Tag: Anambra State

By Ovat Abeng

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has extended warm greetings and felicitations to the Muslim Ummah in Anambra State and across Nigeria on the happy occasion of Eid el Kabir.

In his goodwill message, Governor Soludo stated that Eid el Kabir holds profound significance in the Islamic faith as it commemorates the enduring faith, obedience, and devotion to Almighty Allah.

“As our Muslim brothers and sisters observe this sacred event through acts of charity and communal prayers, it is a time for all of us to reflect on these universal values that bind humanity together,” he said.

Governor Soludo reiterated his administration’s steadfast dedication to fostering an environment of religious harmony, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence among all faiths in Anambra State.

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The governor also recognized the valuable contributions of the Muslim community to the state’s peaceful development and the enriching diversity they bring to its collective social fabric.

In this spirit of unity, Governor Soludo called upon the Muslim faithful to continue their support and prayers for the Anambra State government and Nigeria in order to advance the collective progress, security and the well-being of every citizen.

The governor therefore wished the Muslim Ummah happy celebrations of Eid el Kabir with abundant blessings, peace, joy, and prosperity.

The congratulatory message was contained in a statement signed and made available to Journalists in Awka on Monday by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime.

By Ovat Abeng

The Sarkin Hausa in Awka, Anambra State, Alhaji  Haruna Garuba and the Deputy National Director General of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders  Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Gidado Sidikki have urged Nigerians to embrace one another for peaceful co-existence in the state and Nigeria at large.

The duo made the  call shortly after their Eid prayers, to commemorate this year’s 2024 Eid-el-Kabir  celebration at the Central Mosque Awka, on Sunday.

Allahaji Haruna urged the Muslim community in the state to use the celebration to reflect and pray for  peace and harmony in Nigeria.

“My message to my Muslim brothers in Anambra State  is to pray for the country and Anambra State for  peace.

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“We will continue to pray for the governor of the State, Chukwuma Soludo and the people  of the state for a sustained peace” he said.

He also called on his Muslim brothers to use the Sallah celebration to visit the leadership in Awka and their friends in the state who are not Muslims.

“We need to visit our Christian brothers and the  leaderships of our host community because we are living peacefully with them.

Allahaji Sidikki who is also a Chieftain of MACBAN in South East zone, urged his Fulani brothers in the State to live in harmony with their host communities.

According to Siddiki, “Eid al-Adha, also known as Eid al-Kabir, is celebrated annually by Muslims worldwide to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son Isma’il as an act of obedience to Allah, who then substituted Isma’il with a ram. This is why Muslims traditionally sacrifice a ram on this day.

“We observe Eid al-Kabir as an act of submission to Almighty Allah, acknowledging that everything we receive and experience is ordained by Him. Despite enduring losses due to attacks and insurgency, we recognize that insecurity affects every region, not just the South East. Therefore, we use this occasion to beseech Allah for forgiveness and grant solace to those who have lost loved ones, while expressing gratitude for our own health and survival.

“Furthermore, I encourage my fellow residents of the South East to refrain from actions that jeopardize the peaceful coexistence we have enjoyed with our host communities, and instead foster unity and harmony amongst ourselves and with our hosts.

“We also appeal to the government, traditional authorities, and other institutions in the South East to treat us equitably, recognizing us as their constituents deserving of fair treatment. Additionally, I urge religious leaders of all faiths to acknowledge their role as custodians of peace, refraining from making inflammatory statements that could disrupt societal harmony,” the Sarkin Fulani Awka concluded.

By Ovat Abeng

The official launch of “Isiagu Cafe Liqueur” which took place in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State on Friday had in attendance notable celebrity influencers, media representatives, major distributors, and enthusiasts of the company’s products from the South Eastern States, including Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi.

Following the unveiling, Nnenna Uche-Onyenacho, Senior Brand Manager Emperor Beverages Limited, stated that the product was developed based on detailed research conducted among their target consumers in the eastern region, the insight from this research gave birth to Isiagu Cafe Liqueur which is tailored to suit the taste profile and expectations of the Easterners. She stressed that the  brand was created to celebrate the doggedness, entrepreneurship and resilience of the Igbo man who has been known to break through and make impacts wherever they find themselves. This drink resonates with the dignity, unity and love shared by Igbos hence the tagline of “nmanya nwafor” aptly describes all of those attributes.

The Marketing Manager Mr. Gbemileke Lawal, further reiterated the fact that Isiagu Cafe Liqueur is a drink for indulgence  that offers a unique flavour and experience. It can be consumed straight or as a cocktail at various connection points like bars and lounges as well as at home with friends and family. He mentioned that the brand is available in 20cl and 75cl SKUs making it affordable for different consumer profiles and would be distributed through various channels which include modern trade outlets, supermarkets, open markets, bars and lounges.

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Chief Sunny Nwankwo, the Managing Director of Sunny Nwankwo & Sons Limited in Enugu State and one of the company’s major distributor, commended the introduction of the new product, especially given the challenging economic conditions in Nigeria.

He assured that he and other distributors would work to ensure that Isiagu Cafe Liqueur becomes accessible to every household in Igbo land.

By Ovat Abeng

Grand Oak Limited, makers of Seamans Schnapps, Lord’s Dry Gin and Calypso Coconut Liqueur, has unveiled its new products, “Isiagu Cafe Liqueur” in south East Nigeria.

It was gathered that the official unveiling of “Isiagu Cafe Liqueur” which was held at All Saint Cathedral Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, on Friday, had in attendance, Kola Azeez, East Business Head, skits/notable celebrity influencers, media, Grand Oak Limited partners, major distributors and other lovers of the company’s products across the South East States, comprises of Anambra ,Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi respectively.

