The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • A boost for tourism as hotel opens in Anambra

    Barely three months into operation, Golden Tulip Hotel and Resort, Agulu Lake, is a new hotel located in the serene community of Agulu near Awka, the Anambra State capital, fast changing the hospitality landscape.

    General Manager, Golden Tulip Hotel and Resort, Agulu Lake, Mr. James Ochei said that the coming of Golden Tulip to Agulu Lake has opened a new vista of hospital business in the state, especially for the classic customers with taste and love for nature.

    He stated that offering professional service and creating relationship that people cannot do without are part of the uniqueness of Golden Tulip. He noted that since the hotel opened last October, business has been on the rise, adding that the 81 rooms in the hotel have been fully booked till January ending.

    “When you talk of Golden Tulip, you talk of professionalism. Again, the local cuisine will offer is backed by flexibility and that makes us unique. Golden Tulip provides serenity for its clients who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city.

    This hotel is a big money venture. But, so far business is not a challenge but the sustenance of it that matters.  Already we are in talk with major corporate bodies in telecommunication, oil and gas and manufacturing as part of our marketing strategies,” he said.

    Mr. Ochei who has worked at other major hotels in Port Harcourt and Abuja, noted that hospitality business is about relationship, which at times can be spiritual. To him, position holds by a staff does not matter but his readiness to offer personalised service to clients, which creates bond between the hotel and its customers.

    The Human Resources Manager of the hotel, Mr. Oha Ernest Uchenna, allayed fears of Anambra State government interfering in operation of the hotel saying that ‘the Memorandum of Understanding between the state and Golden Tulip (operators of the hotel) is well spelt out and every party will follow its path. He added that government will not interfere in the operation of the hotel, instead it is the return on investment that they will be interested in.

    Mr. Uchenna disclosed that apart from the state of the art facilities in the 81 rooms, one presidential suite, 16 executive suites, the gym, 19 holes golf course and the swimming pool, the hotel has experienced manpower. Of these workers, he said a greater percentage is drawn from the local government area as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the host community.  ”Golden Tulip spent first one month on retraining of the staff to conform to its global standard. And it is a continuous exercise,” Uchenna added.

    Golden Tulip Hotel and Resort Agulu Lake is owned by Anambra State government and managed by Golden Tulip. Its formal opening will hold in January 2019.

  • Alake, Egba monarch’s honorary doctorate thrills Ebonyi

    The conferment of an honorary doctorate on the Alake of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo by the Alex Ekwueme University Ndufu Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State added colour and impact to the event, reports OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE

    It was not just another convocation ceremony. A king was involved in it.

    And it was not just another king. It was the Alake of Egbaland, HRM Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV.

    The third convocation ceremony of the Alex Ekwueme University Ndufu Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State was a special event

    It held on December 18 amid much fanfare that reverberated through the state.

    Unlike the two previous ceremonies which held at the institution’s temporary site ceremonial ground, this year’s edition was held at the ultra-modern Convocation Arena constructed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba.

    Indeed the university has recorded many landmark achievements since the coming of Prof Nwajiuba and another was added to the long list on the day with the award of the institution’s first and second honorary degrees.

    The first was awarded deservedly to the institution’s Chancellor and a first-class traditional monarch in the country, the Alake.

    Speaking on why the institution conferred the awarded to the Oba, the institution’s orator, Dr John Otu while reading the citation of the Oba, said the Alaka’s reign as the paramount ruler of Egbaland has been characterised by peace and prosperity for his subjects.

    As the Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland and Chairman of Ogun State Council of Obas, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo has undertaken numerous projects to uplift the people of Egbaland which include Egbadotun Poverty Alleviation Fund; upgrading to world standard the annual Lisabi Festival; modernisation of the Ake Palalce and provision of sports facilities including squash court.

    “He has also created awareness for the underprivileged in the society, children with special needs and improvement of leper’s colonies”, the University said.

