Tag: Anambra State

By Ovat Abeng

The Anambra State government has distributed about 120 free antishock garments to all government and missionary hospitals in the State.

The distribution exercise which took place at the governor’s lodge Amawbia, on Tuesday, has in attendance clergies and representatives of general and missionary hospitals across the state.

Declaring the exercise open, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Ben Obidike, said the free distribution of the antishock garments was part of governor Chukwuma Soludo’s agenda of turning Anambra Health sector into International best standard.

According to him, it has been announced that 11 percent of mortality occur in many Health facilities as a result of lack of antishock garments.

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He said that the garment will help prevent a bleeding pregnant woman from dying in the next 4-6 hours while waiting for emergency attention.

“Any woman who uses the antishock garment has the chances of surviving at least 48 hours and the garment can be used for more than 500 times before it expired.

“The free garments are for all the Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal and government hospitals across the state.

“The tension of the free antishock garments was deliberate to ensure that no woman in Anambra state died unnecessary from preventable curses because she is pregnant.”

The Commissioner while charging the beneficiary hospitals to put the garments into good used and to ensure that those living at the rural areas also benefited from the free services, noted that Anambra state now has the lowest cases of maternal/mortality rate in Nigeria.

In her remark, the wife of the state governor,  Dr Mrs Nonye Soludo, who is the major donor of the free garments, said that the exercise is very critical to the state government, as the administration of governor Chukwuma Soludo is determined to give Ndi Anambra an affordable and efficient healthcare system.

She reiterated her commitment to support her husband in instilling a healthy Living culture to the people of the state.

Mrs Soludo also charge the beneficiary hospitals to make used of the garments judiciously for the good of every pregnant women in their various facilities irrespective of political, ethic and religion affiliations.

On her part, the programme convener, Dr. Uju Okoye, while commending the Mrs Nonye Soludo for the kind gesture, said that the antishock garments were last distributed in the state in 2016 under governor Willie Obiano’s administration.

She noted that training for health workers that will handle the garments effectively will commence soon.

It was gathered that the free distribution was organised by the State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the governor’s wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo Healthy Living Initiative.

By Ovat Abeng

The traditional ruler of Onitsha Kingdom, HRM Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal government to suggest another alternative ways of ameliorating the hardship Nigerians are currently passing through across the country as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.

He noted that the removal of the subsidy has deepened the hardship in Nigeria.

The monarch made the call via his address at the ongoing 2023 Onitsha Ofala festival at his Ime-Obi Palace Onitsha, on Saturday.

According to him, “the last twelve months have been most eventful for our dear country, dominated largely by the politics of the national elections that took place in February this year. The outcome of the Presidential election which has been upheld by the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal (PEPT), has been further challenged at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Furthermore, the Civil Society Organizations have announced an extended civil disobedience agenda to occupy Nigeria in protest against the non transperency of the PEPT, in which would have been averted if INEC had convincingly conducted transperent  elections with the massive resources at its disposal.

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“The uncertainty has been further complicated by the continuing security concerns in most parts of the country.

“Following eight years of the previous administration, the early economic measures by the new administration, including the unilateral removal of the fuel price subsidy without a backup strategy, are seriously deepening the hardship in the country, particularly at the lower rungs of the society. In effect, the country is at a dangerous crossroads politically, economically, socially and security-wise.

“In South East, we have the aftermath of the last general elections; the complex and protracted security situation involving kidnappers, political thugs, state and non-state actors, etc, all  masquerading as unknown gunmen, as well as the crippling economic strangulation of the southeast arising from the insecurity and ill-advised sit-at-home protest that has cost Ndi-Igbo incalculable losses in finance, and tragically properties and lives.

“Our community (Onitsha), is not immune to the above challenges. Our people are also hurting badly. Therefore, despite the fact that the Ofala remains a celebration, we have made a conscious decision to prune down the scope of the festival for this year to more restrained levels in line with the prevailing mood in the country.

“We hope that the situation will improve significantly to enable us to resume the festival at the normal levels in the future.”

