The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Enugu

  • Women learn to fish in Enugu

    The Federal Government has started training Southeast women on aquaculture in Enugu State. The training is aimed at reducing unemployment among women in the region.

    The two-day training exercise, a Millennium Development Goals-assisted programme, was organised by the Gender and Youth Division of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD).

    Women from the five states of the Southeast and beyond attended the programme.

    In his welcome address , Enugu State Director of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), Mr. Charles Ugwuonah, said that the ministry was committed to repositioning the country’s agriculture with a view to putting it on the path of sustainable socio-economic growth, wealth creation and human empowerment.

    Ugwuonah said: “As part of this initiative, the Gender and Youth Division of the ministry organised this fourth series of training women on agricultural enterprise such as aquaculture in order to reduce the unemployment rate in the country.

    “The ministry’s intention is to, among others things, encourage local production, value addition, processing and packaging to facilitate trade development and showcase Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) potential for wealth creation in agricultural enterprises.”

    Ugwuonah also said that the initiative would expose non-oil products and services for export with a view to promoting competitiveness and recognition in the global market.

    He disclosed that the ministry was committed to developing and collaborating with the private sector and civil society groups in skill development and training that would directly improve the socio-economic indices of the Nigerian women.

    In her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of FMARD, Mrs. Ibukun Abimbola, noted that under the President Goodluck Jonathan transformation agenda, issues of unemployment, wealth creation and food security have been amplified, with emphasis on women empowerment.

    Mrs. Abimbola, who was represented at the training by the Regional Director Southeast of FMARD, Dr Uche Nwafor, said that there was need for government at all levels to convert its human resources into actionable programmes and have them implemented to make meaningful impacts on the economy.

    “It has, therefore, become necessary to set up a deliberate drive for the training and empowerment of our women nation-wide on different agricultural enterprises along the value chains. This group of trainees will essentially function on their own rights as organised aqua-culturists that can have links with their counterparts all over the world in terms of marketing and sharing ideas,” she said.

    She further disclosed that, at the end of the training, each trainee would be supported with a token of fish feed as juveniles to start the business of fisheries that would enable them to thrive in the enterprise of aquaculture.

    Over 50 women from the Southeast and beyond attended the training.

  • ‘2Face’ to tour schools to inspire students

    ‘2Face’ to tour schools to inspire students

    A pop star, Innocent Idibia (a.k.a, 2Face), says he will do his best to influence the youth to be resourceful and self-reliant.

    Idibia told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday that he would tour some tertiary institutions to inspire students to develop their talents.

    He noted that education institutions were among the most important sections of any society.

    “It is the schools that produce the leaders of tomorrow; so, social development which are happening outside their walls should be taken to them.

    “The music industry in Nigeria is a very strong opinion shaper in the society; getting closer to students is a very good way of influencing their thoughts and inspiring them”.

    Idibia told NAN that the Nigerian music industry had become a force to reckon with, adding that the country was blessed with numerous talents.

    “We have successfully built a veritable industry that represents the country internationally, and many talents exist in the schools.

    “ I am a product of a school – the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Enugu.

    “That is one of the major reasons IMT is on my tour list.

    “ It is a very emotional choice for me because the school was a very important part of my development.

    “That was where Plantashun Boiz began and I have very fond memories,” Idibia said.

    NAN reports that Idibia is set for a month-long tour of selected tertiary institutions in the country this month.

    The schools include the universities of Lagos, Benin, Port-Harcourt and Abuja.

    Idibia has practised as a solo artiste for almost a decade.

    One of his biggest hits is the “African Queen” which is the soundtrack of a Hollywood movie, “Phat Girls’’

  • Enugu ACN holds congress

    Barth Ugwoke has emerged the Enugu State Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Ugwoke was elected at the State Congress, which was observed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Uche Ogbu emerged as secretary.

    The State Congress Committee chairman and former member, House of Representatives, Uche Onyeagocha, said the party’s National Executive Council mandated the four-man congress committee to conduct the congress for the election of state officers, ward and local government officers.