    Conferring the title on the Oba, visitor to the institution, President Muhammadu Buhari represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, NUC, Victor Onuoha said the award was a well-deserved one.The President urged the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU to suspend its ongoing strike in the interest of the country.

    The President said his administration appreciates the importance of education in the nation’s march to economic prosperity.

    According to him, education will continue to receive its deserved attention from government in the budget and through other interventions like TETFUND despite other competing national needs and dwindling resources.

    “These may not even be adequate but I assure that government will never waver in its commitment to the sector and will continue to do the needful’

    “Consequently, I ask the Academic Staff Union of Universities to suspend its ongoing industrial action in the overall interest of the country”, he said.

    The President also congratulated the university and felicitated with the graduating students for completing their university education. While urging the graduates to be good ambassadors of the institution, he said, “These fresh minds represent our hope for a better future as they are expected to invest their time and intellectual resources in the development of our nation and the world at large.

    “The Federal Government of Nigeria is determined to provide the requisite environment for teaching and learning in the university system. This result is one of the reasons for the energising education programme we have started and the Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, is one the nine beneficiaries in the first phase.

    “Universities have critical roles to play in nation building. They must justify this through excellent, innovative ideas and empowering the youth with right mental attitude, functional knowledge and saleable skills to be globally competitive and develop our nation.

    “Nigerian universities should ensure that students are provided with capacities to discover their innate qualities and use same to impact positively on the global economy,” he added.

    Speaking after the conferment of the Honourary Degree on him, Ìbá Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, appreciated the institution for the award on him and promised to continue supporting the institution to greater heights.

    He dedicated the award to the government and people of Ogun state who he noted have been of great assistance to him since he ascended the throne.

    The Alake of Egbaland used the opportunity to call for the completion of some abandoned projects in the school by the NUC and Federal Ministry of Education.

    “Despite its developmental strides, the university is still confronted with some challenges ranging from non-completion of projects started in 2012 when it started academic activities and the pressing need to compensate the owners of the land where the university was built to ensure lasting peace with its host community”

    The Yoruba monarch pledged the sum of N5m as endowment fund.

    “We will continue to add more money to the fund in the years to sutain the fund so that it will assist the university produce more quality graduates that will help to develop the country”, he said

    The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba said the graduating students were 355.

    “Of these 355 graduating students, 15 of them emerged with first class honours, 188 with second class honours, 145 with second class honours lower division and 7 with third class”, he said.

    The VC expressed regret at the destruction of school properties by some of the land owners who are still leaving within the campus which he noted is hampering the development of the institution.

    “Our faculty of Agriculture has suffered frequent a wanton destruction of its crops on farms used for teaching and research. Contactors working on roads and buildings have also faced resistance”, he lamented

    “We are pleading that this responsibility of resettling the residents be discharged with dispatch”, the VC said.

    For the first time in the history of our young institution we shall be awarding twp honorary doctoral degrees. The Senate of our university resolved to honour our Chancellor HRM Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland and Professor Ihechukwu Madubuike.

    There were also award of prices to best graduating students in various faculties and overall graduating student.

    The epoch making event was attended by the Wife of the Oba, Olori Dr (Mrs) T. Gbadebo and members of the Oba’s council of Chiefs including Barr Lilian Omotunde.

  • A season of mystery of love

    The Catholic Bishop of Enugu, Bishop Callistus Onaga has described Christmas as a feast that celebrates the incarnation of the fullness of God’s unfailing love for mankind.

    The Bishop said the birth of Jesus is the greatest work or act of God because it was the manifestation of the supreme love of God for us.

    Bishop Onaga, in an interaction with select journalists for his Christmas message, said: “The salvation, the sanctification and the eternal happiness of the whole human race depend totally upon the Incarnation of the Word. That is, Jesus, the Word, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, made flesh, is the one source of our salvation, of our sanctification, of our hope of eternal life with God.

