St Louis Nursery/Primary and Secondary Schools as well as handed over her daughter in marriage. He was a happy man and many taught he was just speaking for speaking sake until penultimate week he summoned students across Nigeria for the scholarship.

He also handed over a three storey ultra modern school building for St Louis Nwafor Uruagu Primary school to Bishop of Nnewi Diocese , Most Reverend Hillary Okeke as a gift to mark his 60 years birthday.

He said the gesture was to alleviate the sufferings and predicament of the poor but academically and intellectually endowed students to enable them leverage on the condition they found themselves for the betterment of their families.

Onwugbenu, an industrialist par excellence announced that 23 Senior Secondary 1 students (SSS1) and 20 university undergraduates successfully emerged to benefit from the foundations scholarship scheme for the 2013/2014 academic session. He said the health , job creation , wealth creation and feed the poor schemes as well as other arms of the foundation are all active and have their programmes running too.

Louis Carter Foundation according to Onwugbenu gives students at the secondary school level 25,000 per student per session while each undergraduate received N100,000 per session.

The money were handed over to the beneficiaries not without a food for thought that he had a humble beginning, hence they should be mindful of the essence of the support and make their families proud with good grades and sound character, informing them that he had traveled round the world, an experience he said had exposed him to know the importance of education. He told them his money would have tripled had he sound education at is initial stages in life.

“There can be a world leader from you. The President of the United States of America, Barak Obama is of African origin. There is nothing you can do successfully without education. You have the opportunity to study now. Avoid bad peer group who might lead you astray in the course of your study. We will not hesitate to drop anybody found wanting. I am ready to train you to any level and even if I’m not there my son will take over from me,” Chief Onwugbenu advised the students.

He reminded that success without succession is failure hence he is bringing up his son to step into his shoes to contribute in making more families proud and informed that the foundation had been doing charity unofficially for many years but only started official documentation of its activities in the last two years before officially inaugurating a board for it.

Complimenting the speech, Chairman of the foundation, Lady J. N. Nwangwu said progress of the students would be monitored as they enjoyed the largesse. She explained that one of the reasons for the foundation was to promote academic excellence among its beneficiaries who would be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of humanity and society.

She also explained that parts of the mission were to train the students to acquire relevant life skills for higher education and meaningful living, to provide an enabling environment for competitive spirit among the students as well as inculcate sound morals to them.

Nwangwu described the founder as a believer in human capital development which she said was the reason for his (Chief Onwugbenu’s) deep interest in education.

“He has awarded countless number of scholarships to indigent students from primary schools to post-graduate levels. Also this passion for providing quality education to the less privileged compelled him to build primary and secondary schools in the premises of St Louis Catholic Church, Uruagu, Nnewi,” Lady Nwangwu concluded.

She said the vision of the foundation is , ‘’to alleviate the sufferings and predicament of the poor but academically and intellectually endowed. To promote academic excellence among the beneficiaries of the foundation who will be able to contribute meaningfully to the development of humanity and the society.

While the mission is to ensure that, ”the students to be trained to acquire relevant life skills for higher education and meaningful living in the society and to provide enabling environment for competitive spirit among the students of the foundation as well as to inculcate sound morals among the beneficiaries’’.

In her speech , the Chairman of Anambra State Post Primary School Services Commission (PPSSC) Board also known as state Education Commission, Lady Joy Ulasi described Louis Carter as a philanthropist who wants Nnewi to be known more as an academic community apart from commerce and industry for which it is already known.

She told the beneficiaries that the reward for hardwork was more work “and if you work hard no challenge will overwhelm you. Aspire to achieve the best, aim to live up to expectations. Remember to whom more is given much is expected and that is more reason you should fully use the opportunity given to you.”

In a speech one of the earlier beneficiaries of the Louis Carter foundation, Master Ike Chukwuemeka expressed their inestimable gratitude to Sir Louis Carter Onwugbuenu known also as Okpata-Ozuo-Ora Nnewi.

Chukwuemeka expressed shock that despite volatile economic situation of the country , the foundation was so magnanimous in charity as many of them least expected to be partakers having not come from Nnewi and thanked the foundation for getting beneficiaries from across the country.

‘’ We are all like viable seeds which you, a great former have cultivated in his large and fertile land which is devoid of weeds, pests and rodents with a very favorable weather. I want to pose this question to everybody here; can anything stop these viable seeds from growing? No! Lucidly is what everyone has on his or her lip as an answer to this question and so shall it be. We shall all assembly here one day m celebration of the various successes we have achieved. However, if nothing can stop these seeds from growing, what about Daddy’s biological children? I strongly believe that they have already made it and God will not fail lo continue working in daddy’s vineyard even as he is working in that of others’’.

But another beneficiary, Chiagozie Cynthia Okonkwo of Umumejiaku Uruagu Nnewi described Chief Louis Izuchukwu Onwugbenu as a philanthropist par excellence and thanked God for granting them the opportunity to be trained by Louis Carter.

‘’However gratitude they say is the least of the virtues and ingratitude the highest of the vices, sequel to this, we wish to present our unalloyed gratitude to our esteemed philanthropist. We still find it difficult to believe that we are the first beneficiaries of your philanthropy. Bearing in mind that knowledge is power and the greatest legacy you choose to educate youths than to invest your money in some other material things.

‘’Sincerely speaking, it is only one all out of thousand that can stand such challenge of picking up the less privileged parents in our society who in one way or the other have found if difficult to train their children. You have therefore become the hope of the hopeless, the eyes of the blind and the dream of those dream were dead. If we have the opportunity to advise the Elites of this community, we will suggest that they should borrow a leaf from Chief Louis Izuchukwu Onwugbenu’’.