    He dismissed the allegation that there was an injunction against members of the committee, saying that there was no injunction against holding the congress.

     

  • Port Harcourt, Enugu, others get CAC’s online services

    The 24-hour start–to-finish registration service in Lagos-the part of the four-point agenda of the Corporate Affairs Commission, which emphasises ICT–has become a model in ease of doing business, the CAC has said.

    Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, Kaduna are to get  CAC’s online start-to-finish services this quarter, as the commission  embarks on total upgrade of internet network to fibre optic

    The Registrar-General, CAC, Alhaji Bello Mahmud maintained that Lagos is an important commercial nerve centre of the country, considering its strategic importance, the Commission established two offices in Lagos at Yaba and the recently commissioned another at Alausa.

    In a statement by the Head, Public Relations, Churchill Williams, the focus of the agenda comes against the backdrop of the fact that ICT infrastructure is the key factor to achievement of the Commission’s objective, adding that ICT infrastructure will ensure greater efficiency of the system and high data integrity.

    “In order to actualise its ICT thrust, the Commission embarked on total upgrade of its WAN from VSAT-based network to a more reliable fibre based system. This was meant to improve availability and also enhance transaction,” he added.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Nnamani’s request to travel abroad ploy to delay trial – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday told a Federal High Court, Lagos, that the request by former Enugu State Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, to seek medical treatment abroad, was a ploy to delay his trial.

    Mr Kelvin Uzozie, the commission’s counsel, made the assertion at the resumed hearing of the money laundering case against Nnamani.

    The ex governor had on Monday filed an application through his counsel, Mr Ricky Tarfa, seeking leave of the court to travel overseas for medical treatment.

    An affidavit deposed to by one Ayo Ambali, stated that sometime in 2008, Nnamani was diagnosed of ”hypercloclesterolemnia”– which doctors described as a condition characterised by very high levels of cholesterol in the blood.

    He further stated that the accused was also diagnosed of a high level Serum Prostate Surface Antigem (SPA), for which he had been to the United States of America severally for medical treatment.

    He had urged the court to grant the accused leave to go for treatment abroad.

    But Uzozie said that the accused, who had previously been granted similar requests in 2008 and 2012, had now adopted this tactics to delay his trial.

    According to him, when the previous leave was granted in 2008, Nnamani lingered in the United States beyond the stipulated period.

    The counsel said it took the assistance of the America security agencies to facilitate the repatriation of the ex-governor.

    He said that even when Nnamani returned to the country, he failed to surrender his international passport to the EFCC, as directed by the court.

    Uzozie also said that the accused had not in any way shown that the illness could not be treated in Nigeria.

    He, therefore, urged the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa to dismiss the application and order the accused to face his trial.

    The defence counsel, however, told the court that Section 14 of the Evidence Act, required an accused to state the circumstances of his illness in certain situations.

    Tarfa said that the accused has by his application, sufficiently given details of the illness for which he required routine medical treatment abroad.

    He, therefore, urged the court to grant the accused leave to travel overseas for treatment.

    Yunusa, however, reserved his ruling on this application for April 17.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Nnamani is facing trial alongside seven others, on 105-count charge of money laundering.

    Others  are: Sunday Anyaogu, Rainbownet (Nig.) Ltd, Hillgate (Nig.) Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile (Nig.) Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

    The accused were re-arraigned on March 7, following the transfer of Justice Charles Archibong to another division of the court.

    Yunusa now becomes the third trial judge to hear the matter.

    The first judge was Justice Tijani Abubakar.

     

     

  • Enugu upgrades seven hospitals

    The Enugu State government has approved N1 billion for the renovation and upgrading of seven district hospitals in the state.

    The state’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Chuks Ugwoke, announced this while briefing newsmen in Enugu on Tuesday at the end of the state’s Executive Council meeting.

    Ugwoke listed the hospitals as Udi (Udi LGA); Awgu (Awgu LGA); Enugu-Ezike; Ikem (Isiuzo); Nsukka (Nsukka LGA), Poly-Clinic (Enugu North LGA) and Agbani (Nkanu West LGA) district hospitals.

