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Tag: Anambra

  • Senator empowers 14,000 constituents in Anambra

    Senator empowers 14,000 constituents in Anambra

    Sen. Tony Nwoye, a lawmaker representing Anambra North Senatorial District, has distributed empowerment materials to 14,000 constituents to reduce the rate of crime and unemployment.

    He distributed sewing machines, grinding machines, generators, engine boats, specialised kits to artisans, fertilisers to farmers, bags of rice and cash gifts to the beneficiaries.

    Speaking to reporters, the legislator, on the platform of Labour Party (LP), said the gesture was in fulfilment of his campaign promises aimed at improving the standard of living of his constituents.

    According to him, the beneficiaries are mostly youths and farmers from Ayamelum, Anambra East and West, Oyi, Ogbaru, Onitsha North and South Local Government that made up Anambra North Senatorial District.

    “This empowerment is part of my determination to empower my people to reduce the rate of crime and unemployment in the senatorial district and beyond.

    “I’m particularly disturbed each time I see people, especially youths, roaming the streets because they have no jobs.

    “I’m not here for political campaign but to thank God for seeing me through the February 28, 2023 general elections and for making me who I am at the moment,” he said.

    The senator, who promised continued empowerment programmes, advised beneficiaries to put the tools to maximum use to become self-reliant and for a better society.

    Read Also: APC pegs Edo guber nomination fee at N50m, holds primary Feb. 17

    Nwoye said he had attracted N34 billion Federal Government interventions funding for Otuocha–Nzam–Ida–Abuja road project.

    “The Onitsha-Otuocha-Aguleri-Omor-Adani road to stop at Enugu has been included in the 2024 budget, while the Aguleri-Otuocha-Nzam-Ihiaka-Abaji-Abuja road has been re-awarded and contractors will move to site this month.

    “Also, I promised to construct one road for each community in my constituency under the ‘Operation One Road for Every Community’ project,” he said.

    The lawmaker appreciated the LP presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and Prince Arthur Eze for their impactful contributions to his political career.

    Mr Ugochukwu Emeh, LP chairman, Anambra State, commended Nwoye for his achievements in the last six months of representing his constituents.

    He said the politicians elected on the platform of LP had continued to perform well across the nation.

    He urged the electorate to work for the success of the party, as it intensified efforts to produce the next governor in Anambra in 2025.

  • Obi’s kinsmen protest over his failed promises to community in Anambra.

    Obi’s kinsmen protest over his failed promises to community in Anambra.

    The youths of Agulu, Peter Obi‘s kinsmen, in Anaocha local government area of Anambra state, staged a protest against the Labour Party, presidential candidate during the last presidential election, accusing him of abandoning his community with many failed promises.

    The over 2000 protesters marched through the community with placards with various inscriptions, listing some of the projects he promised his people without accomplishing any during his time as governor of Anambra state.

    Those projects, according to them, included Obeagu water scheme, judge’s quarters, Fire Service centre, police station among others, adding, “charity begins at home”

    They also accused him of negligence and abandonment of Agulu General Hospital, while he traveled all over Nigeria and Africa donating huge sums of money.

     The protesters accused their brother of donating 20 million naira to a General hospital at Nsukka, while the one in his community had been overgrown with weeds with all manner of dangerous reptiles and insects playing ‘samba’ game there.

    Again, they were not happy with the alleged embezzlement of 40 million naira show your community projects, released by former Governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano to  the community

    They did not accuse Obi for being responsible for it, but, were angry against the contractor for taking the community for a ride.

    According to one of the protesters, who spoke with The Nation and simply gave his name as Ugochukwu, the contract for the building of the General Hospital Agulu was awarded by Mr. Peter Obi.

    The source said Obi claimed to have paid over 200 million naira to the contractor (names withheld) for the rehabilitation of the hospital adding that the contractor, had repeatedly denied collecting that amount of money from Peter Obi.