Igwe Achebe, also noted that the festival has put the town in international limelight and earned revenue for the the town and the country.

The governor of the state, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, who witnessed the celebration, commended Igwe Achebe for his community and youths development through educational and skill empowerment.

He said that Onitsha drives other development within other communities around the city.

“The touts will go in Onitsha, we shall continue to pursue hoodlums and miscreants out of Onitsha. We shall make sure that Onitsha city is being sanitized as commercial hub centre of Anambra and Nigeria at large,” Soludo said.

In an interviews with the press shortly after the event, the Marketing Manager of International Breweries PLC (Hero), the major sponsor of the festival, Mr. Dobem Orji, while calling for more patronage from the south east zone, assure that the company will continue to promote cultural festivals across Nigeria.

By Ovat Abeng

Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo has commissioned an ultra-modern multi-million naira security post for the Nigerian Army and other security forces, singlehandedly built and donated by the President-General of Umueri community, Amb. Chief John Chukwudi Metchie.

The security post which is located between the boundaries of Anambra-East and West will help ward off kidnappers, unknown gunmen and other daredevil hoodlums terrorizing the area and also help to guarantee a tranquil atmosphere between the two local governments.

Performing the commissioning ceremony, Governor Soludo who was represented by the Special Adviser on Security, AVM Ben Chiobi, described the security post as a monumental edifice which is in tandem with his mission of a liveable, lovable and prosperous home land through watertight security for all and sundry.

Soludo who commended the transition committee chairman of Anambra-East council area, Dr. Anslem Onuorah for convincing Dr. Johnny Metchie to sponsor the project, said the security post was a laudable initiative as well as a bold step taken to combating insecurity in the state.

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Soludo equally commended the sole sponsor and benefactor, Dr. Johnny Metchie, saying that government did not put a penny in the project as it was the singular efforts of Dr. Johnny Metchie, which he said implied that people in the communities were very much in support of his initiatives particularly in the approach to see that security is grassroots driven.

The governor maintained that crime has greatly reduced in the area with the establishment of the security post. That anyone who has bad intentions coming into the area, should know that there are competent people now to stop them.

He said his administration is community driven in initiatives and that his government is equally in sync with Public Private Partnership as exemplified in the security outfit built by Umueri President-General.

Meanwhile, the Transition Committee Chairman Anambra-East Local Government Area, Dr. Anslem Onuorah, said the facility will provide security for Anambra-East and West and Ndi-Anambra as a whole.

Onuorah who stated that Amb. Dr. Johnny Metchie was one of the stakeholders he has, also noted that Governor Soludo has always emphasized community partnership in the development of the entire state.

The Anambra-East TC Chairman however thanked and appreciated Dr. Johnny Metchie for the project and urged other public-spirited individuals to borrow a leaf from what Umueri President-General has done, pointing out that government can not do it alone.

The financier and sole sponsor of the security post project, Amb. Chief Dr. John Chukwudi Metchie also known as Ife Omambala, said the facility will not only serve Anambra-East and West but will by extension serve the entire state.

Metchie who recalled that in the past insurgents found their ways into Anambra-East through a neighbouring local government and unleashed terror and mayhem in the area, said the new security post for the Nigerian Army and other security forces will help curtail criminal activities in the area.

He therefore expressed hope that henceforth Umueri and other communities in Anambra-East and West will sleep with their two eyes closed because he believes that the new security post will further empower the existing security operatives already in place which includes the Police, the Vigilantes and Hunters in the area.

Metchie who also functions as the Prime Minister of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) said the motive behind the establishment of the security post was in line with the Solution Agenda of the present administration of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

He said everything should not be left for government to undertake, which according to him, was the primary reason he built the security post with his own money and donated it for public use.

Although he pointed out that there are areas where government can help the masses like construction of standard roads, job creation for youths and a host of others; he also commended Governor Soludo for empowering Anambra citizens with the One Youth, Two Skills Capacity Building Programme, where he acknowledged that the governor has taken many youths off the streets with the programme.