The first son of Louis Carter , Emeka Onwugbenu assured that the foundation would be sustained even after his father and after himself as it was properly deliberated on as a family foundation to reach out before instituting hence everybody is contributing to the foundation’s sustenance.

He said it was not easy to moot a concept and live to witness the actualisation, and that the foundation board of trustees would do a good job.

He said: “I am very confident that they would do a good job to ensure the right people benefit and the foundation achieves the mission and vision of establishing it in the first place. The foundation is laid in such a way that it would outlive my father and myself.”

He informed that the both indigenes and non-indigenes resident in Uruagu were considered during selection of beneficiaries and students that passed JSSCE Exams preparing for SSI as well as students found to be really indigent through information ascertained from teacher, school authorities and parents with academic excellence as the attarction.

On the undergraduates , he said students that gained admission into higher institution were asked to present their Admission letter whether indigenes or not but resident in Uruagu as well as students found to be really indigent with information ascertained from teachers, school authorities and parents and academic excellence as his or her core competent.

He said having passed through rigorous management training from his father that he would not fail in his expectations both at the company and in the foundation but called for prayers as God is the center stage of whatever they are doing.

The list of the students and their names showed that many are studying Engineering and many are not from Anambra state like Onyima Michael from Ebonyi state and Iwoanya Chinonso from Imo state among others.

Cross Section of the Beneficiaries with some guests and donor Chief Onwuegbenu on black cap flanked left by Son Emeka and right Lady Joy Ulasi , Chairman Post Primary School Services Commission, Board (PPSSC) with other members of the Board of Trustees of Louis Carter Foundation

February 6, 2014
Royal tussle in Nsukka

The town of Eziani, Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State is in turmoil as the choice of a traditional ruler seems to tear the community apart.

The installation of Chief Tony Ezema as the traditional ruler of the community was faulted by the community. This generated controversies that may linger for a long time.

The crisis, which has lasted for more than one year, got to a climax recently as hundreds of indigenous members of the community stormed the premises of the Enugu State Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs few hours to his coronation, accusing the ministry officials of imposing him on them.

Most of the members of the community are expressing fears that the new monarch would wield the big stick on them.

The protesters, made up of aged men and women as well as youths, arrived Enugu, the state capital, from Nsukka as early as 9:00 in the morning chanting war songs.

They carried placards bearing different inscriptions such as “No to imposition of Igwe on our community,” “Enugu State Government, please treat us as other communities where you conduct elections for Igweship,” “No to injustice, due process must be followed,” and “Without justice, no peace,” among others.

In a protest letter addressed to Governor Sullivan Chime, they alleged that contrary to laid down rules and procedures, few highly placed individuals were bent on imposing a monarch on the community.

The letter read in part: “We, the people of Eziani are here to, again, beg the government of Enugu State to come to our aid, as some few individuals are bent on doing things against the right of the people.

“We listen to news, we go out and we observe that this ministry has been doing well to so many communities by restoring peace to those communities through the conduct of elections for the Igweship positions of such communities.

“It is on record that when the ministry came to our community, Eziani in Nsukka Local Government Area on June 4, 2012 for verification exercise, the Commissioner, Pastor Emeka Abugu promised that the ministry would come back to conduct an election for Eziani people.”

The commissioner was quoted as saying then that “we have seen that there is more than one candidate for the Igweship stool of Eziani community. Therefore, we will come back to conduct an election. I also want to let Eziani people know that government make more money when there are multiple candidates. So, any other person that is interested should go to the ministry at Enugu and buy form which costs N100, 000 per contestant.”

They further said: “We complied and two people went to the ministry and bought the forms at the rate of N100, 000 each. Yet, up till now, the ministry has not come to conduct the election.

“When government takes sides on any issue bordering on the masses, especially when it comes to their traditional rulers, it is obvious that such government is encouraging bad blood among the people and as such makes them fight against themselves, which may lead to loss of lives.”

Our correspondent reports that the commissioner, Pastor Emeka Abugu, who arrived at the office three hours later told the protesters that the only option left for them was to go to court.

He said: “Your foundation, the constitution is faulty; most traditional rulers did not consult the people before writing the constitution, and the rule of government is that we don’t change the constitution when it is time to elect a new traditional ruler.

“As long as government has recognised him as Igwe, there is nothing anybody can do to remove him. The only thing that can remove him is a decision of the court. Even if you kill everybody in your place, it will not change anything. I cannot overrule myself, just like the INEC cannot go back after it has declared somebody winner.”

Abugu said he would go ahead with the coronation of Chief Tony Ezema as the traditional ruler of the community.

One of the aspirants to the traditional stool, Chief George Okolo who spoke to the media over the development alleged that another contestant Chief Tony Ezema has been parading himself as the recognised traditional ruler of the community without due process of law and in violation of laid-down rules and provisions of the community’s constitution.

him a certificate of recognition in no distant time, in defiance to the wishes of the majority of Eziani community.

Chief Okolo noted with dismay that the commissioner had earlier called all the aspirants to procure forms at a whopping sum of N100,000 each, only to single headedly pick Chief Tony Ezema as the traditional ruler at the detriment of the community.

Giving the names of other aspirants as Chief George Okolo, Chief Matthew Gingeni and Chief Alphonsus Ugwuoke, Chief Okolo revealed that the commissioner invited both parties for a dialogue behind closed doors at an undisclosed hotel in Enugu only to inform them that he has special interest in Chief Ezema as the traditional ruler and ended up foisting him on the community.

Also speaking, a youth leader and community mobiliser Chief Alex Ugwuoke alleged that the man parading himself as their traditional ruler had confiscated all their lands and made a public statement that anybody wishing to sale his land must consult him and members of his cabinet.