    However, the angry youths had called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to wade into the matter as the community had no functional hospital.

    Another of the protesters, who told The Nation he belonged to the Peoples Democratic party PDP, said Obi had shown wickedness to his people after the way they rallied behind him during all his elections in the area.

    He said: “We supported him when he brought out Mr Obaze for governorship contest, we also supported him when he presented Mr Ozigbo for another governorship contest and also, supported his presidential pursuit, yet,he treats his people as nothing. It’s not good

    “We read in the Newspapers and social media the amount of money he distributes both in Nigeria and other African countries, when his people at home are suffering and languishing in abject poverty, who does that?

  • ‘Anambra economic performance impressive’

    ‘Anambra economic performance impressive’

    Anambra State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, has said the state’s economy performed impressively in the outgoing year in spite of macroeconomic shocks.

    Nnake, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka yesterday, said the implementation rate of the 2023 budget was up to 70 per cent.

    She said the setbacks on the optimal implementation of the budget included no realisation of the 2023 target for Internally Generated Revenue and lack of competitiveness of the naira against the dollar.

    According to her, a lot is still going with the coming of the dry season, so the budget is still running.

    “The 2023 budget was predicated on a N4 billion monthly Internally Generated Revenue, but we have only done an average of N2 billion per month, this already shows massive deficit.

    “We also have the challenge of devaluation of the naira, which affected the purchasing power, Anambra is not in isolation in Nigeria.

    “However, we are able to do 66 per cent in the 2022 budget and we will definitely hit 70 per cent by the time the figures are out,” she said.

    Nnake described the state’s economy in 2023 as ‘very eventful’ with lots of activities in various sectors and hailed Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his administrative prowess.

    The commissioner said the administration focused on infrastructure, which was critical to building a livable and prosperous state, and that over 400 roads were inaugurated across the state with some already completed and some still ongoing.

    She said in Agriculture, more than one million palm and coconut seedlings were distributed in the outgoing year with the target of creating economically independent households in the next few years when the trees would have started fruiting.

    Nnake said the government planned to recruit another 3,000 teachers into the public primary and secondary schools next year, in addition to the 5,000 recruited in 2023.

    She said the government had improved on the Ease of Doing Business with better road interconnectivity, a fruitful Memorandum of Understanding with EEDC which had ensured that parts of the state enjoyed about 20 hours power supply daily.

    According to her, “we recruited 5,000 teachers at the beginning of this year and we are looking to recruit an additional 3,000 into the public school system with the aim of transforming our schools into smart schools.

    “We have identified that our public primary and secondary schools are the weakest links in our education delivery system, so we are poised to provide free and quality education at that level.

    “On entertainment and leisure, we have the Awka Fun City, right at the heart of Awka, which is an entertainment hub that can help residents and visitors to relax, the contract has been awarded and the project is progressing,” she said.

    Read Also: Anambra pensioners beg Soludo to pay them N850m arrears

    Nnake said Anambra economy was viable and conducive and that the state had an impressive number of development partners supporting its programmes.

    She said the partners were the United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organisation, Food and Agricultural Organisation, UNICEF, Save the Children, International Organisation for Migration and the International Labour Organisation, among others.

    “These bodies have renewed their commitment to work with us in 2024  because they are seeing positive outcomes and we hope that more will join next year.

    “Anambra is safe, there are lots of traffic everywhere, this shows our people are coming back home. It is a testament to the efforts of the governor in the area of security, law and order.

    “We are not where we want to be because Mr Governor is targeting a state completely free of crime and violence,” she said.

  • JUST IN: Anambra monarch dies two days before community’s day

    JUST IN: Anambra monarch dies two days before community’s day

    The controversial traditional ruler of Umunya community in Oyi local government area of Anambra state, Chris Onyekwuluje is dead. 

    He was aged 61.

    The monarch, who was coronated 25 years ago, died in Abuja two days ago after a long battle with cancer related issues.

