Author: Okechukwu Onwuka

ANAMBRA WEST APGA CONCLUDES CAMPAIGN, PROMISED INCREASED DEMOCRATIC DIVIDENDS

by Felix Igboanugo :

In a culminating event in Anambra West, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) wrapped up their campaign in Umueze Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area, vowing to bring more democratic dividends to the local council if elected.

The campaign rally which took them through Olumbanasa, Ezi Anam and Ivite Anam communities started on September 18 and was held in a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, with party leaders and supporters coming together to affirm their commitment to progress, development, and inclusivity.

Speaking during the final tour at Umueze Anam, the APGA Chairmanship candidate, Mr. Fidelis Nnazor highlighted key areas of focus if elected, to include infrastructure development, Youth empowerment, healthcare, security, education, and Agriculture etc.

Emphasizing the importance of community engagement and participation, Mr. Nnazor assured Anambra West voters of a transparent and accountable administration, promising to reciprocate the developmental agenda of Mr. Governor in the local council.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Tony Collins Nwabunwanne appreciated ndi Anambra West for supporting the present administration of Governor Chukuwma Soludo, which he described as the solution Governor.

He reeled numerous achievements of the governor in the local council to include Mmiata-Nzam Road, General Hospital at Oroma etiti, Youth empowerment, free education, free antenatal and free delivery for our young mothers among others.

Mr. Nwabunwanne appealed to ndi Anambra West to support the party flag bearer Mr. Nnazor, assuring that he would consolidate on Mr. Governor’s achievements in the local council.

The Immediate past House Member, representing Anambra East and West at the federal House, Mr Chinedu Obidigwe, and State House Member representing Anambra West, Mr. Patrick Obalum Udoba among other speakers aligned with the commissioner, urging ndi Anambra West to reciprocate Governor Soludo’s gesture by voting for the party.

Highpoint was the final presentation of the party candidate, Mr. Fidelis Nnazor, and his deputy, Mrs. Edith Ndive, and councilors to ndi Anambra West.

* Igboanugo is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *

SOLUTION FRONTIER MOVEMENT DECLARES SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR SOLUDO’S SECOND TERM BID

By Ukpa Ewa :

The Solution Frontier Movement, a prominent grassroots support group in Awka South Local Government Area has publicly endorsed Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s second term bid. This was disclosed during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA), Mr. Ossy Onuko at his office in Awka.

Addressing journalists in Awka, the Coordinator of Solution Frontier Movement, Mrs. Ego Akabogu speaking on behalf of the movement, emphasized that their support network spans across all wards and 21 LGA’s in the state. She stressed the group’s commitment to ensuring that Governor Soludo secures a second term, lauding his administration’s development strides.

“We are here to ensure Governor Soludo’s re-election and to collaborate in moving Anambra forward, ” There will be no vacancy in Anambra Government House come 2025″ she said.

In his response, the Managing Director of ACTDA, Mr. Ossy Onuko, commended the leadership of the Solution Frontier Movement for their visit.

He expressed his appreciation for the transformations in Awka under Governor Soludo’s administration, citing the construction of a Government House and Amusement Park in the City as notable achievements.

He encouraged the group to remain dedicated, emphasizing the importance of their contributions and support.

The MD affirmed that Governor Soludo has achieved much with limited resources, without resorting to loans, and therefore deserves continued support, encouraging the movement to become one of the strongest groups in the state before the 2025 elections.

In a vote of thanks, the representative of Solution Frontier Movement, Awka Ward Two, Mr. Matthew Okeke, applauded Governor Soludo’s vision of making Anambra State a prosperous homeland.

He assured the governor and the state of their continued dedication and efforts in ensuring Anambra remains on a path of progress.

* Ukpa is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State

STRENGTHENING MEDIA TIES: RADIO NIGERIA PURITY FM VISITS ANAMBRA INFORMATION COMMISSIONER

By Obiadi Obinna :

The Anambra State government has emphasized its commitment to prioritizing media coverage of its policies and programs. This was articulated by the newly appointed Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, during a courtesy visit by the management team of Radio Nigeria Purity FM in Awka.

Dr. Mefor expressed regret that the significant achievements of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo have been underreported, highlighting that over a hundred projects have been initiated since the Governor’s inauguration two and a half years ago.

The Commissioner assured that his ministry would continue to collaborate with media organizations, including Radio Nigeria, to highlight Gov. Soludo’s accomplishments, underscoring the vital role of the information system as a bridge between the government and the public.

Dr. Mefor also announced plans to organize a media tour for journalists to showcase the numerous ongoing projects across the state.

Earlier, the General Manager, Radio Nigeria Purity FM Awka, Mr. Uchenna Chukwuedo, congratulated Dr. Mefor on his appointment, pledging the station’s readiness to partner with the ministry for comprehensive coverage of government activities in the region.