“What we are demanding is a free and fair election where the choice of the majority will emerge.

“We are against imposition of anybody on us. We have been in this helpless and hopeless situation after the death of our ruler, Igwe Christopher Idu who was an uncle to the man currently parading himself as the authentic ruler.

“The self-proclaimed Igwe is highhanded, arrogant, vindictive and greedy. We are calling on the state government to, as a matter of necessity, conduct an election to enthrone a respected and genuine traditional ruler to enable peace return to Eziani community,” he said.

Efforts made to speak with Igwe Tony Ezema were not successful as he was said to be busy organising his cabinet.

February 6, 2014
Community protests neglect of federal school

About 5,000 residents of Eziagu, a community in Orumba South Local Government Area, Anambra State forced the closure of Demonstration Secondary School in the community. The school is owned by the Federal Government College of Education (Technical), Umunze.

Thousands of placard-carrying demonstrators were reacting to the allegation that the school which they built and handed over to the federal government is not recognised.

Some of the placards read: “We want to know the status of our school”, “Give us our land back”, “We say no to cheating”, “The labour of our forefathers shall not be in vain”, “It is time we took our destiny in our hands”, We say no to exploitation”, “The Principal Mr Chike Obienyem must go”.

The protesters also bore green leaves which they heaped at the gate of the school after chanting war songs round the community.

Before the protest, the people assembled as early as 5 am where they were addressed by community leaders on the history of the school and why there was need for the community to repossess the property it donated to the old Anambra State government 23 years ago before retrieving it and handing it to the Federal Government through Umunze Technical College of Education.

Peace has, however, returned to the school after the community leadership and the management of the Federal Government College met and addressed the grievances at the Divisional police headquarters, Umunze.

The provost of the college, Prof Josephat Ogbuagu led the team from the college while the President-General of Eziagu Town Dr John Ofobike led the community leaders.

Ogbuagu said that the issues they raised preceded him as Provost of the college and presented documents attesting that the 15 hectares of land was handed over to the Federal Government by the community as acknowledged by Prof Ben Nwabueze, then Secretary for Education and Youth Development in 1993.

President-General of Eziagu Improvement Union, Dr. John Ofobike, who addressed the people, recalled that the community donated 29 hectares of land on which they built a fully furnished teacher training college which was handed over to the state government.

With the phasing out of the teacher training college, he said, the Anambra State government, in 1993, handed over all the structures and equipment, including 180kva generating set, belonging to the community to the Federal Ministry of Education which, in turn, handed it over to the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze as Demonstration Secondary School.

Ofobike said: “In May 2013, the MDG monitoring and evaluation team came to the school during a census to ascertain the number of secondary and primary schools in the state and to our surprise, there was no record of Demonstration Secondary School, Eziagu which was an indication that it is being run as a private institution by some officials of Federal College of Education, Umunze.

“Besides, the school management has continuously marginalised the Eziagu indigenes in the area of employment and school enrolment despite preponderance of eligible candidates from the community.

“In addition, no indigene of the community is a member of the governing council of the school or in the executive of the Parents Teachers Association.

“For peace to reign in the school, the principal of the school must be removed and 60 per cent of the non–academic workforce must be Eziagu indigenes. The authorities of the school should also rehabilitate two major roads in the community and provide water to the people from the existing pipe-borne water from the school.”

Ofobike claimed that Anambra State government did not build any structures in the College. The building of administrative and classroom blocks, dormitories and the purchase of school equipment, which were handed over to the Federal Government, were entirely financed by Eziagu community.

The Federal Government policy on education stipulates that Demonstration secondary schools should serve as practicing schools for teaching practice and also create jobs. The Federal Ministry of Education made provisions in the budget, for the execution of these projects, released funds for their execution, as well as brought out modalities on how to run these schools. However, the then Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze administration deviated from this original policy by not utilising the initial grant meant for the establishment of structures in the Demonstration Secondary School, Eziagu, which otherwise would have benefited the community one way or the other.

The President General of Eziagu Community Dr Ofobike and Secretary General, Comrade Asika, Nnanyerenwa made some requests from the Demonstration College which included, “that the principal of Demonstration Secondary School, Eziagu, should be removed.

“That sixty per cent of the non-academic work force ranging from cooks, labourers, cleaners, drivers, security personnel, potters and potteresses, matron(s) etc. must be Eziagu indigenes,

“That two permanent slots should be given to Eziagu indigenes in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

“That a minimum of 20 slots of student enrolment should be given to Eziagu Community annually. That rehabilitation of at least 2 major roads leading to the Demonstration Secondary School Eziagu, precisely, Ikpanwojukwu and St. Augustine’s roads be done by the management of Demonstration Secondary School, Eziagu.

That Eziagu Community should be given about 10 taps of water from the premises of Demonstration Secondary School, Eziagu. Provision of contingency funds for emergency purposes.

That the Demonstration Secondary School, Eziagu should ensure speedy payment of electricity bills, as well as remedy the accrued arrears of electricity bills to the Eziagu Community.

“That the Eziagu Improvement Union (EIU) should be notified of employment slots, so as to enable her provide the management of the Demonstration Secondary School, Eziagu with the right candidates.

That any job, either by contract or direct labour, not exceeding one million naira should be reserved for Eziagu indigenes. That the Demonstration Secondary School, Eziagu shall henceforth not encroach on Eziagu land, aside from those officially allocated to them.

The Secretary for Education and Youth Development then Prof Ben Nwabueze wrote then Commissioner for Education Anambra state Mrs V.V.I Okoye, ‘’I was glad to get your letter in which your Government offered the Federal Government 15 hectares of land belonging to Eziagu T.T.C. including a Giant Plant and infrastructures for the use of Umunze Federal College of Education (Technical); as a Staff Demonstration Secondary School.

