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Tag: Awka

Anambra warns against unauthorized use of Ekwueme Square

The Anambra State Government said that its attention has been drawn to illegal use of Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka and called on the defaulters to stop forthwith.

Mr Daniel Ezeanwu, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the State Government gave the warning made the call in an interview with the News men on Tuesday in Awka.

Ezeanwu said that the facility was designated for government and authorised public functions use only.

Read Also: Prison escapee arrested in Anambra

The permanent secretary said some individuals including those who claim to be affiliated to Awka Capital Sports Club made use of the facility for sports and other activities without permission.

According to him, unauthorised use of the facility will no longer be tolerated by the state government.

He urged intending users to fulfill due requirement before accessing the facility as defaulters would be made to face the wrath of the law.

NAN

March 20, 2018
TCN says efforts on to repair Awka transmission station

The Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN ) says the transmission station in Agu-Awka, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra is being repaired to restore power supply to the state capital.

The fault has thrown the state capital and its environs into darkness for over one month.

Mr Abdulkareem Labaran, the Assistant General Manager (Operations) in Enugu office of TCN said on Tuesday in Awka that repairs were already on in the transmission station.

Labaran appealed to electricity consumers in the areas affected by the blackout for more time and gave an assurance that engineers were working round the clock to restore the station to normalcy.

Read also: PPA promises to link up Awka North communities

He said the problem was not vandalism-related but normal technical issue.

Labaran, however, did not give a specific time within which the repairs work would be concluded.

“Work is going on and we are monitoring the development. I am sure in the shortest time the whole thing will be over.

“I cannot give you a definite time because it is a technical issue. In fact, we ought to have completed it last week but as we were about finishing, another problem developed.

“We are appealing that they give us more time. Our men are there working round the clock and throughout the week.

“It is a peculiar case because the transformer is a mobile one and what they are working on is inbuilt unlike the other normal ones.

“Where the spare parts are not available, our men apply ingenuity by fabricating,’’ he said.

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company ( EEDC ), however, exonerated itself from being responsible for the outage in the area.

Mr Chukwuemeka Ezeh, the Head of EEDC Communication Department told NAN that the power outage experienced in Awka was as a result of a breaker fault at the TCN Station, Awka.

“This affected supply to our Agu Awka Injection Substation, which feeds Awka and other neighbouring towns.

“It is important to stress that this is not EEDC’s fault but that of TCN,’’ he said.

Reports say that a team of engineers were seen working on the faulty transmission station when visited on Tuesday.

NAN

February 6, 2018
Martin Agbili urges residents to eschew bush burning

Mr Martin Agbili, the Director, Anambra Fire Service, has urged residents of the state to have a fire safety management plan in addition to fire extinguishers at home and workplaces during the harmattan period.

Agbili said in Awka on Thursday that the call became necessary now that people could also be tempted to store petrol at home, to check scarcity.

“We are in the dry season of the year and it is the harmattan period. I want to use this opportunity to urge Anambra residents to handle naked fires with care, they should avoid things that can cause fires, as they can be prevented.

“Now that there is fuel scarcity, people should not hoard or store fuel in their homes.

“The use of knockouts should be highly discouraged, if you must use candles, please ensure you place them on a metal base and if there are bushes around your house, church, market and office, clear it to a minimum of five feet, so that in the event of a fire, it can be checked before it inflames your building.

“There is need for people to plan for fire safety management, this will minimise outbreaks. They should arm themselves with fire extinguishers in their cars, offices and homes, that is the first aid treatment in the event of a fire outbreak,’’ he said.

Read also: NAFDAC headquarters gutted by fire

Agbili said people should avoid the temptation of storing petrol in their homes and be more careful in the use of fireworks, if they must do so.

He said the people’s surroundings should be cleared of bushes, while they shun negative practices such as bush- burning during the harmattan.

While warning the residents that lit candles should be placed on metal surfaces, the director said everybody should also take precautionary measures against acts that could cause fire outbreaks.

Agbili assured the people that the Fire Service in the state was ready to respond to distress calls in the event of fire outbreaks anywhere within the state, provided that the department received timely information from the public.

He thanked the state governor for equipping the fire service department in the state and re-positioning it for efficiency and effectiveness.