The Peace Ambassador who disclosed that the idea of the security post was muted by the Anambra-East TC Chairman and the President-General of Aguleri community and communicated to him,  however encouraged other Presidents-General to relate more cordially with members of their communities to enable them to institute projects in tandem with the most pressing needs of their respective communities even as he hinted that Umueri was the first community to install Close Circuits Cameras before other communities copied from them.

Again, Metchie stated that Umueri community has taken the lead by providing accommodation for Nigerian soldiers in their domain while urging other PGs to copy from their initiative, adding that communities should not wait for government as government can’t be everywhere at the same time.

Meanwhile, a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from the Omambala region, Sen. Emma Anosike, who performed the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of the security post, said Chief Johnny Metchie has given a leaway to other PGs in the area to emulate what he has done; that it is a window for them to excel.

Anosike said Umueri PG has provided a beautiful and befitting place for the military, stressing that if every community in the Omambala region does the same, then 50% of their security architecture is solved. He therefore congratulated Amb. Johnny Metchie, saying that it is expected that all other communities will support his efforts and the efforts of the Anambra-East local government chairman while also extending appreciations to Governor Soludo for supporting each local government area in the state.

Also President-General of Aguleri community in Anambra-East, Barr. Ifeanyi Rolex Iloakasia, said he was full of joy for the establishment of the new security post in the area because in the past, the area has been a nightmare because unknown gunmen invaded the area kidnapping people for ransom.

Iloakasia therefore prayed that God should replenish Chief Johnny Metchie with plenty to enable him to undertake more developmental projects for humanity in general while urging other PGs to replicate same in their respective domains.

On his part, the Chairman Nneyi Umueri Security Committee, Chief Joseph Anikpe Obelue, said the establishment of the security post was a welcome development because it will help end the ugly era of kidnappings and armed robbery attacks in the area.

Obelue emphasized that the combination of Army, Navy, Police, Civil Defence and local Vigilantes at the new security post will help a great deal to guarantee security in the area.

The new security base built and donated by Amb. Chief Dr. John Chukwudi Metchie was consecrated by Fr. John Manafa of St. Jerome Obosi, Idemili-North Local Government Area of Anambra State while operatives of the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS), Soldiers, Police personnel and a host of other very important personalities attended the official commissioning of the new security base for the Nigerian Army and other security forces in Umueri Anambra-East Local Government Area.

By Ovat Abeng

Following his emergence as the most popular nominee in the 2023 edition of NUJ Anambra State Man of The Year Award, the NUJ has presented HRH Igwe (Pharm) Alex Uzo Onyido, Ezechuamagha of Ogidi Kingdom, with the letter of nomination.

While receiving the nomination letter at his Ogidi Pharmaceutical firm head office, Igwe Onyido, who was beaming with joy, described his nomination as one of the greatest honours he has received in recent times. This is also given the rigorous screening and voting process involved in selecting the NUJ Man of the Year.

“I have received so many awards but the NUJ Anambra 2023 Man of The Year Award is not only unique but special. It is a testimony that it is not only my subjects, the Ogidi citizens, value what we do. My nomination also goes to show that the world is watching and taking note of our leadership impact in the society, because NUJ is the eyes through which the world sees what everyone does. I receive this nomination with joy. And I thank those who nominated and voted for me.”

He described NUJ as an important organisation which has a huge responsibility through their reportage geared towards engendering positive change and socio-economic prosperity of Anambra State and Nigeria as a whole.

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Going down the memory lane, Igwe Onyido recalled his silent contributions towards upliftment of society including employment of about 3,000 Nigerians directly, while engaging 5,000 others indirectly. In addition, 100 others are beneficiaries of his educational scholarships across board.

Presenting the nomination letter, the Anambra State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD, described Igwe Onyido as not only selfless but unique judging by what he has done not only in Ogidi community but across Anambra and Nigeria at large in wealth creation, job creation and human capital development as well as building bridges of friendships across regions and religions.