Speaking to Journalists shortly after the unveiling, the Senior Brand Manager of the Company, Nnenna Ude-Onyenacho, said Isiagu Cafe Liqueur have 40% alcohol and offer a unique taste that is perfect for straight consumption and also suitable for Ndigbo traditional rites.

She noted that the new product that has 20CL and 75CL was produce for Igbo consumption only and that the flavours mix is a major attraction for both old and young consumers in the region.

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According to Ude-Onyenacho, the product was born out of a detailed research carry out among our esteemed customers with focus on the eastern markets and based on the feedback from the research, we went back and create the product (Isiagu Cafe Liqueur), that speaks to their taste-board and expectations in terms of a liqueur. And this brand has all the elements that speaks to what the easterners are known for.

“So, this brand “Isiagu Cafe Liqueur is made solely for Ndigbo consumption only.

The Senior Brand Manager noted that the product is going to be available in all the trade-channels; model trade, supermarkets and open markets across the region.

One of the company’s distributor and the Managing Director of Sunny Nwankwo & Sons Limited Enugu State, Chief Sunny Nwankwo, who spoke briefly on behalf of others, while commending Grand Oak Limited for unveiling the new product amidst dwindling economic in the country, promised that he and other distributors will ensure that Isiagu Cafe Liqueur spread across every household in Igbo land.

By Ovat Abeng

Two nongovernmental organizations, based in the United States of America, USA, the ‘Life Care Coalition Outreach (LCCO)’ and ‘Igwe Davidson Okafor and Mercy Ikeanyi (INDOMI Foundation)’, have begun a training programme for guidance councillors in the 266 secondary schools in Anambra State on socio- emotional state of children in schools.

Sixty six guidance councillors from the six educational zones in the state took part in the pilot training in Awka and they are expected to replicate it in all the secondary schools in the six educational zones namely, Aguata, Awka, Nnewi, Ogidi, Onitsha and Otuocha.

Founder of the NGO, Prince Chinedu Ikeanyi said they will come back next year to assess the impact of what they have done in 2024. Ikeanyi, an educationist, said although members of the Foundation were excited coming to their state of origin to provide the services, there was no commitment and support from the state government.

“We keep explaining to them what we have come to do, but unfortunately many government officials appear not to be ready to cooperate in areas they are expected to, even when we informed them that we came back in response to the governor’s call for the people in diaspora to come home and assist in whatever way they can.

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“We want a situation whereby government shows interest in what we have come to do because if we go back and report that we were well received at home, more people will be eager to come home with their own programmes.

“If one quarter of our people show interest in our state, this state will attract a lot of development programmes,” Ikeanyi said.

Mrs Victoria Oby Anago, daughter of the late Igwe Ikeanyi, who is the executive director of LCCO, believed that in the absence of social workers in schools, guidance councillors would be able to perform the duties of the social workers after the training.

She said: “We expect the councillors to understand the background of the students they teach and assist them accordingly because environment contributes to the ability of the student to understand what he or she is taught.

“We expect them to, once in a while, bring all the teachers in their schools together and teach them ways of handling the students, in addition to teaching the various subjects.

“We have also informed the councillors that all the things we have taught them will be meaningless if they don’t implement them in their schools and zones”.

The Director of Educational Services in the Anambra State Post Primary Schools Services Commission, Mrs. Obianuju Onwuka explained that because of the large number of guidance councillors in the state, the 66 participants were selected from the six zones.

She commended the Ikeanyi family for remembering their state by using the Foundation established in memory of their late father, who was the traditional ruler of Enugwu Agidi in Njikoka local government area, to help the society.

“I recall that the family had done a similar thing for Principals of schools in 2021 and for them to be spending their hard-earned income to uplift the standard of education in Anambra State, shows that they love their state and their late father.

“Initially they wanted to do it for all the councillors in Anambra State, but the figure from all the secondary schools is staggering in terms of cost, so we selected those who will later train other teachers.

“I have confidence in the people that were selected for this training and I believe they will train others in their zones well. I will monitor them and ensure that they implement it properly.”

The resource person, Dr. Sevaughn Banks who is an Associate Professor at California State University, USA said she became involved in the project through a former student in her university.

“For this programme, I taught the guidance councillors about the ecological classroom which concerns student’s behaviour and all aspects of learning”, she said, and expressed satisfaction with the level of understanding of the trainees.

By Ovat Abeng

The Deputy Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Right Honourable Chukwuma Pius Okoye has commissioned a modern borehole built in his constituency as well as empowering over fourteen constituents.

It was gathered that the borehole was sunk in strategic areas in the constituency to cushion the effects of water scarcity in the area and also empowered his constituents from Nibo Ward three with start-up equipment to kick-start their business.

The work tools include sewing machines, grinding machines, hair dryers, and deep freezers.

The Awka South two lawmaker revealed that the initiative was to serve the immediate needs of the people and to complement the efforts of the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration in the state even as he pointed out that each of the water facilities has constant power supply with regular maintenance provided in order to achieve optimum performance.

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While assuring that he will not relent until democracy dividends reaches all his constituents.

He explained that the beneficiaries already have skills, but lacked the financial capability to procure the necessary equipment to kick-start their business and cautioned them that even though the equipment is free, they are not to be resold but must be used for the purpose they were bought for.

Also speaking during the event that took place at Nibo community on Monday, the President General of the community, Professor Tony Nwokoye commend the efforts of the lawmaker in meeting the basic needs of the community and acknowledged that one of the major issues of the area is lack of water.

Nwokoye explained that the projects speak to the Lawmaker’s integrity as a man of his words and commended him for running an open-door policy even after campaigns and assured him of their unalloyed support.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Eunice Mmaduka thanked the lawmaker for always associating with them even after elections and for his continued upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden in the society, assuring him that the equipment will be put to good use.