“The Anambra Fire Service is prepared to fight fire outbreaks anywhere, all we need is to be notified on time.

“I want to thank Gov. Willie Obiano and the Commissioner for Utilities who have ensured that all our fire-fighting equipment remain in good shape.

“Our trucks are capable of reaching anywhere in the state, in good time,’’ he added.

NAN

December 28, 2017
APGA blames fuel scarcity on corruption

Dr Victor Oye, National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has blamed the current fuel scarcity in the country on corruption and confusion in country’s petroleum industry.

Oye said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka while reacting to the situation on Saturday.

He said it was unfortunate that the cartel responsible for the hardship inflicted on Nigerians had not been defeated but were rather dictating the pace in the system.

Oye said there was need for clear delineation of powers and functions of the offices of the Minister of State for Petroleum and that of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC).

Oye described scarcity as a seasonal period when the poor suffered so that the rich could be richer, adding that it was beyond the control of filling station operators.

“There are a lot of factors affecting fuel distribution in Nigeria and this bothers on sharp practices in the various agencies involved in the system like the Petroleum Products Pricing
Regulatory Agency, Department of Petroleum Resources and the NNPC.

“We hear about corruption is responsible for the problem of fuel distribution in this country,

“what we have now is the consequence of the rot in the petroleum industry, when you keep pilfering a system, there will come a time when the entire system will feel the pressure.

“When we hear about billions of dollars about the size of our External Reserve not being properly accounted for by NNPC, few persons are having money and and houses all over the world without questions about how they made this money.

“There is cartel in the oil industry, as we are groaning now, they are smiling to the bank.

“My definition of scarcity is the time of the year when the poor suffers for the rich to enjoy, that amount you pay on top of N145 per litre goes to the pockets of this cartel or cabals

“I am aware that Buhari said Dr Ibe Kachikwu should end the scarcity as soon as possible but it is not going to be possible.

“We need to know the powers available to the Minister of State for Petroleum and what powers are at the disposal of the NNPC GMD, the conflict between the two offices is accountable for what we are witnessing today,” he said.

The APGA chairman called on President Mohammadu Buhari to reduce the tasks in his hands by appointing a substantive Minister of Petroleum who will supervise the ministry more closely with the capacity to act on policy issues.

“The president cannot handle the position of Minister of Petroleum very close as he would have wished in the light of the numerous things at his hands, that position is sensitive, he needs to hand it over to a professional.

“Buhari is not getting younger, he just recovered from ill health and I am one of his prayer warriors so he should listen to people like us, he should unbundle himself and the system.

” Kachikwu is competent to do the job but they are breathing down his neck, they are not allowing him to work because of reasons I cannot tell.

“The president needs political and will power to fight corruption, if you don’t fight corruption, there is no way you can end fuel scarcity, because some people make millions out of it, it is a seasonal business for them,” he said.

December 23, 2017
Behold the First Class women

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) in Enugu State and the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State have inducted pharmacists. Two women – Mrs Janefrances Okafo-Ofomata and Miss Chinasa Ofondu – emerged the best graduating students, winning coveted academic prizes at the ceremonies. FRANKLIN ONWUBIKO (UNIZIK) and SAINT EKPALI (UNN) report.

They have never met,but they share some things in common. Apart from studying the same course in schools that are miles apart, Mrs Janefrances Okafo-Ofomata and Miss Chinasa Ofondu are women of excellence. They surmounted life challenges with sheer willpower to achieve distinction in pharmacy.

With a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.90, Chinasa became the Overall Best Graduating Student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) – a feat, she said, was propelled by her father’s death. She was also the best in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

In a class of 76 students, Mrs Okafo-Ofomata, a young mother of one, was the Overall Best Graduating Student of the 2016/2017 graduating set of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State.

Chinasa, who hails from Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, said her father’s death almost terminated her academic career, but added that she never despaired despite the challenges she faced during the period.

Chinasa said the death of her father encouraged her to strive towards achieving life goals.

She said: “The death of my father came as a rude shock to us and I had thought that would be the end of my education. But, rather than being discouraged, it served as a source of motivation for me while I struggled to go to school.”

Chinasa’s strength of mind to get education earned her a scholarship from the late Bishop Eke Obiefule and Valerian Okeke, who were astonished by her brilliance and determination.