“I am pleased to accept the gift on behalf of the Federal Government, and wish most sincerely to thank His Excellency, Governor Chukwemeka Ezeife, and the State Government for this kind gesture.

“As indicated in your letter, I shall discuss with Governor Ezeife the mechanics for the hand-over of the property to the Federal Government.

Youths led by Ejike Umenwa who had wanted a violent protest, were bitter that after 23 years of the school’s existence there is nothing to show for it. There were no additional structures except what they had before handing it over. But the council of elders helped to change their minds.

They wondered why the Nursery and Primary sections should be listed in the under Federal Government College (T) without the Secondary section. With the attitude the protest would have developed into more serious tension in the two school community-Eziagu and Umunze but for the maturity the leadership of the College applied by inviting the community to a round table talk.

February 6, 2014
A memorial conference for Achebe

Okike, an African journal of new writing founded by the late Prof. Chinua Acbebe in 1971 at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) hosted the “The Chinua Achebe Memorial Conference”. It was an occasion dominated by the academia from the various universities in Nigeria. The occasion actually was to mark the 50th edition of the journal. It was also an occasion in which the Okike team honoured one of Nigeria’s brightest politicians, the Deputy Senate President, Prince Ike Ekweremadu.

The current editor of the journal, Rev. Fr. Amaecii Akwanya explained that the 50th issue was conceived to commemorate Chinua Achebe’s contribution to the literary world. Okike, according to Akwanya is the oldest surviving literary journal in Africa.

“The 50th edition is deservedly dedicated to its illustrious founder. This journal is one of Achebe’s most enduring legacies at the University of Nigeria, and it was assiduously sustained by his former collaborator and protégé, Professor Osmund Ossie Enekwe from 1986 to 2008. It is a proud legacy which I and the present team at Okike are determined to carry on at all cost,” declared Akwanya.

Akwanya, who at the occasion solicited for a befitting memorial for Achebe said “Okike would be delighted and is ready for corporate or private individuals to partner with in order to do honour to the memory of this world renowned writer. What is needed is nothing less than a Chinua Achebe Centre for African Literature at the University of Nigeria.”

Agreeing with the editor of Okike, the deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu said the University of Nigeria is highly privileged to have enjoyed the services of “Ugonabo both as professor of literature and director of Institute of African Studies.” “Achebe’s type,” he said, “comes once in a blue moon, for it is not always that you have a great Iroko like him grow and flourish on your land.”

Ekweremadu commended the thoughtfulness of the University of Nigeriam especiall the board of Okike in initiating the Chinua Achebe Memorial Conference. “It is a befitting honour for a man who has in lifem as in death, brought so much glory and honour to this great institution and Africa as a whole. It is also a veritable platform to reflect on Professor Achebe’s legacies and works and to continually recommit ourselves to his ideals and visions for a greater Nigeria and truly emancipated Africa.”

The deputy senate president further remarked that Achebe “was indeed a visionary and literary giant that brought out the special attribute of a writer as a philosopher and prophet. He was half man and half spirit and the Nostradamus of our time who saw far into the future

“Through A Man of the People, for instance, he forewarns of the dangers of reducing independence to merely replacing white colonialists with a fresh set of homegrown overlords and parasites who live in flagrant opulence, while subjecting the people to abject poverty.”

The 50th edition of Okike contains tributes written in poetry and essays on Achebe by some of Nigeria’s literary minds. The tributes include “No Tears Today” by Chimalum Nwankwo, “Achebe: Indescribable Unto death” by Chibueze Prince Orie, “Our Iroko Has Fallen” by Idris Amali, “Chinua Achebe: Sacrificial Tributes” by Amechi Akwanya, “Chinua Achebe: Searching For Truths Beyond the Abyss” by Abba A. Abba, “Achebe, Achebe” by Joseph Ogbonna and “The Return of the Eagle” by Ikechukwu Emmanuel.

Among the essays published in the 50th Okike include “Memoir as Swan Song: Echoes of Nostalgiam Disillusionment and Valediction in Chinua Achebe’s There Was a Country” by Onyebuchi Nwosu, “Chinua Achebe’s Aphoristic Biolography: Another Road Taken on the Path of Criticism” by Chibueze Prince Orie, “Chinua Achebe ‘s Counselling creativity” by Romanus Egudu and “Why Did He Do It? Chinua Achebe’s Spectacular Heroes” by A. N. Akwanya.

There is also a review titled “Who is Angry with Achebe? A Review of There was a Country: A personal History of Biafra by Chinua Achebe” by Macpherson Nkem Azuike.

February 6, 2014
Abia thanks US for lifting travel ban

Abia State government has thanked the United States of America for lifting the travel ban restricting its citizens from visiting the state and some other states in the country. The ban was in force for about four years.

The travel restriction came on the heels of frequent kidnapping in Abia and other states.

It is believed that the lifting of the travel ban is a strong testimony of the security network set up by the Governor Theodore Orji administration during the period kidnappers nearly overran the state.

Speaking with reporters in Umuahia, the state capital, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Charles Ajunwa recalled that the United States of America had asked its citizens not to travel to the state and some others in the country because of the prevailing kidnapping and other violent crimes at the time.

Ajunwa said that with the lifting of the travel ban by, Americans will now join other foreign nationals who are eager to come to the state for investment opportunities, stressing that the government of the day is ever willing to protect both visitors and indigenes at any time.

He said since 2010 when that country placed travel ban to Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Edo states which was suspended last week by the United states Department of State, only Indians, Chinese and Italian nationals have dominated investments in the state, adding that with this development that there will be a healthy competition among other investors.

