The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra State

  • Help for the needy in Anambra 

    The Unshakeable Christ the King Church at Umunnoke community in Awka, the Anambra State capital, has fed no fewer than 500 people in need.

    The beneficiaries included widows and orphans and such other people in need.

    The church donated food items, wrappers, cartons of noodles, biscuits, toothpastes, and yoghurts.

    They thanked the head of the church Onyekachi Igali for his gesture, saying it was the first time they would be so cared for in the state

    Pastor Igali said the gesture was done in praise of God.

    The church does not have more than 80 members.

    The attention of passers-by was drawn to the event. One of the recipients of some food items  from Gombe State, Yaya Garba Idris, a physically challenged person, told The Nation that God would bless the pastor and his congregation for remembering the less privileged.

    He said he had been in Anambra State for the past 10 years without such a gesture from any church.

    One of the widows, Nnenna Elia from Ebonyi State, in tears, said she had been in pains without any help since her husband died in 2017, adding that the tears were those of joy.

    She said things had been tough for her and her six children since she lost her husband last year, adding that only God could reward Pastor Igali and his congregation for remembering the needy and the poor.

    A blind man, Augustine Odu, also from Ebonyi, prayed God to shower His blessings on members of the church for their gesture to the needy.

    They were not alone in such prayers, also, Uju Nwalinze, told The Nation that they saw the posters of the church pasted everywhere in the streets and she decided to come and see whether it is real.

    The blind, the deaf and dumb, the lame, widows, orphans and other destitutes were in their numbers during the church service which started at 9am and were all happy

    Majority of such people that trooped to the church to receive such gifts were from Gombe, Kogi, Katsina, Ebonyi, and Bauchi, among other states.

    Some of them beg alms along the dilapidated Onitsha-Enugu Expressway.

  • N/Delta: Ex-agitators rule out creeks as 200 acquire auto skills

    A total of 200 ex-agitators of Niger Delta youths on Thursday, pledged not to go back to the creeks following their training in various trades in Nnewi, Anambra State.

    The youths underwent a 9-month training in automobile, auto-painting, welding, electronics, among others under the federal government Education for Employment programme in collaboration with Innoson Kiara Academy.

    Speaking during their graduation ceremony held at the Innoson premises in Nnewi, one of them, Abraham Peter, thanked the federal government for partly keeping to its promises of equipping them with skills.

    He however called for the completion of the promise by empowering them so they would not contemplate going back to the creeks.

    “Training someone with skills without a corresponding empowerment is like throwing a stone into a river.

    “The skills we’ve acquired will only be useful if the government empowers us financially so we will not be tempted to go back to the creeks,” he said.

    Another beneficiary, Gbalubi David, said the training would not only enable him start his own business, but train other unemployed youths.

    He however advocated for extension of the training period, saying the nine months duration was inadequate in view of the volume of the training packages.

    Earlier, the CEO, Innoson Kiara Academy, Mr. Endi Ezengwa, said the Innoson Kiara in partnership with the Presidential Amnesty Office, had trained over 600 ex-agitators since three years of its commencement.

    He said the trainees had undergone examination by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) to give the exercise national credibility.

    Describing Innoson factory as unique, Ezengwa said the peculiarity of the environment provides the trainees with both skills and entrepreneurial spirit to compete favorably with their contemporaries.

    He assured the graduants of federal government’s assistance towards their establishment, even as he canvassed for federal and state governments’ patronage to ensure the market’s steady relevance.

  • Anambra hall of fame award not for deceptive politicians

    Anambra State Commissioner for Youths Empowerment and Creative Economy, Bonaventure Enemali, on Wednesday, said the Anambra hall of fame award was not for individuals with deceptive political motives.

    He said the persons qualified for the award were those who carried out impactful projects in the state driven by charity.

    Addressing newsmen in Awka, ahead of the award ceremony, Enemali said the event, the first of its kind, was to showcase the works of philanthropist in the state.

    “We decided to identify and commend individuals and corporate organizations who have contributed immensely to the development of their various communities through their philanthropy,” he said.

    He said a total of 30 persons were selected from over 1500 nominations after a thorough screening exercise based on verifiable track records of philanthropic services to humanity.

    “Those who were selected for the award are those who have been carrying out one project or another for a long period of time without expecting anything in return.

    Read Also: Suspected assassins shoot Anambra pastor

    “Some people are into philanthropy because of the intention to contest for a political position. We see those activities as deceptive and not charity.

    “If you do something and expect returns, you’re just doing business. Charity is not something done on investment returns,” Enemali stressed.

    The commissioner further hinted that the ministry would seize the opportunity to appeal to the beneficiaries to equip the innovation hall where youths in the state were being empowered in various skills.

  • NYSC: No lost items recorded in Anambra camp – Coordinator

    The Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra State, Kehinde Aremu has commended the Batch B stream II corps members posted to the state for their integrity and honest disposition.