    The president general of the community, Chief Innocent Nwabueze (Oyi of Oyi), described the death as unfortunate and sad.

    He said: “We have to face the reality of life, it’s one of those things. Our monarch has traveled and when he’s coming back we don’t really know, but it’s a very sad situation to us.”

    Another source, who did not want to be mentioned, said: “Though he did most things wrongly in our community, but his death is not a social media thing. Umunya has a procedure of announcing the death of its traditional ruler.”

    Onyekwuluje was conspicuous during the administration of the late former Governor of Anambra state, Chinwoke Mbadinuju.

    He was the contractor that erected the mast in the premises of Anambra Broadcasting Corporation ABS that killed some number of people

    Recently in his community, he was said to have told his people that he would rule them for up to 100 years, the statement that infuriated some of the elders.

    Anambra state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Tonycollins Nwabunwanne described his death as a huge loss.

    Read Also: We’re ready to die defending our inheritance, Anambra community tells police

    He commiserated with the people of Umunya over the incident, praying for his soul to find eternal rest in the Almighty. 

    The Eze-Nya I, the Nation gathered, had proposed a Town Union election of his community for December 31.

    According to sources, the monarch’s demise might result to a shift of the poll date by the community, as a mark of honour to him.

    The late monarch, survived assassination attempt in 2015 when the men of the Special Anti-Robbery squad (SARS) foiled such attempt from some evil men.

    The most controversial moment was when he erected a slaughter house in his community at the back of the house of one influential sons of the area.

    The community fought him to a stand still until the abattoir was forcefully removed, while the rich man returned to his palatial home

  • Anambra traders protest extortion, shops’ sealing

    Anambra traders protest extortion, shops’ sealing

    Traders in building materials market, Ogidi/Ogbunike in Idemili and Oyi Local Government Areas of Anambra State on Friday protested alleged extortion and seal of shops by suspected officials of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON)

    The protesters carried placards with the various inscriptions alleging that their wares were impounded while some shops were sealed following their refusal to pay the sum of N8million.

    Some of the placards read, “SON enough is enough, say no to illegal extortion by SON, SON stop intimidating us. SON stop demanding money from us. SON go to Wharf not markets”, among others.

    Spokesperson of the traders and chairman of Marvelous line, Kenneth Ofoegbunam urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to the rescue of the traders.

    He said, “SON officers came into our market today to impound our goods and seal some shops because we refused to pay N8million extortion.

    “They first came about three weeks ago and sealed four shops out of 30 shops they told us that they will seal or we will pay N8million for an offence they didn’t disclose to us.

    Read Also: Agbala community lifts Imo/Anambra River Unity Cup

    “They said just pay N8million and you are set free from embarrassment and we said no. After some days they came again with NSCDC personnel and we chased them away.

    “Today they reinforced, came with five Hilux loads of policemen, NSCDC, and other security men and made straight to the shops they sealed previously to impound the goods therein but we resisted them.

    “They started shooting guns into the air to scare us and in the process made away with some goods worth millions of naira.

    “The SON personnel should be confined only at the wharf and country boundaries and not markets.”

    Also reacting, Secretary of Success line in the market, Mr. Tochukwu Uduezue said, “How can we pay #8million for us to be free from offence we didn’t commit and where do we get the money from?

    “The wharf and boundaries are there for them to operate in and not the markets. We are mere marketers and not importers and deal in genuine business with documents to back up our purchases.

    “What they are doing is illegal and we will not relent in resisting the payment of N8million extortion. Governor Soludo should please come to our rescue.”

    Most shops were under lock and key over fear of return of the officials for seizure of goods and seal of more shops as at the time of filing this report.

  • Fire razes market as traders, destroys goods worth N300m in Anambra

    Fire razes market as traders, destroys goods worth N300m in Anambra

    Traders in Anambra state are gnashing their teeth as fire destroyed their goods worth over N300 million.

    The popular Nkpor Main market in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state, near the commercial city of Onitsha has been gutted by fire.