Dr Odogwu, who led a delegation of other journalists to the monarch’s pharmaceutical company to present the nomination letter, expressed amazement at the large number of staff under his employ.

He enjoined Igwe Onyido not to relent in his service to humanity which was a major factor that placed him ahead of other eminent contenders to the prestigious NUJ Anambra State 2023 Man of The Year Award.

Comrade Odogwu informed the traditional ruler that his industrial acumen and administrative sagacity as well as contributions to humanity, especially in advancement of the health sector, oil and gas, and manufacturing, helped to place him ahead of others.
He urged him not to relent in philanthropy, youth empowerment, job creation, and other developmental initiatives.

Igwe Ogidi is the Chairman of companies including Pal Pharmaceutical Industry, Ltd. Kano; Pal Oil & Gas LTD, Ogidi; Pal Plastic Ind.Ltd, Kano, and Alben Healthcare Industry, Ogidi.

He is the traditional ruler of Late Chinua Achebe’s community, Ogidi in Idemmil North Local Government Area of Anambra State, and represents traditional rulers in South-East Governors’ Forum Consultative Committee on Health (CCH).

The award ceremony is billed for 2nd November, 2023 at the Godwin Ezeemo International Press Centre, NUJ Secretariat Complex, behind the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) building, Awka. The event starts at 11 am.

NUJ Man of the Year Award is part of the activities lined up to mark the union’s Press Week; a yearly event which provides journalists with the opportunity to review their annual performance, x-ray challenges and relationship with their internal and external publics.

The event will witness presentation of prize to the winner of the Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna Award for Ethical Journalist.

Expected at the event are the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Charles Soludo, who will be the distinguished guest, while the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Right Hon Somtochukwu Udeze, will be the Special Guest of Honour. The National Chairman of APGA, Hon Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa will deliver the Keynote speech on the theme “Pragmatic Media Practice as an Antidote to Sustainable Development in a Distressed Economy: A focus on Anambra State”

Journalists from both online and traditional media, leaders of thought, government functionaries, students, and Anambra State indigenes among many others will also be in attendance.

The NUJ Anambra 2023 Man of the Year Award is awarded based on the track records of the nominees. The selection process was very painstaking to ensure that credible personalities who have distinguished themselves in their chosen life endeavours as well as impacted their environments emerge as winners.

The 2022 edition was won by the cerebral and successful banker, Dame Dr. Ada Umeoji. Umeoji, the Deputy Managing Director of one of Nigeria’s leading banks, Zenith Bank, holds the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). Her sterling achievements, industry and humanity are also appreciated by her community which honoured her with the prestigious title of Agubataofia, a title that depicts her bravery and courage even in a male-dominated environment.

By Ovat Abeng

A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Umar Lawal Faruk (Fakky), has congratulated Oluwaseyi Abiodun Tinubu, the son of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the occasion of his 38th birthday.

Faruk, in his congratulatory message made available to Journalists in Awka, on Friday, described Seyi as a serial entrepreneur and emphasized the importance of recognizing his accomplishments and positive influence on our nation and beyond.

According to him, Seyi has demonstrated unwavering commitment to various causes, including support for education, healthcare, and social initiatives.

“It is essential to reflect on the qualities and values that have shaped his journey. Seyi’s humility, integrity, and tireless dedication to the betterment of our nation serve as a source of inspiration for us all.

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“On a day like this, a shining and everlasting star was born into the family of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This star has risen and become a light to many households who have lost hope on their trajectory to achieve a greater feat.

“Hon. Seyi Tinubu has touch lives and provide succor to countless downtrodden Nigerians and the less privileged. A goal getter and talent hunter, S.T as he is fondly called has invested in many youth across Nigeria making them self reliant and well equiped for leadership role.

“As associates, well wishers and loyalists pour encomium on your humble personality to wish you long life and prosperity on the euphoria event of your birthday, may the mercy, joy and glory of God continue to be with you,” Faruk prayed.