    Aremu gave the commendation on Saturday during an official visit of the Director General of the scheme to the orientation camp in Umunya, said such virtues had further boosted the curriculum of the orientation course.

    He said all the items so far misplaced at the camp, including phones and money had been recovered and returned, a development he said, was a sign that the corps members could be trusted.

    “There is something unique about these crop of corps members which have given me more confidence about the curriculum of the orientation course.

    “Every lost or misplaced phone and money on this camp has been recovered. We don’t have any lost items on this camp.

    “This may sound little, but one thing it has shown is that these corps members can be trusted. It also shows that they are imbibing the teachings being impacted on them.

    “Being the future leaders of this country, I can proudly say that if we continue to raise corps members that are honest as these ones, Nigeria is destined for greatness,” he explained.

    The Coordinator also expressed joy at the level of patriotism and integration visible among the combined corps members from Anambra and Enugu states carrying out the three-week exercise in the state.

    He said, “most often, we don’t even remember we have corps members outside Anambra with us. They’ve so much integrated that there will be weeping on the day we’re departing from this camp.

    The NYSC Director General, Brig. Gen. Sule Kazaure stressed the need for corps members to be security conscious and be good ambassadors of the scheme by conducting themselves properly.

    He appreciated the governor of the state, Willie Obiano for the donation of an office complex to the scheme in the state , saying the gesture would further boost the morale of the officers of the scheme.

  • Fire razes family apartment days to mum’s burial

    Property worth millions of naira were on Saturday, reportedly lost to an inferno that gutted a bungalow in Agbana community, Umuawulu in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra state.

    The disaster was said to have left family members in agony as they were planning the burial of their late mother when it happened.

    Speaking to newsmen at the scene of the incident, the victims, Anthonia Nwoye and Cyril Nweke, attributed the cause of the incident to high voltage.

    “We suspect that the fire was caused by high voltage because it suddenly sparked off shortly after the EEDC restored power,” Nweke said.

    He said the building was recently renovated for the upcoming burial ceremony, appealing for urgent support from relevant authorities and spirited Nigerians.

    Read Also: Phones can transmit virus, germs, expert warns

    Reacting, the traditional ruler of Umuawulu, Igwe Joel Egwuonwu, thanked God that no life was lost to the inferno.

    He however regretted that the fire destroyed the family’s hope of livelihood, saying their documents, life time investment were lost to the inferno.

    When contacted, the Director of State Fire Service, Mr. Martin Agbili who sympathized with the victims over the incident, underscored the need for residents to always be at alert to fire incidences.

  • Technovation: Air Peace rewards victorious Anambra students

    Air Peace has congratulated five Anambra State students and their teachers on emerging victorious in the recent Technology challenge held in the United States, honouring them with free return Owerri-Abuja tickets to facilitate their visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

    The five Anambra students from Regina Pacies Secondary School, Onitsha represented Nigeria and Africa at the World Technovation Challenge in the Silicon Valley in San Francisco, United States and defeated Spain, USA, Turkey, Uzbekistan and China to lift the gold medal in the contest.

    They were billed for a reception by the Federal Government at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday in company with Miracle Igboke, their mentor and Chief Executive Officer of Edufun Technik STEM, Uchenna Onwuamaegbu Ugwu and principal, Rev. Fr Vincent Ezeaka.

    The girls won the technology contest with the mobile application innovation, FD-Detector they developed to assist in checking fake pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.

    A statement signed by Air Peace Corporate Communications Manager, Mr. Chris Iwarah said the carrier was proud of the schoolgirls’ rare feat.

    Read Also: Air Peace launches Kaduna service

    The development, Air Peace insisted, was proof that its effort to develop engineering capacity in Nigeria’s aviation industry was not a misplaced venture.

    “We are very proud of the feat of these young girls from Nigeria. At Air Peace, we believe that given the right environment and encouragement Nigerians will excel in all their undertakings. These girls have proved beyond a doubt that Nigerians possess everything it takes to rank among the best in the world.

    “This is the motivation for the huge investment Air Peace has continued to make in the training of young Nigerians in aviation engineering. We will continue to recognise, encourage and reward excellence,” the airline said.

     

  • Kerosene explosion burns two siblings in Anambra

    Two girls from the same parents reportedly sustained severe injuries in a kerosene explosion in Ogbunike, Oyi local government area of Anambra State.

    The victims, Chinenye Ezeh (16) and Kamsi Ezeh (8) were said to have been involved in the inferno following power outage in the area.

    A neighbor who preferred anonymity, said Kamsi had brought a kerosene container to her elder sister, Chinenye to fill a lantern.

    He however said the sister did not put out the lantern fire while pouring the kerosene into the lantern.

    Read Also: Anambra community gets monarch after 34 years

    “The lantern suddenly exploded, leaving both of them with severe and life threatening burns,” he said.