    “Without Jesus we would not be able to call God, “Our Father!” We could not love God in a fitting manner as his children. Saint John, the beloved Apostle, reminds us that, because of Jesus, we are to “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so indeed we are” (1 John 3.1). The great preacher, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, said:

    I think God must have said to Himself: Man does not love Me because He does not see Me; I will show Myself to him and thus make him love Me. God’s love for man was very great, and had been great from all eternity, but this love had not yet become visible … Then, it really appeared; the Son of God let Himself be seen as a tiny Baby in a stable, lying on a little straw.

    God, in his love and mercy, sent his Son, Jesus, as an absolutely free gift to make salvation possible for humanity. John 3:16 reads: “For God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son that whoever believes in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.

    “The absolute giftedness of God is always meant to be a model for us humans. Therefore, Christmas is meant to be a model par excellence of the human disposition towards life.

    Thus, rejoicing in the love of God that characterises Christmas, we must try our best to share the love of Jesus with the world, to make ourselves, our families and society fully alive in love. Filled with God’s love, we should explore new and life-giving ways to share the gift of Jesus with others. Little wonder Christmas has remained a special time for “giving” and “receiving”, resulting in the notion of gift-exchange: we receive love, we must give love. The Magi greeted the infant Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

    “This Christmas, let us make the gift of ourselves in love. We do this by dealing with one another in love and charity, embracing civility and not letting our differences hide the dignity and beauty God has given each of us as his children. And when we share God’s love with others, we are able to reflect in faith and in our social interactions, a more wholesome understanding of the reason for Christ’s coming into the world.

    Therefore, in the light of all that our loving God has done for us, Christmas challenges every Christian, every person of good will, to show love to all; to cultivate a ‘civilisation of love’ to the advancement of humanity, to the growth of families and homes, to nation building, and to the growth of God’s kingdom on earth. Love must be present in and permeate every social relationship.  I believe that adopting a love-centred Christmas disposition can be the answer to the many challenges and problems which plague our world today.

    “The coming of Christ brought new hope to fallen humanity. And so, Christmas is also a celebration of Christ our hope, our hope of survival in this world and the next. He is the prophet whose presence gives us hope and vision to lead our lives with great joy and confidence in the midst of the difficulties of life.

    Our hope in Christ generates the confidence of possibility of overcoming evil and attaining good, of building a better world. Christmas calls us once again to focus on the spring of hope, when the birth of the Child Jesus assures us of the triumph of light over darkness, of God’s righteousness over human sinfulness, and of the healing power of God over the brokenness of our lives.

    As Nigerians, our celebrations this year take place against the background of a seemingly hopeless condition:

    “Fear, instability and following lack of peace and security in Nigeria: insurgency and banditry in the North, widespread kidnapping, ritual killings, cultism, and armed robbery in the South, and, across the country, heightened national tensions as a result of the forthcoming 2019 General Elections. Our hearts go out to all the victims of violence and mayhem in the land.

    Notwithstanding the recent state of emergency declared in the education sector, our universities (nay ASUU) are currently on strike; the polytechnics (nay ASUP) have issued their own ultimatum to join soon. The scandal of sex-for-marks in our tertiary institutions is on the rise.

    “A number of our health institutions are also on strike, coupled with their lack of equipment.

    Nigeria was recently dubbed the “poverty capital of the world” due to the dehumanizing and unenviable level of poverty, unemployment, and high rate of inflation in the land.

    The Government and Labour Unions are still having it tough over the proposed new minimum wage.

    “Just recently, with the Yuletide around the comer, the oil marketers threatened to go on strike if the Federal Government fails in seven days to pay them in cash the accumulated debts of over 800 billion naira.