    The commissioner said that the renovation and upgrading had become vital for effective, efficient and quality healthcare delivery in the state.

    Ugwuoke explained that the scope of the exercise would begin with the construction of new hospital complexes, laboratories, mortuaries and gatehouses.

    Others include the sinking of boreholes and the construction of quarters and fences at the seven hospitals.

    The commissioner said the move was geared toward providing affordable medical care for its citizens.

    Ugwuoke said the council also approved the procurement and installation of 4,606-metre length of stainless designed fence with reflectors and 3207 pieces of Korean made reflecting safety guide posts.

    The commissioner said the procurements were for some selected roads within Enugu metropolis.

    “The essence of this is to enhance traffic safety of our road users as well as enhance urban beautification and renewal at the total sum of N306 million.”

    Ugwoke said the executive council also gave approval for the construction of Ebonyi River bridge at the cost of N309 million.

    He said the bridge would replace the old, dilapidated bridge along Ugwuofo-Neke-Ikem road in Isiuzo Local Government Area of the state.

    He said the 45-metre long standard concrete bridge to be constructed in the area had been awarded to a reputable construction company.

     

  • NSC South-West Zone 1 promises free, fair zonal elections

    The headquarters, National Sports Commission (NSC’s) South-West Zone 1, Ibadan, on Wednesday pledged to conduct a free and fair zonal elections into the sports federations.

    Steve Olarinoye, the Coordinator of the zone, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that all hands were already on deck for a rancour-free polls in the zone.

    “I want to assure the sports stakeholders that the Zone 1 office will deliver a free and fair zonal elections into the sports federations, scheduled for April 19,’’ he said.

    According to Olarinoye, all logistics for the success of the elections are being deployed to the headquarters and also assured of tight security at the event.

    The NSC, in its elections guidelines released on April 9, had said that the zonal elections would hold simultaneously on April 30 at the headquarters of the six geo-political zones of the country.

    The other zonal headquarters are in Benin, Enugu, Kaduna, Jos and Bauchi.

    The commission added that elections for the positions of the president and the vice president of the various sports federations would hold in Abuja on May 14.

    It added that the elected officers would be sworn-in on May 17, after all appeals or petitions arising from the elections would have been decided.

    NAN reports that the elections would exclude the privately run sports, which have been concessioned to sponsors.

    It would be recalled that the NSC recently dissolved the boards of the various National Sports Federations.

  • Ekweremadu’s guber ambition causes stir in Enugu

    Ekweremadu’s guber ambition causes stir in Enugu

    Will the alleged zoning formula in Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) be maintained in 2015? This is the root of anxiety over an alleged plot to jettison the agreement, Remi Adelowo reports

     

    About two weeks ago, Enugu residents noticed some posters announcing fresh electoral ambition of the Deputy Senate President,  Ike Ekweremadu.

    Curiously, the posters, located at strategic locations in the metropolis, did not specify the position Ekweremadu would be contesting for in 2015. The only message on it reads, “Ekweremadu, our dream for 2015.”

    This seemingly dumb poster has, however, caused a stir among the common people and political stakeholders.

    Swiftly, his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, dismissed the posters, describing the development “as the handiwork of opposition elements trying to cause confusion in the polity.” Speaking further, Anichukwu recalled the several attempts to drag his boss into a personality clash with the state governor, Sillivan Chime, in 2011.

    Unconfirmed reports had alleged then that Ekweremadu felt slighted over how his loyalists were removed from the state executive council shortly after Chime was re-elected in 2011.

    But in spite of this denial, the state polity in the last few weeks has been awash with stories of Ekweremadu’s alleged intention to contest the 2015 governorship election. Not a few people in the state readily point to his purported ownership of a popular radio station, which sources alleged the senator established to promote his governorship ambition.

    Mention is also being made of his numerous philanthropic gestures, including a scholarship programme and his political structures in almost every ward in the state.

    The Nation gathered that presently, fears have gripped some governorship aspirants in the PDP over Ekweremadu’s alleged ambition. The argument is that if Ekweremadu throws his hat into the ring, he will surely be the man to beat in the PDP primaries.