The CPS expressed the gratitude of the Abia state government to the United States of Americafor including the state as one of those that is secured enough to attract the relaxation of the travel ban in the country and urged willing investors from America to feel free to come to the state.

He noted that the last yuletide period attracted more Abians from other parts of the country and abroad to the state, adding that it was the most peaceful festive period with little or no crime recorded in the state.

He said that many of the holidaymakers have been commending the government for making the state secure and peaceful, which made most of them, who had been unable to come home in the past for fear of insecurity to do so this time.

Ajunwa explained that the state government it is not against criticism but frowned at those who use the media including the social media to attack the state first family without substantiating their allegations.

He said that the state government has embarked on projects that should have been taken for granted, given the period the state was created, which include the state secretariat, Government House complex, International Conference Centre among others being built by the Orji administration.

February 6, 2014
‘Mu’azu good for party growth’

Amember of the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chidi Nwosu has described the election of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu as the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a square peg in a square hole.

Speaking with The Nation in Umuahia, the lawmaker who represents Umuahia South, said that the crisis of the party which tended to tear it to shreds is now over with the election of the new national chairman.

Nwosu appreciated the efforts of the leaders of the party in ensuring that the decisions and interest of the members of the party are not only looked into but carried out for the benefit of the party and posterity.

He said that the party leaders have done very well in heeding the call for and ensuring that the former national chairman of the party, Bamanga Tukur disembarked from the party as the national chairman without any rancour.

The lawmaker said that there are sentiments in some areas in the party over the emergence of the new chairman, stressing that some people are seeing it that state governors are becoming very powerful in the scheme of things in the country.

He said, “The trend of things in our country is bad, as governors are now becoming very strong and the election of Mu’azu who is an ex-governor shows that one can only become someone if you are a governor, just like the President who is an ex-governor and our national chairman”.

Nwosu noted that that some people are not happy, “As it tends to portend the fact that only governors are in a position to assume important positions in the society, we have examples in our President, Vice President and now our national chairman who are ex-governors”.

He said that the idea of former governors ascending important position is not bad, “Because it shows that most of them who are in such positions must have excelled in such positions and have integrity to make them occupy any position that may be entrusted on them after being governors”.

The Abia lawmaker said that Mu’azu as a former governor and fourth ex-governor to become the national chairman of the party, “We believe that he will last longer than two years unlike those before him, as the constitution of the party stipulates four years tenure for our national chairman”.

Nwosu regretted that the position of a national chairman of the PDP is becoming an albatross to all those who have occupied such position, where prominent people ascend only to have problems and will be forced out of office.

He assured that the new national chairman will bring peace to the party, pointing out that those who had asked the former national chairman to leave are mainly governors and they are going to ensure that the right things are done in the party to sustain the peace in the party now.

The lawmaker said that being a former governor that Mu’azu will use his links with the governors to bring back peace, stressing that the governors know what is happening in the party and that the new chairman will use his magic wand to bring the governors who left back to the party.

Nwosu reasoned that Tukur who have been a governor over 30 years ago, “May have lost touch with the realities of the politics of modern day and what governance is all about, including losing contacts with both his former colleagues of the old and the new ones”.

February 6, 2014
Skills for 160 youths

About 160 unemployed youths in Imo State have benefited from a special empowerment programme sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives Hon Emeka Ihedioha, in partnership with the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), through the institution’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES).

The Deputy Speaker disclosed that the empowerment programme was captured in the 2013 budget for the people of his constituency through the Training and Research Development Programme.

He noted that he went beyond the Federal Government’s approved number of 100 youths to train 160 instead as a result of his burning desire to tackle challenges of youth unemployment in the country.

The beneficiaries who were drawn from across the entire youth organisations in the state, participated in a four-day training programme where they were taught paint production, cement production and disinfectant and air freshener production, among other vocations.

Speaking at the end of the programme, Ihedioha explained that he personally took up the challenge to ensure that the training and resource development for youths in the state were adequately accommodated in the country’s 2013 budget.

He further said the idea to equip the youth with vocational skills is a departure from the age long but erroneous tradition of sharing money to the youth instead of giving them the necessary training that will give them meaningful livelihood.

“I will continue to provide the youth in Imo State the required training that will equip them to face the challenges of life. The beneficiaries are not only from my constituency but also from the entire state. This is because I believe that if the youth are given means of livelihood, the larger society will be better for it. It is not just enough to share money to them,” he said.

Ihedioha challenged the country’s universities to build technologies to ensure an increase in the production of manpower, stressing that this would impact positively on the lives of the people by improving labour and creating jobs for most families.

He commended the management of the institution for accepting to host the training programme which he said is part of his constituency projects.

The Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Cyril Chigozie Asiabaka commended Ihedioha for his innovation which he said ”would not only give the youth fish but would also teach them how to fish.”

Prof. Asiabaka disclosed that all programmes in the institution had been coupled in technology with a well-developed centre for entrepreneurship studies now in place. He said: “If the youth are not empowered, we will run the risk of not resting ourselves. FUTO has been in the business of manpower development for some time now.”

Also speaking, the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship studies, Prof. Nathanial Nwaezeaku commended the Deputy Speaker for the initiative which he said had given the graduates a solid footing in life.

He said the centre has imparted the necessary entrepreneurial skills in the youth during the four-day training which will transform them from job seekers to employers of labour.

According to him, while the centre had been designed into two divisions, there is abundant expertise resident in the institution and a clear identification of skills that are community friendly.

He further explained that the youth have been trained in technical and management skills like the production of liquid detergent, disinfectant, odor control and cement production among other vocational skills.