    “Virtually all of the above problems are occasioned by bad governance and primitive embezzlement of public funds by corrupt political office holders. My message to all Nigerians, therefore, is that corruption, whether by leaders or the led and no matter where it occurs, is evil and its practice will not fulfil our hope for a bright future; it cannot engender peace, unity and progress in Nigeria. We should therefore repent and put an end to all that hold us down by acting with integrity in all our endeavours. Let us all try to correct our sinful ways so that we can enjoy the love, peace, and hope that the Child Jesus brings to us at Christmas.”

  • Igwe-elect builds cottage hospital in Enugu community

    The newly elected traditional ruler of Ogbogidi/Ozara in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, High Chief Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu is building a 20-bed cottage hospital for his community.

    Asadu until his elevation to the traditional stool was a nurse in Dallas Texas for over 24 years before the community bestowed on him the traditional authority of Ogbogidi/Ozara autonomous community.

    Laying the foundation stone of the hospital in the community, the chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area Chief Patrick Omeje represented by Mr. Chinedu Aniche administrator Nsukka West Development centre said that the cottage hospital embarked by the Igwe-elect of Ogbogidi/Ozara community was a restoration of human dignity, adding that sacred human life is centred on healthy situation and environment.

    Omeje said that the cottage hospital will be of immense assistance to the community and beyond, noting that the singular act of the traditional ruler elect was to complement the state governor, Ifeannyi Ugwuanyi’s developmental strides across the three geo-political zones of the state.

    “For a traditional ruler-elect to embark on a hospital project for his community to ameliorate health challenges shows commitment and care for the community. The project will save the cost travelling long distances for medical attention. Communities in the state should not wait for government to do everything for them. This was the reason why High Chief Asadu embarked on the cottage hospital to augment the state government efforts in the communities.

    “Recently the state government disbursed N5 million to every community in the state to embark on any project of their choice to bring governance closer to the grass root. The new autonomous communities are yet to benefit from the state government gesture while High Chief Asadu did not wait for the state government gesture and took the bull by the horn erecting 20-bed space cottage hospital for his community,” he noted.

    Omeje called on donor agencies, philanthropists, and NGOs, among others, to emulate the kind gesture of Asadu and embark on any project in their various communities and change the type face of the community to assist government efforts on infrastructural development Speaking at the occasion, the donor said the project ýwas a divine call from God to put a permanent structure for the community than the annual merriment of food, drinks and gift items.

    The traditional ruler-elect said that the hospital project was part of the burning desire in him to tackle the health challenges in the community and beyond, explaining that it was not

    healthy for pregnant women and sick ones of the community to travel long distances for medical attention as he can afford to build a cottage hospital for the community.

    Asadu explained that he was mostly touched to embark on ýthe cottage hospital having paid hospital bills for people of the community for over 20 years, adding that the cottage hospital when completed hopefully on or before August 2019 will be free medical services to the community.

    The traditional ruler elect noted that he would employ and pay both ýdoctors and nurses, equip the hospital with drugs at all times to ensure that nothing lacks for the health of people of the community.

    He said that the hospital was meant to contain 14 beds for adults and six beds for children with pharmacy department and outpatient bay, pointing out that Ogbogidi/Ozara community raised him and it is time to give back to the community what it bestowed on him.

    Asadu said that the community meant a lot to him as he provided electricity, water and just recently built a bungalow for indigent widow of the community, adding that people should not wait for government to do everything. Philanthropists have to play a role in development.

    “It is better for me to die in charity than having fat bank accounts while people wallow in abject poverty and penury. I will not pack money for my children in banks, they have to make their own money and perform more than me. If I am installed by the state government it will give me more access to issues of the community than calling on government assistance. I made my money in nursing and know what it is for people to be healthy,’’ he said.

    Also speaking Nsukka local government supervisory councillor for health, Hon. Florence Chinonye Ugwu expressed gratitude for singular gesture of the Igwe elect embarking on 20 bed cottage ýhospital for Ogbogidi/Ozara community which remains second to none in the history of the entire Edem Ani ancient kingdom of Nsukka Local Government extraction and Enugu State in general.

