Tag: Anambra State

By Ovat Abeng

The traditional ruler of Omor community in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Highness, Igwe Chris Oranu MON, has urged colleagues to desist from playing partisan politics in the state.

Igwe Oranu made the call while speaking to Journalists during at his palace, on Saturday.

He noted that traditional stool was a sacred position in the society and should be expected to serve the interest of the the subjects.

The traditional ruler while reaffirming his commitment to non-partisanship as a traditional ruler, emphasized that a king should remain neutral in political matters, offering support to the government of the day.

Read Also: Rep Member, Ogene Distributes Relief Materials To Two Displace Communities In Anambra

“As a traditional custodian of a community, I am not to be partisan, I should be prostate. Whatever the state government is doing, I should support because I am not meant to be partisan,” he stated.

Igwe Oranu maintained that citizens of his community, including political figures, are his subjects. “As a king, everyone residing within my community are my children and should be loved with equal measures, including political gladiators. To that extent, I am Pro-Governor Soludo.”

He further expressed unalloyed support for the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, noting that his loyalty lies with ensuring the welfare of the people through collaboration with the government.

The monarch explained that he sees his role as fostering unity and supporting policies that promote the development of Anambra State.

Addressing on the upcoming local government elections in the state, Igwe Oranu highlighted the importance of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) in ensuring credible and transparent elections. He explained that ANSIEC is legally empowered to oversee the electoral processes in the state, noting that it was established under an enacted law.

The monarch who expressed  confidence in the leadership of ANSIEC, chaired by Magistrate Genevieve Osakwe, praised the framework that guarantees the commission’s independence and operational integrity.

He described Magistrate Osakwe as an erudite scholar, well equipped to lead the commission through the upcoming local elections in delivery credible and transparent election.

“ANSIEC is chaired by an erudite scholar, Genevieve Osakwe, and I am confident she has what it takes to deliver,” Igwe Oranu stated.

According to him ,”the credibility of local elections hinges on the quality of leadership within ANSIEC. Magistrate Osakwe’s character and professional integrity make her well-suited for the task of ensuring free and fair elections.

Igwe Oranu however called on all stakeholders to support the leadership of ANSIEC as they prepare for the local government elections. He noted that with capable hands at the helm, the commission is well-positioned to meet its mandate and deliver an election process that reflects the will of the people.

By Ovat Abeng

The Lawmaker representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Honourable Victor Afam Ogene, (Labour Party), has distributed relief materials to two displaced Ogwu Ikpele and Ogwuaniocha communities in Ogbaru council area of the State

The items are hundreds of bags of rice, garri, soup ingredients including maggi, tomatoes pastes, groundnut oil, mattresses, clothes for children, adult men and women.

Over 5,000 people from the two distressed  communities benefitted from the gesture.

The Paradise News gathered that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)’s  co-ordinator in South East zone, Mrs Ngozi Echeazu assisted by officials of Anambra state emergency management agency (SEMA) flagged off the distribution and handed over the items to leaders of the two communities for further distribution to their people.

READ ALSO: Anambra Rep Member, Ogene Empowers 100 Youths in Renewable Energy Skills

Speaking immediately after the flagged off ceremony held at Richem Beach Hotel Iyiowa-Odekoe, in the council area, on Saturday, Mrs Echeazu, urged the leaders to make sure that the items were distributed to the most vulnerable in their areas, and, advised the people to conduct themselves and peacefully.

The Lawmaker equally donated the sum of One Million Naira to Ogwuanocha community to use it to commence building peace process in the community.

In addition to the relief materials,  Ogene trained 100 youths in the area in renewable energy skills, focusing on solar energy installation and maintenance, over the weekend.

The three-day training, organized with the Border Communities Agency (BCDA) and MODESCOM Solution Ltd., aims to promote self-dependence and economic growth.

Participants will receive start-up equipment, funding, and logistical support to enable them to earn a living in the renewable energy sector.

It was also gathered that Ogwu Aniocha, a crisis area, has been without its traditional  ruler since his abduction three years ago.

Both Ogwuikpele and Ogwu Aniocha are the only oil-producing communities in Anambra State, contributing 13% oil derivative to the state.

Despite this, they feel neglected by the state government.

Hon. Ogene presented their case to the House of Representatives, leading to NEMA’s intervention.

The beneficiaries in their seperate commendation, thanked Hon.Ogene for championing the cause of their welfare, promised to vote for him in the next election come 2027 general election.