Officials of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that also participated in the programme in collaboration with youth leaders in the state conferred on the Deputy Speaker the prestigious award of Commander of Youth Development.

Clerk of the NANS Senate, Comrade Nnaji Julius K.C and Chairman, Council of Students Union Government (SUG) Presidents in Imo State, Comrade Okereke Godson, explained that the award was in line with their resolution of recognising notable and political icons in the country who had distinguished themselves in the areas of youth development and students’ empowerment.

“We are happy with your burning desire for the development of Imo youths and students and the commander of Youth Development Award is designed by NANS Senate to appreciate the efforts of our leaders who have excelled in the areas of youth development and students’ empowerment. The award is issued to the Deputy Speaker because of his numerous youth programmes which the students have benefited most.

They listed such programmes to include Post-graduate training programmes for 17 engineering graduates from Imo State at the Scientific Engineering Development Institute Enugu, agro-training and empowerment programmes for 700 women and youths in Imo State with the National Roots Crop Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, skill acquisition training and empowerment programme for 500 youths in Imo State with NCE, attraction of advanced digital access for tertiary institutions (ADAPTI) for the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, as well as skill acquisition for Imo youths in different fields at the National Metallurgical Training Institute Onitsha.

Others were skill acquisition training in fish production and feed making for women and youths in Imo, advanced digital access for tertiary institutions for the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri with the provision of 110 laptop computers with e-learning facilities, provision of 100 pieces of classmates and V-Sat-based internet access with generator at Mbaise Secondary School Aboh Mbaise.

The students’ union leaders who also drew attention to the provision of 100 pieces classmate computers and V-Sat-based internet access with generator at Okpala Secondary School and construction and furnishing of youth development centre at Aboh Mbaise, pleaded with Ihedioha to sustain his spirit of generosity and magnanimity which earned him the award for the betterment of mankind.

February 6, 2014
Fresh hurdle for Imo flood victims

Not again! That has been the general cry of residents of coastline communities in Imo State as they face another threat of ocean surge.

Nearly two years after the devastating flood that swept across many states in the country, victims of the disaster in the state are still grappling with its challenges.

But to worsen their ordeal, there are fresh concerns that what happened before could happen again if nothing urgent is done to avert it.

Although the state government has consistently claimed to have put palliative measures in place to cushion the effects of the flood, the victims are still battling to pick up the fragments of their lives after losing everything to the rampaging flood.

Some of the villages along the popular Oguta Lake in Oguta Local Government Area are in imminent danger as it gradually overflows its bank. The lake was once a tourist attraction, but now the residents view it as a potential source of anguish.

Recall that the entire riverside communities of Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta local government areas were submerged by last year’s flood disaster which washed away their homes and farmlands.

Findings revealed that the flood victims who had earlier returned to their dilapidated homes are currently experiencing fresh challenges as the water has risen to an alarming level and may flood the communities any moment.

One of the victims, Nze Mathias Ahanna, who spoke with our reporter, lamented, saying: “We are yet to recover from last year’s disaster and it is obvious that we may suffer the same fate again this year. We don’t have any other place to go to. We will continue to wait until something is done to assist us.”

The father of eight, who lost his house and crops in last year’s disaster, decried what he called government’s indifference to the plight of the victims.

He said: “During last year’s flood disaster, it was turned into a political affair where politicians fought to outwit one another in scoring political points with the misfortunes of the people. They abandoned them thereafter.”

He noted that the state government did not put anything in place to check a re-occurrence even after collecting the intervention fund from the Federal Government.

“Our major problem now is that we don’t know where to relocate to,”Ahanna said. “We have raised the alarm several times but no response has come from any quarters.”

Also bemoaning the situation, a petty trader, Mrs. Carolina Azubuike, a widow, said, “After we lost our means of livelihood, we were given paltry sums of money. Now we are experiencing another challenge.

“We are appealing to the state and Federal Government to come to our aid. It is even necessary that they should dredge the lake or construct embankment along the bank of the river to stop it from running over the communities.”

She noted that the relevant authorities had enough time and warning to have swung into action to forestall a re-occurrence of the flood disaster. Rather, they preferred to wait for the disaster to happen.

She said: “This case is unlike when the flood occurred without prior warning. But even at that, the government has remained adamant to our complaints.”

Meanwhile, controversy has continued to trail the disbursement of the N400 million Federal Government’s intervention fund for victims in the state. While the communities accuse the state government of misappropriating the funds, government agencies have continued to insist that the fund was put to use in the best and overall interest of the victims.

The coastline communities in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta local government areas which were areas affected by the flood disaster, accused the Imo State Flood Relief Management Committee of diverting the intervention fund to personal purposes after disbursing a paltry N67 million.

Speaking on behalf of the victims from Oguta council area, a community leader, Mr. Ozor Chimuanya disclosed that the committee set up by the state government to manage the fund, did not consult with the affected communities to find out how best to assist in cushioning the effects of the flood.

He observed that one year after the flood devastation that rendered most of the people homeless, with their means of livelihood submerged, “the government is yet to come up with a comprehensive action plan that will address the immediate challenges or proactive measures to forestall a possible re-occurrence.”

The embittered community leader also lamented that the little money released to the communities through government officials have torn the communities apart. “Some of the communities, as we speak, are at war over how to share the little money given to them. The aides of senior government officials in whose names the cheques were issued have insisted on taking a certain percentage from the money. This is not what the money was meant for.”

Giving a detailed account of how the money was disbursed in Oguta Local Government Area, Chimuanya listed the benefitting communities to include: Mgbele (N2m), Osuobodo (N3m), Oguta (5m), Osemoto (N2m), Eziogu (N3m) and Egwe (N3m).