    Ugwu noted that both the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the local government chairman of Nsukka Chief Patrick Omeje have achieved a lot in the health sector on areas of child delivery system, extension of district hospitals in the three geo-political zoes of the state.

    She noted that Chief Omeje recently donated his monthly salary for medical services in the locality, supporting the health sector of the council in immunisations and other health facilities and creating more health centres at various communities in the area.

  • Ndigbo to negotiate with other nationalities

    Ndigbo have said there seems to be a scheme to exclude them from the Nigeria political equation, but they also stressed the need to negotiate with other interest groups, ethnic nationalities to create an enabling political structure, if they will remain relevant in the country.

    The group made the submission at the Igbo National Stakeholders Assembly (INSA) Summit and Prestigious Awards 2018 in Lagos with the theme, “Ositadinma”.

    Chief John Uche, INSA Convener and first president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos, said the time had come for Ndigbo to make conscious effort to ensure that they are not undermined politically.

    He said, “Election is around the corner, a lot of people are jostling for political offices, making coalitions for political relevance. But Ndigbo appear to be complacent about the issue of the moment.

    “We are here to tell them that we have suffered in the last four years and the next four years, we do not want to suffer again. Our businesses collapsed, we were excluded from the scheme of things, no key appointments by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Uche maintained that there would be need for Ndigbo to negotiate their votes, adding that any political party that would ask for the Igbo votes must negotiate with them appropriately, pointing out that the condition would also include assent to call for restructuring Nigeria, even as he agreed that they had not entered into any agreement yet with any political party.

    The keynote speaker Mr James Ezike, a lawyer, who was represented by Okey Onuakalusi, lamented that it was 40 years ago that an Igbo man, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, attained the highest political office of vice president, while further attempt by him (Ekwueme) in 1999 at the Presidency failed because of political conspiracy.

    He said there seemed to be a political conspiracy to exclude an Igbo man in the nation’s political equation, stressing that power is never donated or given, but asserted, adding that if Ndigbo want any political position, they must prepare for it.

    He maintained that the task before Ndigbo would be to raise their political consciousness, where the interest of the people would be promoted above personal and egoistic interest.

    Speaking through the vice president of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Lagos, Vitus Uzoh, the socio-cultural organisation made its position on 2019 election clear, saying that candidates that were not credible should withdraw from the elections.

    It pointed out that the body had been able to sensitise its members adequately on the need for full participation in the elections by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), vote for only credible candidates of their choice, even as it appealed for a peaceful general elections.

  • Anambra doctors to offer free services to rural dwellers

    Over 120 consultants in teaching hospitals in Anambra State have expressed their willingness to offer free medical services to rural dwellers in various communities of the state.

    They said their closeness to the rural communities would reduce the difficulties locals encounter accessing them at the teaching hospitals.

    The Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Dr. Eric Ihekwoaba, in a chat with the Nation, regretted heavy concentration of specialists doctors at the teaching hospitals as against the remote areas of the state.

    He solicited for state government’s partnership and support to ensure the body extended qualitative health care services to many, especially in the rural areas.

    ‘We have high concentration of specialists doctors at the teaching hospitals but in the rural areas, we don’t.

    “We want the government to help us so we give our services at no cost. So far, the cost of the treatment we gave were fully borne by the doctors.

    “It is purely humanitarian and non-governmental. It has no political undertone. We want to give back to society where we are working.

    He said, “Part of the AGM was free medical outreach to remote areas of the state, targeted at reaching out to indigent patients, and those at difficult terrains who cannot reach us at the teaching hospitals.

    “Our target populations are those who have conditions that can be managed. So we have requested that the state government partner with us to ensure sustainability.

    “After treating the patients for the first time, the government can carry on with them through monitoring and follow up.

    “Apart from that, this facility we are using to treat people need to be provided by the government so we can consolidate that with our services.