By Ovat Abeng

Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District at the upper legislative chamber Abuja, has awarded scholarships to 223 students from 58 communities at constitute the district.

It was gathered that the scholarships, totaling N37 million, aim to support brilliant students who lack the financial means to pursue their academic dreams.

Speaking at the event, that took place at CANAN house Awka, on Thursday, Senator Umeh expressed his joy in helping deserving students achieve their academic goals.

He emphasized the importance of education in fighting ignorance, poverty, and distress.

Read Also: Education Minister Commissions World Bank Assisted Project In FSTC Awka

The scholarship selection process, described as painstaking, involved stakeholders, clergy, and community leaders.

It was gathered that Senator Umeh’s foundation has been providing scholarships for 17 years, with over 300 university graduates, including doctors and eight PhD holders, benefiting from the programme.

Encouraging the beneficiaries to aim high, Senator Umeh shared inspiring stories of past beneficiaries who had excelled in their fields.

He assured the students that his support would continue and even increase in the future.

The Senator while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for attracting student loan into his administration to help the less privilege Nigeria students, equally approved the appointment of Comrade JohnMary Ejiofor as his Senior Special Assistant on Scholarship program.

The beneficiaries on their unanimous appreciation, assure the benefactor (Umeh) that they will judiciously make good used of the money to achieved their aims in life.

The gesture was theme; Anambra Central Scholarship Programme.

By Ovat Abeng

The Honourable Minster of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, has commissioned a World Bank Assisted Project, tagged; Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition Skills (IDEAS Project), at the Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) Awka, Anambra State.

The Minister was represented at the commissioning ceremony held at FSTC hall Awka, on Thursday, by Mrs Uche Mbaogu.

The projects commissioned were three priority trade – Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Catering Craft and Electrical/Electronics buildings.

Speaking shortly after the official commissioning, the Minster said the projects will greatly enhance teaching and learning and improve academic standards.

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He urged the FSTC management to take full advantage of the facilities and make good use of them for educational and vocational development of the students.

The Director/Principal of the Federal Science and Technical College FSTC Awka, Mrs Margret Matthew, in her address, expressed joy over the projects, explaining that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Education, secured a credit to finance a new World Bank supported project known as Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS Project), in which her school is one of the few Colleges that benefited from the project.

According to her, the IDEAS is aimed at improving Nigeria’s Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) with the objective of improving skills acquisition.

“The IDEAS, according to the Project Document, comprises four components:

Partnerships with Industry for enhanced Quality and Labour-Market Orientation of Public Technical Colleges. This components makes provision for giving grant funding for the rehabilitation and upgrading of selected Federal and State Technical Colleges in which industry partners assume prominent role in institutional governance.

Increasing the availability of competent and motivated Technical teachers and instructors.

Strengthening the regulatory environment and public management capacities for market-oriented skills development which is targeted at further support for the Nigerian Skills Qualification Framework, NSQF.

“In realization of this Project, the FSTC, Awka, has now, through Quality Assurance Assessors Training at Umuahia, Abia State, from 9th January 9th July, 2023, gotten qualified Quality Assurance Assessors, QAAs, which enabled the College to be a Training Provider in Construction Trades. Technical Teachers and Instructors (TTI) of the College benefitted immensely also from the Component 2 with the training under the IDEAS held from 20th November to 8th December, 2023, at Government Technical College, Aba, Abia State.

“We are here today under the Component 1 of the Project to officially commissioned the rehabilitation and equipment of three priority trades including Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Catering Craft, and Electrical Installation/Electronics Works.

“Our College is now adequately equipped in these areas not only to serve the College Community and Awka environs but the entire Anambra State.

“This is indeed a milestone for this College. And may God continue to strengthen them as they assist us in ensuring that these equipment, tools and materials are continuously put to productive use.

Our firm assurance to the Federal Ministry of Education and World Bank is that with the resources available to us, we are going to deliver and achieve the great aim and objectives for the IDEAS Project and move to the next level,” the Principal noted.

The IDEAS Project Manager, FSTC Awka, Mr. Felix Duru, on his part said the IDEAS Project seeks to strengthen the labour market for skills development in Nigeria by unlocking essential system drives for quality and relevance, notably by leveraging industry involvement and crowding in private resources.