Others are Egbuoma (N3m), Mkpesi (N2m) while Mmekuku got N2 million.

Corroborating Chimuanya’s claims, former chairman of Oguta Local Government Area, Hon. Emma Mazi, added said: “The money, as we were told, was meant to alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims. But the Imo State government diverted it to other uses which have not reflected on the well-being of the suffering victims.”

Mazi noted that the proposal by the government to build town halls in the communities was not only amusing but a deliberate misuse of public funds. “How can they build town halls in the communities? How does that assist the flood victims? In all these communities, there are existing town halls. For instance, in Oguta community, we have two town halls already,” he said.

However, the Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Obi Njoku, had dismissed the allegations as unfounded and frivolous.

He said: “Every kobo of the intervention fund is accounted for. Apart from the N67 million earlier disbursed to the affected communities, which we are monitoring, the state government is currently building farm settlements in the 16 communities at the cost of N25 million each. This will serve as rehabilitation centres.”

He further explained that before the receipt of the intervention fund, the state government had swung into action to assist the victims by resettling them and providing relief materials running into several millions of Naira. These included medications and food items.

“The state government augmented the intervention fund with about N129 million. That is why we are able to build the farm settlements which will be delivered soon. I think the cause of these controversies is our blunt refusal to hand over the fund to certain individuals in these communities who had thought it was another windfall.

“Our insistence that the money will be invested in the welfare of the victims did not go down well with some people, especially the community heads who are bent on appropriating the funds without giving the flood victims priority in their sharing plan,” he stated.

However, when our correspondent visited one of the temporary camps in Oguta, the victims had deserted the decrepit camp as many of them were said to be forced out by poor living conditions occasioned by negligence by government.

A victim, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that, “we were exposed to all forms of danger in that camp and the government abandoned us immediately they resettled us there. So, we were left with no alternative than to leave the place and continue with our lives.”

But the chairman of the committee debunked the claim, explaining that “we provided medication, feeding and clothing for all the victims at the various camps. But you know our people; they are not used to staying in one place and waiting for help. So, they moved away voluntarily to join their kinsmen rather than be seen as refugees.”

January 30, 2014
Okorocha to inaugurate market

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha said the Obowo Modern Market would soon be inaugurated, even as he promised that it would boast all necessary facilities.

Governor Okorocha stated this while inspecting the extent of work in the market.

The governor pointed out that the market was built as part of government’s efforts to provide succour for Imo traders displaced at Umuahia as well as open up Obowo towards becoming a commercial city.

He assured that access roads and other facilities such as parking lots, toilets, water, street lights and security would be provided to bring the market to an international standard. He appealed to them to make good use of the facilities.

Governor Okorocha further reminded the traders of the need to keep a clean and healthy environment, warning against dumping of refuse into the Imo River to avoid water pollution.

He re-affirmed his administration’s determination to restore hope in Imo people. He urged the traders to support government’s policies and programmes as well as to embrace the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party that would engender the needed change which would give Ndigbo recognition in the country.

He commended the efforts made by the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu; the Commissioner for Works, Ichie Best Mbanaso; the Commissioner for Finance, Deacon Chike Okafor and the traditional rulers in the area in ensuring that the project became a reality.

January 30, 2014
Elechi’s wife intensifies women’s health campaign

The started with Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and has now incorporated uterine prolapse.

Mrs Josephine Elechi knows exactly how to support her husband Governor Martins Elechi in improving the quality of life for Ebonyi State residents.

In 2007 she established a centre where women would be treated for VVF, a disease that leaves women unable to control the frequent discharge of urine. The scourge afflicts women of various ages and is reported in the North as well as South, though more prevalent in the former.

Various factors account for the disease, including undue foetal weight on the bladder of young expectant mothers. VVF also results in victims of violent rape, as it does in women who undergo protracted labour. Doctors say VVF has a profound effect on the health and emotional well-being of patients.

Figures released by the National Demographic Health Survey say that as many as 12,000 women develop VVF every year in Nigeria, and that women in the city are affected just as those in remote places are also patients. VVF cases may occur in villages without health facilities and good roads, making prompt medical attention difficult during complicated childbirth.

Mrs Elechi set up a VVF Centre to tackle the scourge in Ebonyi free of charge, but soon it became imperative to also focus attention on uterine prolapse, another condition in which the uterus drops into, or protrudes out of, the vagina.

Mrs Elechi who chairs the National Fistula Working Group, said that she started the Centre in 2007 as part of her pet project, naming it the Mother and Child Care Initiative (MCCI). She said the Centre targeted drastically reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity in the state

All the services of the Centre are free of charge.

In 2012, the centre started treating women for uterine prolapse. Dr Sunday Oduoye, Medical Director of the Centre explained that uterine prolapse focus became necessary at the centre even though it was opened mainly for treatment of women suffering from VVF.

Oduoye said: “Uterine prolapse is a condition in which a woman’s uterus (womb) sags or slips out of its normal position. The uterus may slip enough that it drops partway into the vagina (birth canal), creating a lump or bulge”.

He attributed the hospital’s treatment of the disease to Mrs Elechi’s compassion, generosity and burning desire to uplift women.

“In 2008 when Her Excellency was going round communities in the state to find out women suffering from VVF, it was discovered that many of those who turned out rather had the uterine prolapse”

Mrs Elechi who was saddened at the plight of the women, took pity on them and decided to foot the bill for their treatment at the hospital. But the Centre had before then concluded arrangements to treat those with the VVF, so could not attend to their plight immediately but promised to address their situation later.

“Due to the support and encouragement of the governor’s wife, the centre was encouraged to begin treatment for the uterine prolapse women early in 2012 and in the first batch, 65 women were treated,” said Dr Oduoye,

Dr Oduoye spoke at a recent discharge of yet another set of 66 Uterine Prolapse patients who were successfully treated at the Centre.