    “The partnership will also involve structural facilities including provision of accommodation for doctors in such areas to ease their work.

    “As federal workers working in the state, we have to give back to them because they have accommodated us, and if the environment is hostile, we cannot work here.

    Revealing that 2016 edition of the outreach gulped a whopping sum of N5milllion, Ihekwoaba said the association was already spending over N6million in the current edition.

    His words, “What this means is that it will be difficult to carry out the outreach at a regular intervals because of funds.

    “But if government can come in to ameliorate the cost, we can give free medical services at a more regular intervals may be six months or annually.

    “We have more than 120 consultants in the teaching hospitals willing to work than the places we visited.

    “More importantly, some of our resident doctors who are in training also need this avenue to perform surgery unlike when they are in teaching hospitals.

    “It will help our younger doctors to also work in rural area because it is not everyone that will work in town.

    “We need these people more in the rural areas where there are more diseases and people cannot access health care.

    “Everyone has right to receive qualitative health care and that’s what we are doing.”

  • FUTO SSANU protests unpaid allowances

    The Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Monday joined the three-day national protest in line with the directive of the national leadership of the Union.

    The aggrieved Staff, deplored the Federal Government over non-payment of their earned allowances, refusal to abide by the Court ruling which reinstated the Universities schools that were sacked and show of apathy in implementing the Memoranda of Understanding reached with the Union.

    Displaying placards with various inscriptions such as “SSANU says no to injustice on staff issue’’, “FGN must obey Court Order on staff issues and comply’’, “Pay us our earned allowances now FGN”, the protesters noted that “members of the staff domiciled in University Staff schools have been subjected to trauma, insecurity and denials of salaries”, a situation they said the Union cannot continue to accept.

    Addressing journalists, the branch Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Franklin Matthews, said that their protest followed the resolution reached at the National Executive Council 35 meeting held at Enugu State University, which directed all the branch Chairmen to organize a three day national protest across the country.

    He said that the meeting reviewed the various status of the MOUs signed between the Federal Government and the Union in respect to the actualization of the 2009 agreement reached with the Federal Government

    Marthews condemned the continued delay in the payment of the earned allowances to non-teaching staff of universities by the Federal Ministry of Education after an approval has been made following the demand of the template for the payment to the unions

    While describing the letter sent to the unions as a delay tactics by the Federal Ministry of Education, he maintained that the letters are needless “because the unions had always made their positions known since the irregular disbursement of the N23b to ASSU in 2017”.

    The SSANU Chairman regretted that the delay in the payment has become a source of discomfort and embarrassment to members of the Union.

    He condemned the failure of the Federal Government to reinstate their staff who were disengaged despite the ruling by the National Industrial Court on December, 5th 2016

    The branch Treasurer of the union, Comrade Uchenna Nwokeji, in his contribution, lamented the present condition of the affected Staff that are yet to be reinstated by some Universities.

    Decrying the poor state of infrastructures in the Universities, Nwokeji,  called on the Federal Government to monitor how funds allocated to Universities are expended to ensure that the funds are properly utilized.

  • Ojukwu, Mbakwe, Maitama Sule awards enliven Imo

    At a glittering Igbo Day event in Owerri, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Sam Mbakwe and Maitama Sule get the highest honours, reports OKODILI NDIDI

    The late trio Alhaji Maitama Sule, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Dee Sam Onunaka Mbakwe came alive in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The city itself also came alive as it hosted an illustrious gathering on a night of honours for the unforgettable threesome. Their contributions to nation building and humanity still live after them.

    It was a night of mixed feelings at the Ikemba Ojukwu Heroes’ Pavilion, where eminent Nigerians gathered to honour the fallen heroes. With great oratory, speaker after speaker relived the times of these great Nigerians for their different roles in uniting and developing the country.

    They were conferred with posthumous awards at the maiden Imo Merit Award, a colourful event that marked this year’s Igbo Day celebrations.