According to Mr Duru, the basic Project Development Objective (PDO) of the IDEAS Project is to enhance the capacity of the Nigerian skills development system to produce relevant skills for the formal and informal sectors,

He noted further that the IDEAS Project is also structured into four components: Incentive’s Public-Private Partnerships for enhanced quality and labour-market orientation of skills development in Public Technical Colleges; Improving skills formation for the informal sector; Increasing the availability of competent and motivated technical teachers and instructors in the Nigerian skills space; and Strengthening the regulatory environment and public management capacities for market-oriented skills development.

He noted that the IDEAS project operates at federal and state levels in Nigeria and that State-level interventions are implemented in six pilot states, namely Abia (South East Zone), Benue (North Central Zone), Edo (South South Zone), Ekiti (South West Zone), Gombe (North East Zone) and Kano (North West Zone).

In attendance were the representatives of the Permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, Director, Technology and Science Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Adenike Oloodo Muyibat, National IDEAS Project Coordinator, Mrs Blessing Ehi Ogwu, Traditional ruler of Awka Kingdom, Igwe Gibson Nwosu, PTA, staff and students of the college, among others.

By Ovat Abeng

The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike has said that the state is yet to record any confirmed case of Mpox virus.

According to Obidike, some states that border Anambra, including Delta, Ebonyi and Abia have all recorded confirmed cases of the viral disease and revealed that all the suspected cases in Anambra whose samples were taken have returned negative.

He explained that Anambra has introduced its emergency response teams since the inception of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration which has helped immensely in early detection of outbreaks and intervention.

He further revealed that there are also health informants and Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in all the three hundred and twenty-six wards in the State which have been equally activated.

Read Also: Reps Member, Ogene Appoints 70 Aides To Enhance Service Delivery In Anambra

The Commissioner assured that the State is ready and currently improving on all areas, especially in the area of surveillance and has also notified public and private hospitals to create holding areas for isolation of suspected cases of Mpox.

He explained that his Ministry has intensified risk communication through mass sensitization methods to educate the people on how to prevent and identify one suffering from the disease.

He advised residents to also embrace personal hygiene, ensure prompt reporting of cases to their nearest healthcare facilities.

By Ovat Abeng

In fulfillment of his commitment to delivering excellent service to his constituents, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, Representative of Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra State, has appointed 70 Constituency aides across Ogbaruland. The appointees comprise Advisers, Special Assistants, Executive Assistants, and others.

Notable among the appointees are Mr. David Chukwuekezie, Special Adviser (Political), Ben Nwasike, Special Adviser (Political), Emmanuel Akpati, Head, Media Relations, Maxwell Nwebo, Special Assistant Events, Frank Oduah, Personal Assistant (Education Programmes), Tina Nwafor, Special Assistant, (Women Mobilization), Amechi Ede, Executive Assistant (Religious Affairs), Celestine Obunne, Executive Assistant ( Youth Mobilization), Uche Onwura, Special Assistant, Community Relations, Brown Oduma, Executive Assistant (Agric), Abuchi Alagboso, Chidi Okafor, Special Assistant (Events), among others.

The appointment letters, signed by Mr. Chinedum Uwolloh, Chief-of-Staff to Hon. Ogene, outlined the aides’ responsibilities: “Assist the office of Hon. Ogene in achieving its core objective of delivering excellent service to the people of Ogbaru Federal Constituency in your specific area of appointment, or perform any other duties assigned by the office from time to time.”

The appointments were based on the appointees’ experience and commitment to Hon. Ogene’s success as Representative of Ogbaru Federal Constituency and the well-being of Ogbaru.

Read Also: Suspected gunmen killed police officer, bomb station in Anambra

The newly appointed aides are expected to bring their expertise and enthusiasm to their critical roles, especially enhancing service delivery to the constituents.

They will receive monthly allowances aimed at motivating them and enhancing their economic conditions. This financial support will facilitate their ability to carry out their responsibilities with greater ease and effectiveness, unencumbered by financial burdens. The allowances are intended to supplement their income, enabling them to better meet their basic needs and thus allowing them to focus on providing exceptional service to the constituents of Ogbaru Federal Constituency.

On assumption of office, Hon. Ogene, made a covenant with his constituents and Nigeria, outlining his commitment to responsible leadership.

The covenant, made public in February, 2024 during a thanksgiving programme to celebrate his victory at the tribunal reads:

“I pledge to be a sensitive, responsible, and responsive Representative, working tirelessly for the peace and socio-economic development of Ogbaru Federal Constituency.