    The inferno which occurred Wednesday night, reportedly affected a section of the market.

    The Nation gathered that the fire had already razed about 30 shops before the traders mobilised and managed to extinguish it before the arrival of men of the state fire service.

    Confirming the incident, the chairman of the market, Chief Paul Okafor, said over N300 million worth of goods were damaged in the inferno.

    He disclosed that the fire started from a cold room shop and spread to other nearby shops.

    Okafor, whose own wine shop was also gutted, said the fire affected shops loaded with paints, curtains, gum, shoe leathers and polish, wines, hot drinks, thinners, among others.

    He lamented that all phone calls put across to the state fire service did not yield positive results as firefighters did not show up until the traders mobilised and put the fire off.

    He called on government to station some firefighting vehicles under the flyover bridge at Nkpor main market to serve the three major markets within the vicinity.

    He said: “Goods worth over N300 million were damaged in the inferno and the traders are now counting their losses. This is not good for this Yuletide.

    “We call on the state and local governments and public-spirited individuals and groups to come to the aid of the affected traders to bounce back to business as soon as possible.

    A patron of Anambra Markets Amalgamated Traders Association and President of Building Materials Traders Association, Chief Jude Nwankwo, expressed his sympathy for the victims and also called on government, individuals and groups to assist them.

    Read Also: Tipper driver crushes cyclist to death in Anambra

    He advised market leaders to provide fire extinguishers in their various markets to mitigate the effects of fire particularly at night.

    The state fire chief, Martin Agbili did not pick his calls for confirmation.

  • Tipper driver crushes cyclist to death in Anambra

    Tipper driver crushes cyclist to death in Anambra

    A motorcyclist was on Wednesday, December 20, crushed to death by a tipper driver along Umunze-Ekwulobia road in Anambra State.

    The incident, which occurred around 10:45 am, involved a Mercedes Benz tipper, a Mack Trailer, and a motorcycle with no registration number.

    The Nation gathered that the trailer rammed into the tipper and motorcycle and crashed following brake failure.

    Confirming the crash, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Adeoye Irelewuyi, said the deceased was taken to Ajalli General Hospital, Ajalli by the FRSC rescue team from RS5.37 Umunze Unit command.

    Read Also: Anambra lawmakers bury National Light

    He commiserated with the deceased family, advising motorists to regularly service their vehicles to minimum safety standards before plying the road, especially during the festive period with busy roads.

    He said: “A fatal road traffic crash was recorded today 20th December 2023 a few kilometres before Amaokpala village by Umunze-Ekwulobia road.

    “Vehicles involved were: a commercial Mercedes Benz tipper with registration number; XA554AGU; commercial Mack Trailer, with registration number; AKL876XP; commercial Motorcycle with no registration number.

    “The probable cause of the fatal crash was as a result of brake failure. Four male adults were involved in the crash. Injured Nil; killed 1 male adult (the bike rider). 3 male adults were rescued unhurt.

    “The killed victim was taken to Ajalli General Hospital, Ajalli by the FRSC rescue team from RS5.37 Umunze Unit Command.

    “The rescue team is on the ground managing traffic and ensuring obstruction caused by the crash is cleared.”

  • Anambra lawmakers bury National Light

    Anambra lawmakers bury National Light

    The Anambra State House of Assembly has repealed the law establishing the state’s newspapers and printing corporation, publishers of the  National Light.

    The Assembly passed the Bill during a plenary through a voice vote conducted by the Speaker, Somtochukwu Udeze.

      The Majority Leader Ikenna Ofodeme, on November 21, had sponsored and presented the Bill to repeal the Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation 1994.

      Ofodeme said the corporation had become unviable.

      The Speaker said Clause 2 of the newly passed Bill stipulates: “The Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation Law, 1994 is repealed.

     “The Bill further stipulates the transitional provisions under which the governor, at his discretion, may redeploy the supporting workers of the corporation to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) upon the commencement of this law.