After graduating with a First Class in pharmacy, Chinasa said: “I was not the one who read the most in the class. A good number of colleagues read far more than I did, but I read smartly. I knew exactly what to read in all the courses.

“I aimed to be the best graduating student in my faculty, but being the best in the whole school was what kept me awake at night. Achieving this feat is like an icing on a cake. This is evidence that God never abandons his children.”

Chinasa said she did not expect to be the school’s valedictorian, having engaged in extracurricula activities. She was a strong member of the National Fellowship of Christian Pharmacy Students, in which she served as Vice President, Music Director and Academic Director at different times.

She said: “In the midst of my academic and extracurricular demands, I devised a formula which is rooted in hard work, smartness and fervent prayer.”

Chinasa expressed gratitude to the late Bishop Obiefule and Okeke, saying: “The scholarship they gave me laid the foundation for my academic excellence and future.”

Sharing her story with CAMPUSLIFE, Mrs Okafo-Ofomata, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.72, described her academic journey as one “riddled with sleepless nights, disappointments, struggles, failures and pains”.

She said: “I didn’t always keep to my study timetable, because we always had tight class activities. But, whenever I read, I assimilated faster. This worked well for me.”

Mrs Okafo-Ofomata explained that she had always wanted to study pharmacy, but she was disappointed when she was offered admission for Pure and Industrial Chemistry at the UNN. After graduating with a Second Class (Upper Division) in Pure and Industrial Chemistry, she sat for another Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and applied to study pharmacy at the UNIZIK. After two attempts, she was admitted for pharmacy in 2013 through Direct Entry.

Mrs Okafo-Ofomata got married to Mr Franklin Ofomata, as a student, and had her baby in 2016. She described this period of her life as “scary”, saying she juggled between taking care of her family and attending to demands of academics.

At UNIZIK, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences runs a strict system which requires a high level of concentration from students.

Despite all odds, Mrs Okafo-Ofomata studied hard to become the best in the faculty. At the induction held for graduating pharmacy students, Mrs Okafo-Ofomata went home with 10 awards and a cash prize of N500,000.

Appreciating her lecturers for the knowledge imparted on her, she said: “We take pride in knowing that we have a set of intelligent, dedicated, updated and hardworking lecturers who have given us the confidence to touch the lives of others. We have been taught to act true to our calling in saving lives and not take them. These values inculcated in us would open doors for greater achievements in the future.”

Congratulating the inductees earlier, the UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Joseph Ahaneku, represented by his deputy for Academics, Prof Charles Esimone, reminded the graduands of the need to guide their professional practice by the oath they took.

He urged them to always remember the school’s values of discipline, self-reliance and excellence. He said the university would continue to encourage staff and students of the faculty by providing the infrastructure needed to facilitate teaching and learning, including classrooms, laboratories and hostels, among others.

Administering the oath on the graduands, Registrar of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Mr N.A.E Mohammed urged them to be acquainted with the code of ethics which prescribed the professional and moral responsibilities to patients, colleagues and the public.

He urged the graduands to maintain strict compliance to the ethics, noting that a stringent penalty awaited anyone who engaged in unprofessional practice.

UNIZIK’s Acting Dean of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Prof Ikemefuna Uzochukwu said the university has contributed 431 pharmacists to the profession since inception in 2006. He disclosed that the school was working hard towards implementing the PharmD programme which had been approved for implementation in all universities by the National Universities Commission (NUC), beginning from the 2019/2020 academic session.

December 14, 2017
Anambra community takes care of eye patients

There is some relief for the visually-impaired in Awka, the Anambra State capital, as Chief Amobi Nwaokafor, President-General of the Awka Development Union of Nigeria (ADUN) has presided over the distribution of free eyeglasses to them.

The presentation of the glasses was bankrolled by ADUN.

The exercise which lasted for seven days had over 1,500 beneficiaries.

The medical mission took the team to seven major quarters of Awka community which consists of Ezi-Awka, Amaenyi, Agulu, Amikwo, Ifite Awka and Umuokpu quarters.