    The late Maitama Sule was awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of Imo (GCOI) because of his stand against corruption and divisive tendencies. He was lauded at the award ceremony for playing a key role in engendering unity and peaceful coexistence among all Nigerians.

    Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje, who received the award on behalf of the late Sule, said he was a rare politician who put national interest above tribe and religion.

    Ojukwu, the late Biafran warlord, was conferred with the Grand Chancellor of the State of Imo (GCSI) for providing leadership for the Igbo, during and after the civil war.

    Ikemba as he was fondly called remained a strong voice for the Igbo until his death in November 2011. His name invoked emotion as the shouts Ikemba! Ikemba! erupted when it was announced for the honour.

    For Sam Mbakwe, first governor of old Imo State, the award of the Grand Chancellor of the State of Imo (GCSI) was described as deserving. Mbakwe is reputed to have initiated all the major infrastructure and businesses in the state.

    Some of his landmark projects which are still thriving include the famous Concorde Hotel, Imo Palm Plantation, Avutu Poultry, Aboh Mbaise Raising Paint, Textile Industry in Ehime Mbano and the Amaraku Power Plant, among others, were his projects.

    Till today, this record has remained unbeaten and it was not surprising that Dee Mbakwe, as he is fondly called, was conferred with the highest award in the state. It was rather late in coming, though, considering his contributions to the old Imo state.

    The living were not also left out, as array of distinguished personalities including frontline Igbo leader, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Presidents of apex Igbo and Yoruba socio-cultural groups, Ohaneze Ndigbo and Afenifere, Nnia Nwodo and Ayodebanjo, Kano State Governor, Abdulahi Ganduje, Paul Unongo, former President of Ohaneze, Gary Enwo Igariwey and Chief Ndubuisi Kanu, among others who have made significant contributions to the development of the nation.

    In his speech at the event, the State governor, Rochas Okorocha, said the gesture was to remember the sacrifices made by Nigerian heroes who are no more and to show appreciation for what they did.

    He said such Award will spur the living to work harder and contribute to nation building and service to humanity, knowing that their efforts will not go down uncelebrated.

    The governor noted that the State had “chosen to honour some Nigerians who have distinguished themselves both in conduct and in service”.

    According to him, “this night is a night specially mapped out to honour our great leaders from this State and other parts of the country and beyond who have distinguished themselves excellently both in Conduct and in service and in the overall development of our dear State and nation.

    ”We have discovered that the problem with our people is that we are not good with history and the fact that we don’t easily remember the worthwhile developmental strides of our heroes past; we are at a loss in the shortest possible time and tend to forget these great nationals that have brought about our greatness”.

    He continued that, “it is therefore as a result of the foregoing that the Imo State government under law number 18 of the Imo State House of Assembly had passed a law to honour our own and those who have in one form or the other impacted on the lives of the people of this State and beyond”.

    “The Imo State Committee on the Merit Award nomination had carefully selected and eventually came up with the list of Awardees which we have decided to honour tonight”.

    In his response, Chief E.C. Iwuanyanwu said that he was elated by the Award and confessed his indifference to the Rescue Mission Government despite the kind overtures of the administration to him.

    He added that though he has received accolades from both local and international bodies, he cherishes the Imo Award most.

    President-General of Ohaneze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo poured encomiums on Governor Okorocha stating that the Award would prompt him to continue to push further the frontiers in the furtherance of Igbo development.

    He added “I know that someday, someone somewhere will recognize these efforts just like Owelle has done this glorious night. I pray for the coming together of all Igbos so that we will all come to the drawing board to see and correct where we have missed it and to take our rightful place in the comity of this entity Nigeria and the world at large. I commend Owelle Rochas Okorocha for this Award and for single-handedly building a befitting headquarters for Ohaneze Ndigbo in Enugu”.