    By a combination of fortuitous circumstances and a well planned strategy, the Deputy Senate President is believed to be well prepared for the exalted seat. A trained lawyer from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ekweremadu was elected Chairman, Aninri Local Government in 1997. In 1999, he was appointed the Chief of Staff to the then newly-elected governor, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani.

    Two years later, he was appointed as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and in 2003 he was elected as senator to represent Enugu West at the National Assembly. In 2007, he became the Deputy Senate President, a position he holds till date.

    With many political stakeholders in the South East state still pondering over the rationale behind the senator’s alleged bid for the governorship seat, which they consider lesser in status, a fresh debate has ensued over an alleged plot to truncate the unwritten zoning formula in the state.

    The power rotation has seen Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East being elected as governor in 1999 and the election of the incumbent governor, who hails from Enugu West, in 2007. The expectation before now was that the Enugu North senatorial zone (Nsukka) will take its turn in 2015, but sources have alleged that this unwritten political pact may be breached for the next general elections.

    If Ekweremadu contests for the governorship as it is being speculated, the implication is that Enugu West, where he and the incumbent governor hail from, would have spent an uninterrupted 12years at the Lion Building Government House by 2019.

    For Chime, who has also been in government since 1999, The Nation gathered that like most second term governors, he will be moving to the senate in 2015 to represent Enugu West, the same seat Ekweremadu currently occupies.

    Prior to his election as governor, Chime first served as ex-Governor Nnamani’s Special Adviser on Legal Matters and thereafter appointed as the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General.

    Among leading political gladiators in the state, it is feared that there is an understanding between the governor and the senator, which may compel the former to renege on his alleged promise to help the Nsukka zone realise its governorship dream in 2015.

    Ekweremadu’s denial to contest the governorship election in 2015 notwithstanding, leaders of thought in Enugu North, sources disclosed, are not taking anything for granted.

    In a strongly worded press statement issued recently, the leaders, who include Chief Mike Ojike, Chief Maximus Ukuta, Major Gen. Godwin Ugwoke (rtd), Prof. Damian Opata, Dr. Chuka Ezema, Sir Albert Nnamani and Chief Emmanuel Alachi, frowned at the alleged surreptitious plan to ‘deny Enugu North of its rights.’

    Excerpts of the statement read, “May we, therefore, remind the faceless groups behind this devilry even at the risk of over flogging what is common knowledge in Enugu State politics, that the state is made up of old Enugu and Nsukka zones. The governorship seat has been in old Enugu zone since 1999 and by 2015, it would have been 16 years in that zone.

    “Nsukka cultural zone, which is 52 percent of the voting population in the state, has been held down for the two senatorial zones of old Enugu zone to have their turn of eight years each consecutively as governor of Enugu State.”

    Though the agitation from the Nsukka zone to produce the governor in 2015 has become vociferous in recent times, sources told The Nation that agreeing on a consensus candidate could be a major challenge for the zone, with many aspirants from the area alleged to be oiling their political machinery in their bid to succeed Chime in 2015.

    Touted as possible candidates from Nsukka include the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh, who was quoted recently to have said it would be unfair to deny the zone of the governorship seat when Chime’s tenure lapses.

    Others being mentioned are Chief Ayogu Eze, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works; the state PDP chairman, Mr. Vita Abba and boss of the State Housing Corporation, Ikeji Asogwa.

    Until Ekweremadu’s alleged governorship became public knowledge, Eze was reported to be the leading aspirant, with the resources and the clout to prosecute a governorship campaign.

    Like most of the leading appointed and elected public officials at the state and federal levels, Eze also hit public limelight during the administration of Nnamani during which he served as a commissioner. He was elected as senator in 2007.

  • Didi hosts Ezeudu’s The Old and The New Testaments

    Didi hosts Ezeudu’s The Old and The New Testaments

    Enugu-based fine artist and founder, Bona Gallery, Enugu, Mr. Bona Ezeudu is not a visitor to the Nigerian exhibition circuit. His name reminds many of the famous AKA exhibiting artists, a group that dictated art practice in the 80s and 90s.