“To prioritize the interests of the people, ensuring equity, fairness, and justice for all Nigerians in my lawmaking and oversight responsibilities, guided by the principles of servant-leadership.

“I commit to promoting self-accountability, decorum, propriety, and integrity in public office, setting a high standard for ethical governance.

“So help me God!”

With this covenant, Hon. Ogene reaffirms his dedication to serving the people of Ogbaru Federal Constituency and Nigeria with honour, dignity, and dedication.

By Ovat Abeng

The chairman of the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) Anambra state chapter, Comrade Kelvin Onyah, has warned illegal miners disrupting the programme of the state government to steer clear of all approved mining sites or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

The NUMW which is an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also commended the State Governor, Charles Soludo for reviewing the suspension of every mining activities in the state.

He said the warning has become necessary to keep illegal miners away from any form of incursions into approved mining sites by the state government and for guaranteed safety of environment.

Onyah gave the warning in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Awka the state capital.

Read Also: Flood: Established Permanent Holding Centers To Save Cost Of Governance – Anambra Red Cross Tells Soludo

“Comrade Onyah Kelvin Chimbuzor and all the entire executive of Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) appreciate Soludo for reviewing the suspension of every mining activities in the state. We appreciate him for honoring our appeal within a short period time, and we say thank you for your good governance,” the statement said.

He warned all the members of Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) not to engage in illegal mining, adding that before anyone can engage his or her self in mining field, that person must get registered and secure a mining certificate.

The body further warned that anyone who fails to provide mining certificate would be regarded as an illegal miner.

Recall that the State Governor Soludo had few months ago suspected all mining activities across the state following complaints of sharp practices by some of the operators.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje in a letter to the Chairman, Miners Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Branch; and a Public Notice jointly signed by Barrister Anthony Ifeanya, Commissioner for Petroleum and Solid Minerals, Dr. Felix Odimegwu, Commissioner for Environment; Professor Charles Ofoegbu, Managing Director, Anambra State Solid Minerals Development Company Limited.

The state government noted that Mining activities were being carried out in total disregard of the extant Mining Act, 2007, and the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law, 2024, the Environmental Protection Laws and Guidelines.

It observed that, the mining activities have brought untold devastation, vandalization, and degradation of the lands of the host communities, and caused various health and environmental hazards to the indigenes of the host communities.

It warned that defaulters of this Public Notice would face severe sanctions which may include arrest and criminal prosecution.

Onyah explained that the state Governor had taken delivery of a letter to his office and has commenced issuance of operational licenses to duly recognized operators to ensure peace and orderliness at all the approved sites.

The NUMW state chairman promised to work in collaboration with the state government in making sure that illegal miners operate peacefully in the state.

By Ovat Abeng

Anambra State Chapter of the Red Cross Society of Nigeria, has urged governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to established permanent holding centers across flood affected communities in the state.

The State Executive Secretary of Red Cross, Engr. Kingsley Chinoso Okoye, who made the called while briefing journalists at his office in Amawbia on Monday, in preparation ahead of the predicted flood in the state, said the proposed permanent holding centers, if established will save cost of governance.

According to him, the idea of using churches and school premises for camp purposes should be abolished, noting that it encourages corruption in the system.

“The used of churches and school premises in those flood affected communities should be band because at the end of the menace, the places are always left messed up destructively by the users, costing the government of the day to spend huge amount of money puting them back in good shape.

Read Also: Anambra holds south east photography exhibition

“There is always a serious mess up in every flooding year across premises of churches and schools in all the affected communities, in which some unknown persons from the area or from the government circle with used the challenges as opportunity to engaged in negative attitude.

“I think it’s good for governor Soludo to established the centers permanently with all the necessary building facilities to help safeguard the relief materials mean for the flood affected victims. Most of the materials donated by the government and other concerns organisations are always taking away unnoticed at the end of the camping due to the porosity of the area.

“If the holding centers are well structure with model toiletries, conference halls, canteens and lodging rooms, the government, churches, organisations and individuals can hold their function and programmes there, in turned create job opportunities as well as generating revenue to the state government.”

Engr Okoye used the media briefing to commend the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), for donating relief materials worth millions to 600 households affected by the 2022 flood in the state.

He also called on residents of riverine areas of the State, particularly, in Ogbaru LGA, Awka North LGA and Anambra East/West Council Areas respectively to immediately move to designated high grounds to avoid being caught up with the coming flood.