Speaking with reporters, Nwaokafor said the humanitarian service by the ADUN was in furtherance of the gesture by the Awka Union, USA and Canada, who he said, had a medical outreach in May this year for diabetic and other patients that were treatable without surgery in the community.

He noted that the 2017 medical mission on free eye test, free eye glasses, free screening and treatment for hypertension and related illnesses was part of the union’s community service, aimed at assisting indigenes to care for their sights.

Nwaokafor said, “Before now, we waited for government to do anything for us; we believe we can do it ourselves. This aspect of community service which we tagged: ADUN Medical mission is targeted at conducting free eye test and distribution of free eye glasses to the indigenes of Awka.

“This particular project targets 1,500 people within seven days but I can tell you that we attended to more than that and it is a programme that will continue from time to time until every other Awka indigene that has eye problem is diagnosed and treated free by the union,” he said.

He accused previous governments in the state for the underdevelopment in the state capital while calling on the present administration to match action with words in providing dividends of democracy to the people.

“The government, as a matter of fact, is supposed to be supporting this kind of health mission. Government is mandatorily supposed to take care of the entire welfare of the people; including good roads, good water, housing, health care, schools and so on”

“In Awka for instance, no government can claim to have worked in Awka notwithstanding that Awka is the state capital.

“No serious government presence in our community, Awka is one of the capital cities that has no portable water. We lack a lot of things but because we are very hard working, we provide for ourselves”

“My worry is that no government has shown genuine interest by seeing Awka as a capital territory, define and design how the capital territory will look like beyond now”

Some of Beneficiaries like Mrs. Helen Anago and Nweke Anthony, who spoke with The Nation, expressed gratitude for the gesture and prayed for its sustenance by the ADUN leadership.

November 3, 2017
Anambra best in SDGs projects in Nigeria – Obiano’s aide

Mr Geoffrey Uba, the Senior Special Assistant ( SSA ) to the governor of Anambra on Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), says Anambra is one of the best in the implementation of sustainable development goals projects in Nigeria.

He said the state was also among the best three in the country in terms of security, road networks, economic development, and collaborations with international donor organisations.

Uba in Awka on Monday that Anambra which was listed among the educationally disadvantaged states in the South-East now ranked the first in education.

The governor`s attributed the successes recorded in the state to the well articulate manifesto of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ) and prudent management ability of Gov. Willie Obiano.

Uba, however, dismissed the rating of APGA by some people as a one state party, saying “APGA is a national party.’’

“ Let me emphasize that APGA is a national party. It is not a one state party. We have elected members at the state and national assemblies. In Abuja, we have a mayor of APGA extraction,” he said.

Uba, a chieftain of the party, said that Nigerians should remember that Imo used to be an APGA state before it joined the All Progressives Congress.

He said that the party was proud of the achievements of Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra in three and half years.

“APGA has achieved a lot in Anambra state. Anambra used to be ranked as one the backward states in the country.

According to Uba, Gov. Obiano has used the party`s platform to take the state to greater heights and will do more if re-elected on Nov. 18.

“These are the core democracy dividends and Anambra people are very happy and we will demonstrate this happiness on Nov. 18 election.

“Anambra state under Willie Obiano has demonstrated so much passion for the welfare of the people,” the SSA said.

NAN

October 30, 2017
Anambra guber candidate decries monetary inducement in politics

Mr Chris Nweke, the candidate of African Peoples Party (APP) in the Nov. 18 Anambra Governorship election, has urged the electorate to shun monetary inducement in their voting decisions.

Nweke told newsmen on Tuesday in Awka that big parties were polluting the political space with display of so much money.

He said that he would win the election in spite of his underdog status, noting that neither money nor god-father syndrome but practicable manifestos would decide the election.

Nweke said he had a well-articulated programme for the development of the state, adding that he was not into politics to make money, but to work for the interest and development of the state.

The candidate appealed to the electorate to ignore his rivals who had no people-oriented programmes and deceived people with money to vote for APP for good dividends of democracy.

“I represent a new hope in surmounting these hurdles against development and have resolved to match my opponents with my political goodwill.

“I will also channel all efforts and resources towards re-orientating and grooming our people, especially youths to work for progress of our state.

“The electorate should be focused, look into the antecedent of the governorship candidates, identify and judge among them who have the charisma to take Anambra to the next level.