      “Pay compensation to the staff of the former state corporation in view of their deployment and pay the staff their gratuities and pensions.

     “The law may be cited the Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation Repeal Law 2023 and shall come into force on the December 14, 2023,” he said.

     Udeze directed the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Okechukwu Nwobi, to send a clean copy of the Bill to the governor for his assent.

    Read Also: Anambra’s Tech Ecosystem gets N6m grant from VFD

      The law establishing the Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation came into existence in 1994; with this development, the state-owned newspapers and printing corporation will no longer exist.

      It would be recaled that in July, this year, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) criticised the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration for allegedly shutting the state-owned National Light newspaper. The Chairman, NUJ Anambra Council, Emeka Odogwu, said the latest move by the government remained “an open ill-treatment” of journalists by the Soludo administration.

      Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Chief Paul Nwosu, had dismissed as fake the allegation of shutting. He said there was no directive to that effect.

      “I am not aware of what he is saying. What you are saying is new to me. If the government wants to shut down such an establishment, there will be an official public statement to that effect.

      “As at the last Executive Council meeting of the state, we did not discuss any issue concerning the National Light newspaper,” Nwosu claimed.

      Unknown to the commissioner, the government had issued a letter dated July 21 confirming the winding up of the paper as contained below:

     •Sequel to the ANSEC decision on 1 February, 2023 and confirmed on 8 February, 2023 to wind up the activities of the Anambra Newspapers and Printing Corporation (ANPC), I write to inform you that the Corporation now ceases to exist and should wind down all its activities.

    •This decision of the ANSEC is based on the fact that the Corporation has become moribund, economically unviable and no longer fit for purpose.

      Last week’s repeal of the Act setting up the paper is the straw that broke the camel’s back; indeed an end of the road to resuscitating the paper in the future.

  • Kidnappers asked me to make last phone call, says rescued Anambra woman

    Kidnappers asked me to make last phone call, says rescued Anambra woman

    A mother of four, Mrs. Ugochukwu Chikelue, has narrated how operatives of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) rescued her after she was kidnapped last Friday, tied up and ready for slaughter.

    The mother of four, who hails from Umueri in Anambra East local government, narrated her ordeal in the hands of captors, saying she saw death. 

    She said the kidnappers tied her hands and legs before taking her to a certain river bank where she was asked to make her last phone call to determine whether she would continue to live or thrown into the river to die.

    Mrs. Chikelue who shared her ugly experience in the hands of her captors said she was shocked when suddenly, the kidnappers abandoned her and took to their heels, adding seconds later, she was surrounded by operatives of the NHFSS who took her to safety.

    The freed woman also mentioned the name of the Deputy Commander General of the NHFSS (Special Service), Dr. John Metchie, whom she said was behind the intervention that led to her rescue.

    Asked to explain the role played by Metchie, who is also the African Director, International Association of World Peace Advocates, IAWPA, Mrs Ugochukwu, Chikelue said she does not have details but said she was told by the NHFSS operatives that it was Metchie’s intervention that saved her.

    Reacting to the development, Dr. John Metchie who is also the Prime Minister of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ASATU, said he had to intervene when intelligence got to him that a woman from his community was in the hands of criminals.

    In a statement Monday by his media office, Metchie said he received Intel about the woman’s ordeal and being the President General of Umueri Community, he had to take immediate action by activating all security channels available.

    Read Also: Soludo’s wife weeps during visits to orphanages in Anambra

    “Immediately I got the intelligence information, I had to activate all available security channels. We had to alert the Police, the Army, the DSS and other relevant agencies and stakeholders.

    “I also called Abuja to inform my boss, the Commander General of NHFSS, Amb. Joshua Osatimehin. Following his instructions, we had to quickly mobilise NHFSS operatives in the state to me move to the area. The rest is history.

    “It was a swift operation that paid off quickly, as the woman was rescued within record time and reconnected with her family,” Metchie said.