    Governor Ganduje in his speech said “I hold this Award very precious to my heart. I am not surprised at the Award knowing that Owelle is one of the best detribalized Nigerians that have the heart for the general good of this nation. I commend the contributions of Ndigbo in Kano State and the foundation of the Imo State Governor, Rochas Foundation Colleges that have impacted positively on the lives of numerous Nigerian children from the length and breadth of this Country”.

  • Fed Govt trains 5000 in Anambra

    The Federal Government under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, and National Directorate of Employment (NDE) is training and empowering 5000 unemployed youths and women in Anambra State.

    Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige said under the scheme, the trainees could get loans through the NDE at the Central Bank ranging from N1 million to N10.

    He said the cosmetology training was designed to equip the trainees with skills to produce household products like soap, car wash and disinfectants, among others.

    Addressing the trainees at the Awka South Local Government Area, the Minister said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was laying a foundation for a new Nigeria.

    Ngige said the federal government was prepared to scale down unemployment in the country as soon as possible, adding that the current government does not indulge in noisemaking.”

    The Director General of NDE, Nasiru Mohammed Ladan, said the success of the government’s economy was not determined by the number of skyscrapers people see in the cities, but in the robustness of the rural economy

    This according to him, “when the rural economy thrives, the economy at the center would also be healthy with the prices of goods and services, reducing inflation decreasing and ultimately the negative effects of unemployment and social vices would reduce

    Anambra state Coordinator of NDE, Mr Eke Joseph Iruegbu, said currently, 3000 were being trained, while 1500 had already benefitted

    He said the training was going on simultaneously in seven local government areas in Anambra Central senatorial zone of Awka North, Awka South, Idemili North, Idemili South, Dunukofia Anaocha, among others.

    Ladan and Iruegbu, commended Ngige for sponsoring the programme, which, according to them, has helped in alleviating poverty in the state.

  • Ndigbo to negotiate with other nationalities

    Ndigbo have said there seems to be a scheme to exclude them from the Nigeria political equation, but they also stressed the need to negotiate with other interest groups, ethnic nationalities to create an enabling political structure, if they will remain relevant in the country.

    The group made the submission at the Igbo National Stakeholders Assembly (INSA) Summit and Prestigious Awards 2018 in Lagos with the theme, “Ositadinma”.

    Chief John Uche, INSA Convener and first president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos, said the time had come for Ndigbo to make conscious effort to ensure that they are not undermined politically.

    He said, “Election is around the corner, a lot of people are jostling for political offices, making coalitions for political relevance. But Ndigbo appear to be complacent about the issue of the moment.

    “We are here to tell them that we have suffered in the last four years and the next four years, we do not want to suffer again. Our businesses collapsed, we were excluded from the scheme of things, no key appointments by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Uche maintained that there would be need for Ndigbo to negotiate their votes, adding that any political party that would ask for the Igbo votes must negotiate with them appropriately, pointing out that the condition would also include assent to call for restructuring Nigeria, even as he agreed that they had not entered into any agreement yet with any political party.

    The keynote speaker Mr James Ezike, a lawyer, who was represented by Okey Onuakalusi, lamented that it was 40 years ago that an Igbo man, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, attained the highest political office of vice president, while further attempt by him (Ekwueme) in 1999 at the Presidency failed because of political conspiracy.

    He said there seemed to be a political conspiracy to exclude an Igbo man in the nation’s political equation, stressing that power is never donated or given, but asserted, adding that if Ndigbo want any political position, they must prepare for it.

    He maintained that the task before Ndigbo would be to raise their political consciousness, where the interest of the people would be promoted above personal and egoistic interest.

    Speaking through the vice president of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Lagos, Vitus Uzoh, the socio-cultural organisation made its position on 2019 election clear, saying that candidates that were not credible should withdraw from the elections.

    It pointed out that the body had been able to sensitise its members adequately on the need for full participation in the elections by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), vote for only credible candidates of their choice, even as it appealed for a peaceful general elections.