    The neighbor added that the victims were rushed to First Foundation Hospital and Maternity, Umunnachi, where they were being treated.

    Reacting, the father of the victims, Mr. Godwin Ikechukwu Ezeh, a native of Imezi Owa in Ezeagu local government area of Enugu state, appealed to both Anambra and Enugu state governments and spirited individuals to assist them in offsetting the hospital bills.

  • FG sites Police Academy in Anambra

    …aims to fight unemployment, Insecurity in S’East

    The federal government has sited police Academy in Anambra state, saying the aim is to fight insecurity and unemployment in the Southeast

    Federal government’s delegation led by Arc Okey Johnson Imoatu, visited the site at Umuchukwu, in Orumba south local government area of the state at the weekend.

    The donor of the recently approved Police College and Academy in Anambra State, Dr Godwin Maduka, said it was a good development for Southeast.

    He said  the federal government would use institutions to create employment for young people in the south east region.

    Maduka, a United State’s medical doctor and pain manager,  said it would help youths and other school leavers who had no meaningful employment to enroll and sharpen their skills that would help them to be absorbed in the police force.

    Read Also: Police arrest 5 kidnappers, rescue 5 victims in Anambra

    Maduka, said the academy  would also help to phase out crime through the use of modern crime fighting techniques.

    According to him, “I decided to attract this project to Umuchukwu as a way of helping youths gain employment and also fight corruption in our society”

    “The project would be sitting on 50 hectares of land which I have already procured as you see, and from the inspection which we have undertaken today with members of the police service commission, you can see that they are pleased with the arrangement so far,” Maduka said.

    The leader of the Federal government delegation of the police service commission, Arc Okey Johnson Imoatu ,said it was a project both the state and local government could not initiate.

    Imoatu, who is the chief consultant of the commission expressed happiness at the project.

    According to him , “What the state and local government could not do, Dr Maduka has single handedly done.”

    He described it as a worthy project that would help in intelligence gathering and also enhance the work of the police force in carrying out their jobs efficiently.

     

  • Five held for allegedly raping woman, abducting her son in Anambra

    Men of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested five suspected kidnappers, in Umunze community in Orumba South Local Government Area.

    The names of the suspects are: Emeka Nnorue (44); Eberechi Onyeghara (14) from Imo state; Ekene Obodoako (27) from Ebonyi state, and Chika Obi (28) from Anambra state.

    The suspects were apprehended after they allegedly raped a mentally unstable woman and abducted her 3-year old son at Oye Ihite market.

    One of the suspects was said to have lured the victim and her little baby, with snacks with a promise to buy rice and wrapper for her.

    Narrating her ordeal, the woman who gave her name as Obiuwanne, from Amazu-Ikpaocha, Arondizuogu in Imo state, said they were conveyed on two motorcycles into a bush were she was raped and dumped, before escaping with her baby.

    A relation  of the victims , Mr Marthin Okoro, said he reported the matter to the commander of a vigilance group in the area.

    “As soon as my niece was brought back home by a neighbour and narrated her ordeal, I immediately contacted the Commander of Umunze Vigilante Group(UVG), Jerry Ibeh, who quickly organized a search for the missing child.’’

    A community leader in the area, Mr John Akanyionu, who confirmed the incident, said the community had formed a youth vigilance group to further strengthen the existing one in a bid to fish out perpetrators of such act.

    The police spokesman, Mr Haruna Muhammed, confirmed the incident, saying the victims were rescued from the suspects at about 8.30am, following an intelligence report.

    Mohammed said  that the suspects would be brought to justice at the completion of investigations.

     

  • Man commits suicide in Anambra

    …as woman pours hot water on 11-year old son

     

    A 19-year old man has committed suicide in his room in Mmakwum village, Obosi in Idemili local council area of Anambra State.

    The deceased, identified as Prince Chigozie, was said to have been found hung dead in his room by his father.

    Read Also:Ekiti: Council chief’s suicide note devoid of politics says family

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Haruna, who confirmed the report in a statement, said the case was being investigated to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

    “One Uche Gbughemobi of Mmakwum village Obosi, on the 30/8/2018, at about 1300hrs, reported at Obosi Division, how he found his son hanged dead in his room.

    “Scene was visited, photograph obtained and victim was taken to Crown hospital Obosi where he was confirmed dead by the medical doctor,” he said.

    In a related case, a woman allegedly poured hot water on her 11-year old biological son, Chiemerie Anyalebechi, in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo local council area of the state.

    The suspect, identified as Ifeoma, was said to have carried out the dastardly act around 9.30am while the victim was fast asleep.

    The Police spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, who also confirmed the incident, said the victim is presently recuperating at the Ezehinne Health centre, Ozubulu where he was immediately rushed to for medical attention.

    He said Police Patrol team attached to Ozubulu division had since visited the scene of the incident.

    Mohammed said the suspect has been arrested, adding that the case was under investigation.