    Metchie, who declined to answer questions on whether any ransom was paid to the kidnappers, also thanked the Nigeria Police and other security agencies for prompt response and readiness to take proactive action to rescue the kidnapped woman.

  • IBB’s day of honour in Anambra

    IBB’s day of honour in Anambra

    All roads will lead to Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State on December 15 for the maiden edition of Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Public Lecture series organised by the school’s alumni association.

    Former governors, sitting governors, ex-ministers and senators, among others, will storm the community of former Vice President, the late Dr Alex Ekwueme, for the event.

    The event, which is billed to hold at the polytechnic’s auditorium, will also be attended by House of Representatives members and influential business moguls. Former governors Jim Nwobodo and Chukwuemeka Ezeife will also be in the mix.

    The inaugural lecture, themed ‘The Ingenious of Rtd General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and the Making of Federal Polytechnic Oko’, will be delivered by Prof. Eugene Nwadialor, Vice Chancellor of Tansian University, Umunya in Oyi LGA.

    Incidentally, Nwadialor was said to be the Rector of Anambra State Polytechnic, Oko when it was made a Federal Polytechnic.

    National President of the Federal Polytechnic Oko Alumni Association, Nze Henry Nnebe, said that the association settled for IBB because he made the institution a federal polytechnic, and that action, according to him, impacted it positively.

    “It is because of the fact that the school was made a federal polytechnic which made it to have more funding. And more funding with good administrators and lecturers will give you success.

    “So, we decided to remember the person that helped this school tremendously by making it a federal institution. That is the person of General Ibrahim Babangida. And till date, he is the highest visitor ever to have graced the land of this polytechnic.

    “He was here in August 1992. Then I was the Speaker of the Students’ Union Government (SUG). And since 1992 till date, no other president has visited this institution.”

    Nnebe said that IBB also donated generously to the institution and the money was used to equip the Mass Communication Department with state-of-the-art facilities as well as the upgrading of the institution’s infrastructure.

    The National President, who said that there would also be an award presentation that day on the deserving recipients, gave a rundown of the polytechnic’s history, thus:“The kernel of what eventually became The Polytechnic was the brainchild of Oko Progressive Union (OPU) greatly catalysed by the patronage, resourcefulness and result-oriented leadership of its pioneer Chairman, a former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, GCON.

    “At inception in 1979, the institution was approved by the Anambra State Government as a College of Arts and Science designed to prepare candidates for the General Certificate in Education (GCE) examination at both the ordinary and advanced levels.

    “On June 28, 1980, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, the Governor of old Anambra State, upgraded the institution to College of Arts, Science and Technology; an elevation that made it more attractive to young school leavers who came in droves to seek diploma certificate which the college could award.

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    “The then principal of the college, Mr Ndu Lawrence, was elevated to provost of the college. The coming of the military regime of Rear Admiral Alison Madueke as the Sole Administrator of the then Anambra State saw the college formalised as the Anambra State Polytechnic, Oko through Edict No. 12 of 1985, published as a supplement to the Anambra State of Nigeria Gazette No. 24, volume 10 of June 27, 1984.

    “His administration lured Prof. Ezeilo, a professor of Mathematics, to become the first Rector of the Polytechnic, and he laid a solid foundation for the polytechnic.

    “In 1993, the Anambra State Polytechnic, Oko with many other institutions across the country, was taken over by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the able and proactive leadership of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd) to reflect federal character, and the institution was renamed Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

    “The institution is strategically located and surrounded by several centres of industry, commerce and diverse local craft such as Awka (well known for blacksmith/iron works) Nnewi (industry and technological products), Onitsha and Aba (reputed for commerce and industries).

    “Federal Polytechnic, Oko was so lucky that the rector of the polytechnic then, Dr. Eugene Nwadialor, a London-trained chartered accountant who was an internal rector, was retained as the new rector of the polytechnic.