    This month, Ezeudu is returning to the Lagos art scene with a solo exhibition entitled The Old and The New Testaments holding at Didi Museum, 175 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The exhibition will open on Thursday, March 28 by 5.00pm and will run till Sunday, April 7. The special guest of honour is His Majesty Nnameka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha (Abgogidi), while Prince Dr. Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon of Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation will chair the occasion that will be hosted by Chief Dr. and Chief Mrs. Newton Jibunoh, founder of Didi Museum and FADE (Fight Against Desert Encroachment).

    Ezeudu graduated from the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu in 1980 with distinction in Painting. As a corps member at the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, he received an award after doing a commission for the then governor of the state, the late Chief Bisi Onabanjo. He also executed several commissions in Lagos and Abeokuta. He joined IMT in 1987 as a lecturer but left in 1992, as he considered teaching a distraction to his professional practice.

    He said: “ My solo shows started in Enugu in 1982 and 1983 at the British Council and later in National Museum, Lagos, Onikan in 1984 and 1986. That was where I met the late Ben Enwonwu and a few others. In totality, I have had about 12 solo exhibitions and a good number of joint exhibitions including the ones I had with Tayo Adenaike and Chima Ezeoke in the early 90’s at the National Art Gallery, Lagos. I also participated in group shows under AKA and Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA).

    He co founded AKA group of Exhibiting Artists in 1986. AkA was a group that motivated many young artists in the 80s and 90s. With other members like El Anatsui, Obiora Udechukwu, Tayo Adenaike, Chike Aniakor, Tony Umunna, Chris Afuba and others they changed the perspective of art practice in Nigeria.

    In 1988, Ezeudu established Bona Gallery, the first modern art gallery in Enugu, with the sole aim of uplifting art, encouraging young artists and creating artistic awareness. The gallery has hosted almost all AKA group of exhibiting artists’ exhibitions since 1989. The gallery also organised workshops for many secondary schools as a way of encouraging art training at that level.

    Ezeudu is not just a painter, he is well known for his metal sculpture. Almost all the metal works adorning the 82nd Division Army Barracks at Enugu were done by him.

    Bona said he has reduced his involvement in sculptures because he wanted to focus on paintings, which is less stressful and for which he wants to be remembered. “I have more than six styles of painting; I started with impressionism and others like abstract, cubism, pointillism, scratchy method, drip and control, mural etc. I experimented with colour schemes; there were periods when I used red, periods for brown and for blue, green and so on,” he said.

    The solo art exhibition would have been held 3 years ago, but was delayed as a result of his son’s kidnap. It will feature 42 selected paintings spanning over 35 years of his professional practice. The works include Drummer at Birds Eye View, First Outing, Migrants, Blue and Red Dialogue, Birds at Home and Mother-Grand Mother on a Palm Sunday. His works are in many public and private collections including former US President, Jimmy Carter and Nelson Mandela.

  • Enugu govt debunks Chime’s travel report

    The Enugu State Government has refuted claims that Governor Sullivan Chime has travelled again.

    A national newspaper on Sunday published a story, alleging that Chime has left the country for an undisclosed location.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Chukwudi Achife, said contrary to the report, the governor is in Enugu attending to official duties.

    Achife expressed dismay at the ease with which such report was published without any verification.

    He said the governor hosted his Bauchi State counterpart, Isa Yuguda and Senator Jim Nwobodo and his wife in Udi on Saturday, whereas the report claimed that he travelled on Thursday.

    Achife said the government would not have reacted to such a mischievous report, if not for the need to douse the anxiety that it may cause among the people.

    He said: “It’s really disheartening that such an untrue report could be published without regard to the fundamentals of ethics and professionalism.

    “One would have thought that after all that happened when the governor was away, our colleagues would have learnt some hard lessons about checking the veracity of their stories before publishing.

    “This story is another ample show of disregard for such values and I don’t think it speaks well for those who published it.”