This brings the total of successfully treated uterine prolapse clients from various states of the country in the past two years to 403.

The feat, Oduoye noted, was achieved with the support of Wife of Mrs Elechi who founded the centre to cater principally for VVF patients before it was taken over by the federal government in 2011.

He also revealed that the Centre has also treated 1800 VVF patients, screened over 8000 women for breast and cervical cancer, which he said is the highest record by a single government health institution in the country.

The MD commended the governor’s wife for the financial support despite the fact that the centre which she founded is now a federal government establishment.

The centre, he revealed, is poised to commence in-vitro-fertilisation treatment for women from first quarter of this year with the acquisition of state-of-the-art IVF equipment.

“Without her support we won’t have recorded these successes. The centre has already procured equipments for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment and will start treatment for IVF by first quarter of 2014,” Oduoye said.

Mrs Elechi was made the chairman of the Centre’s Governing Board after the Federal government converted it to a national VVF centre of Excellence, where doctors are trained in the treatment of uterine prolapse and VVF.

The women narrated how they were treated at no cost, fed and clothed by the Centre. They thanked God and prayed for the governor’s wife.

Some of them spoke about their relief. Mrs Veronica Agubata from Nkalagu Ishielu Local Government Area; Ama Loveth from Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area and Nkwuda Beatrice from Ikwo Local Government Area, all went down memory lane to relive their initial ordeal before help came.

They added that but for the governor’s wife’s intervention, they would still be in pain as they would not have footed the bill on their own.

In her address, Mrs Elechi called for more assistance from development partners in order to be able to treat other women with the disease. She said more than 500 women have been registered at the centre and are on the waiting list for treatment.

Mrs Elechi also advised pregnant women to register at government approved hospitals for ante natal care and delivery and shun patronising quacks and traditional birth attendants to avoid complications that could lead to the disease.

She also cautioned the women to strictly adhere to the instructions of the doctors not to have sex for the next six months and to access medical services in genuine hospitals, not local birth attendants, for child delivery.

The governor’s wife told them to report to the wives of their local government chairmen or coordinators of Development Centres whenever they unable to access good healthcare services.

“If you can’t get to them, come to me,” she said. “A few days back, two women came to me and said they didn’t have money to pay for hospital bills after delivery. We sent people to investigate and after we found out that it was true, we paid their bills and they were discharged.”

The governor’s wife decried the high level of gender-based violence being meted out to women in the society.

“The worst kind of this gender-based violence is suffered by VVF and uterine prolapse victims as a result of ostracisation by relations, the community and larger society due to no fault of theirs,” she said.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Sunday Nwagele said that Mrs Elechi has attracted many development partners including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department for International Development (DFID) to the state who have keyed into her project because of her judicious use of funds given to her to help the women and children in the state.

He gave kudos to the Governor Elechi-led government for the giant strides in the health sector which include a drastic reduction in the number of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity in the state, eradication of polio and guinea worm, grants to six missionary hospitals in the state and regular immunisation in the state, amongst others.

“Mrs Elechi is god-sent as so many people who, hitherto, were suffering from various sicknesses and conditions have been treated and are now full of life” said Mrs Chinyere Nwanioke, Chairman, Onicha Local Government Area.

Despite, the governor’s wife’s efforts, the number of women with VVF and Uterine Prolapse seems to be rising rather than reducing.

Health experts blame this on the nonchalant attitude of government at all levels to the problem.

Huge amounts of money were budgeted for VVF by the federal government in the 2013 budget with President Goodluck Jonathan promising that one-third of the cases would be repaired in 2013, but there is no proof that the target was met.

The United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA), says an estimated 2 to 3 million women and girls are living with fistula in Nigeria and other developing countries.

The agency has pledged more support to Mrs Elechi in her fight against the disease as well as her efforts to improve the lot of women in the state and the entire country.

The Country Representative of UNFPA, Mme Victoria Akyeampong stated recently in Abakaliki when she visited the Mrs Elechi.

Mme Victoria Akyeampong who expressed delight at the giant strides and achievements recorded courtesy of the partnership existing between UNFPA and other donor agencies and the Ebonyi Governor’s wife, which she said has caught the attention of the global community.

She said, “Obstetrics fistula is a highly neglected health and human rights tragedy. An estimated 2 to 3 million women and girls are living with fistular in developing countries even when the condition is virtually unheard of in developed countries”.

“The prevalence of fistula therefore is an indication of underlying socio-economic factors such as gender inequality and poverty. To end fistula we need to work collectively to provide access to reproductive health services, eliminate gender based social and economic inequalities, prevent child marriage and early child bearing and keep our young girls in school”.

Mrs Elechi while receiving members of the Good Governance Tour team led by Information Minister, Mr Labaran Maku last year lamented that shortage of funds has prevented her from rendering more assistance to women from various states of the federation and therefore solicited the assistance of the Federal government in this regard.

She said, “When I started this programme I never knew I would have so many women coming out to this place for treatment. They did not come from Ebonyi alone but from other states of the country. That was why I cried out to the federal government and luckily for me they took it over through the ministry of health”.

“I have tried to access other states because my vision is that what is happening in Ebonyi should also happen in other states but it has not been possible to achieve that. So I want the federal Government to take into consideration the women at the grassroots level because these women are very poor and cannot do anything about their health issues that is why I am treating them free of cost”.

“We have women with uterine prolapsed; I have been treating women from Ebonyi but there are women from other states that came for treatment but I couldn’t treat them because I don’t have enough money to do so. Each time I remember them I feel like crying”.

January 30, 2014