“They should not look at money used to induce voters during the election, they should vote wisely for our state to be better,” Nweke said.

He said the education sector would be improved and strengthened with adequate funding and qualified personnel.

The candidate added that his administration would stick by the internationally agreed standard of 26 per cent allocation to education.

The APP candidate said that if elected, he would announce free and compulsory education for all children from the cradle to JSS 3 class.

Nweke urged the people to support and vote him as a governor to realise his ambition of building a peaceful and prosperous state.

NAN

October 25, 2017
Anambra to pay accumulated leave allowances in November – Obiano

The Anambra Government says it will pay the accumulated arrears of leave allowances owed its workers in November, 2017.

A statement made available in Awka on Tuesday stated that Gov. Willie Obiano made the promise at the inauguration of Queens Convent Secondary School, Ifite-Awka, in Awka South Local Government Area.

“You will start receiving your leave allowances from Nov. 10, 2017. This is to enable you enjoy the Christmas celebration like other Nigerians,’’ he said.

The governor further announced that every worker would receive a bag of rice among other benefits before the Christmas.

“Next year, there will be general increment in salaries of Anambra workers. We are doing all these to promote the welfare of workers in the state,’’ he said.

Obiano said that the first and second batch of promotion of workers in the state would soon be released.

He said that teachers and other civil servants would equally get their due benefits alongside other workers.

The governor said that he would not relent in his fight against malpractice and other social ills, which according to him, has crippled the education system.

“The primary and secondary schools are basic foundations which determine the future of people and the society and we must get it right for our nation to develop,’’ he said.

Obiano explained that the essence of handing over schools to missions in Anambra was to give proper orientation and re-orientation to the younger generation.

He said that previous generations embraced corruption and impunity due to lack of proper orientation.

“Mission schools will instill morals and effective standard of living. Those trained by missionaries have morally-defined characters that depict excellence and high level of virtue.

“I will continue to provide every facility that will encourage learning,’’ the governor added.

He appealed to private individuals to invest in education in order to sustain the tempo of learning in the state.

The Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, said that the essence of establishing the school was to ensure proper moral upbringing of the youths.

NAN

October 24, 2017
UPP, APDA call for fair play in Anambra election

Dr Sylvster Igwilo, Chairman of United Progressives Party ( UPP ) in Anambra said that the party was confident of winning the Nov. 18 governorship election in the state if every stakeholder play by the rules.

Igwilo made this known in Awka on Sunday that the party’s candidate, Chief Osita Chidoka was the most qualified from the array of candidates in the race.

He said Chidoka had better plans for the people of the state and have been addressing issues that bordered on the common man in his campaigns.

Igwilo warned other parties to comply with the efforts aimed at minimising irregularities during and after the Nov. 18 governorship election.

“My party is quite prepared for this election, we know it is not going to be easy and as you know, UPP has the most credible candidates among all others in the race.

“Chidoka is well known and accepted by the people, a former Minister and FRSC Corps Marshal who is interested in the state and how to put back on track economic prosperity and sustainable development.’’

Igwilo said the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) was doing well compared to the previous years in terms of preparation for elections.

According to him, if things are to go by the assurances INEC has given, then the election would be free and fair.

“My appeal is that other party chairmen should play by the rules, their agents should be properly identified with passport to enable us know who is who.

“There are some people that are not serious about this election. they are just interested in what they will get through sharp practices,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs Adaeze Okafor, candidate of the Advanced People Democratic Alliance ( APDA ) raised alarm at what she described as increasing monetary cost of the election.

Okafor said it was as if the election was a do-or-die affairs from the way some candidates of the big parties were going about in their campaigns.

According to her, candidates and their supporters should see election as opportunity to serve and not avenues for amassing wealth.

She noted that some of the issues raised in the campaigns so far had not addressed the wellbeing of the ordinary people of Anambra but an attack on persons.

“Issues are not addressed in the campaigns, they have not said how they are going to build the people and make their lives better.

“The role of money in this election is becoming too much, some parties have set a lot of money aside to pay for votes.

“Other candidates are throwing money around in the market places as if their lives depend on the election.’’

She called on the INEC to restrict people from going close to the electorate during voting and to stop votes buying.

NAN

October 23, 2017