    “With him being at the helm of affairs and as a prudent manager of resources with tenacity of purpose, the institution experienced tremendous growth amidst paucity of funds.”

    Nnebe said that the sagacious human resources management of Prof. Nwadialor, fondly called ‘Ozuo omee’ or ‘Ogidi’, saw the staff of the polytechnic contributing from their meager salaries to fund construction of classrooms for accreditation.

    He said the SUG led by Tony Nwosu as President, himself as Speaker and Igwe Maurice Aghara (Okaa Omee VI) galvanized students to produce 1,500 desks to enable the students to take examinations before the Federal Government finally took over the polytechnic in April 1993.

    The National President, Nnebe, said that the history of this journey of growth and development of the polytechnic was something that needed to be retold and brought to bear so that its relevance to the institution would be rekindled among the staff, students and indeed the community.

    “Given the aforesaid circumstance, the Alumni Association wants to use Rtd General Ibrahim Babangida’s Annual Public Lecture to mirror the activities of the polytechnic, share experiences that provide context and insight, and ponder on ways to make it better and greater through research and learning. 

    “This inaugural annual public lecture occasion will witness the establishment of Rtd. General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida International Museum in Federal Polytechnic Oko.

    “The museum will document relics of the Nigerian polytechnics and monotechnics, chronicle Federal Polytechnic, Oko and its events; house an Exhibition Hall, Hall of fame for the polytechnic, library, study centre and will be a reference Museum for Science and Technology in Nigeria,” he stated.

    The association said that the highlight of the occasion would be awards presentation to the best-graduating students in every department.

    Members of staff who have served the polytechnic meritoriously for over 30 years, according to it, would be designated as Polytechnic Veterans, while Alumnus/Alumnae who carved a niche for themselves growing the association will be awarded Polytechnic Ambassadors.

    Nnebe added that plans were underway to immortalise the progenitors of the institution by the alumni association. They are: Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme, who initiated the institution; Mr. Lawrence Ndu, who was the first Principal/Provost when it was a college, and Prof. Ezeilo, the first Rector as a polytechnic.

    Others are Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, the Governor that made the institution Diploma awarding College, Rear Admiral Alison Madueke who renamed it a polytechnic; Rtd General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida who took over and made it a Federal Polytechnic; Prof. Eugene Nwadialor, the transition Rector of the polytechnic from State to Federal Polytechnic.

    He described the “rectorship of Mr. Ndu and Prof. Ezeilo as inspirational and monumental, while Dr. A. B Uzuakpunwa and Prof. Eugene Nwadialor were leaders par excellence in managing the scarce resources available to set standards worthy of being a tradition by pioneering accreditation and creating acceptability with the famous slogan ‘Anampoly is Okay’.”

    “Prof. Nzewi tried his best to steady the ship while Prof. Uba Nwuba and Dr. Yusuf Awodi brought discipline and integrity. Prof Godwin Onu continued with innovation and bulldozed on infrastructure that led to the school becoming ‘The Polytechnic of the Moment.’

    “Currently, the Polytechnic is on another page, a rare gem has entered the block. Engr. Dr. Mrs Francisca Unoma Nwafulugo, who happened to be the first female Rector of the Polytechnic and one with great potential, is serving the polytechnic, and her contributions towards the development of this great citadel of learning will be properly appraised after her tenure. 

    “Sir Izuchukwu Nwabueze, CEO of Premier Breweries, Ambassador of Federal Polytechnic Oko, who holds over 217 awards ranging from educational, religious, socio-cultural, faith-based, professional, government to corporate organisations, will Chair the Committee of retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida Annual Lecture series, while Dr. Joseph Ogai of Mass Communication Department, Federal Polytechnic Oko will be the Secretary.

    “Other members include Dr. Emmanuel Ezenwafor, Prince Emeka Ezeoke, Dr. Gift Eyisi, Mr. Chidi Ikechukwu and Mr. Gabriel Nwafor.”