Mr. Chukwuedo encouraged the new Commissioner to leverage the extensive reach of Radio Nigeria, the flagship of radio broadcasting in Nigeria, to promote government programs and achievements.

*Obinna is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State

ELDER PERSONS’ DAY: COMMISSIONER MEFOR ASSURES PARTNERSHIP WITH NNSCFOA

By Rose Oranye :

Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, today, September 25, 2024, received some members of National Stakeholders Consultative Forum on Ageing (NNSCFOA), led by the the Co-chair/Facilitator, NNSCFOA, Anambra State, Iyom Josephine Anenih, at his office in Awka.

According to Anenih, the aim of the visit was to inform the commissioner of the 2024 International Day for Elder Persons with theme, “Our Age Friendly Place and Our True Value; Recognizing People and Places that are Important to Us,” which will commence by 9am at Dr Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, on Saturday, October 5, 2024.

She explained that the NNSCFOA was instituted by the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), headed by Dr Emem Omokaro to build synergies through stakeholders partnership and networks across the 36 states and the FCT to enhance programs for the improvement of the quality of life and well-being of older persons in the states and called on the government and people of Anambra to be part of the ceremony.

Welcoming the group, Commissioner Mefor assured of the willingness of the ministry to partner with them and promised to ensure adequate coverage of the event.

*Oranye is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State

COMMISSIONER MEFOR URGES COMPLETE PARADIGM SHIFT IN ABS OPERATIONS

By Rose Oranye :

Anambra State’s new Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor has called for complete paradigm shift in the operations of Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) to enable her meet up with current challenges of strategic communication.

The commissioner, who made the call during his familiarization visit to the station, observed that ABS as the flagship of information architecture in Anambra State requires revitalization and total changes in her way of doing things.

“Don’t look at your task from civil service view. We need to really have a change of approach. I have noticed the lapses in terms of materials. I will try to do everything to get the tools you need.

“We have the Solution Footprints. ABS will help in this regard. We should tackle the social media. We can’t approach them with full documentaries. We need short, specific messages. ABS and other traditional media should be migrating to social media to avoid being left behind,” the commissioner said.

In his remarks, the ABS Managing Director, Mr Christopher Molokwu, who received the commissioner with other management staff explained that ABS is trying to rebrand and reposition to make the audience believe but is facing a lot of challenges, especially the lack of working tools.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Barr. Ndirika Onyekwelu and the Acting Director of Information, Mr Emma Ikegwuani, among others also visited the Anambra State Library Board.

*Oranye is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State

OKIJA SOLUTION MOVEMENT PRESENTS SPECIAL PORTRAITS TO MEFOR

By Rose Oranye :

Members of Okija Solution Movement, today, September 24, 2022, presented two special portraits to Anambra State’s new Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, in his office at Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka.

The group, led by the Chief Administrator, Cosmos Igboekweze and the secretary, Mr Remi Nnamdi Madueke made the presentation during their courtesy visit to the commissioner.

According to the Chief Administrator, Igboekweze, the members of the group came to express their happiness over Mefor’s appointment and are confident that Mefor will perform beyond expectations.

In his remarks, Dr Mefor, who was visibly happy over the special portraits solicited the group’s partnership in sensitizing Ndị Anambra of Governor Soludo’s numerous achievements.

According to him, Governor Soludo has done a lot in all aspects of development in the state.

“Anambra State is regaining its pride of place in sports. The Governor has brought back academicals. Soludo is Solution indeed and the governors’ governor.

” He has done a lot without borrowing a kobo. No government in Nigeria has done that. Let’s work together to make people understand what Soludo is doing and what he has done,” he said.

*Oranye is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State

SOLUDO, GIVING SPORTS ITS PRIMACY OF PLACE – MEFOR

By Rose Oranye :

Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor has expressed Governor Soludo’s commitment to giving sports its primacy of place in the state.

Receiving members of the Sports Writers Association (SWAN), Anambra State Chapter, who paid him a courtesy visit yesterday, September 24, 2022, at his office in Awka, Dr Mefor noted that with the return of school sports, the governor is already making way for sports excellence in the future.

According to him, the performance of Team Anambra in the just concluded National Youth Games, where Anambra bagged nine gold, 9 silver and eight bronze is a testament of the Governor’s good works in sports development.

“I noticed that Anambra State is returning in field tracks. The school games is already yielding results. There’s need to catch them young to be doing well in sports and that’s what Governor Soludo is doing in Anambra State. He is making way for sports excellence in the next five years and more.

“More facilities will be put in place. We need to encourage more people to board the tracks. Apart from being a veritable source of employment, sports keeps the youths occupied as an idle mind is a devil’s workshop.

“Watch out what cultism and drug abuse are doing to the society. We need to create alternative positive actions that can be rewarding and engage the youths,” he said.

The commissioner, who expressed the ministry’s readiness to partner with SWAN, urged the members to make formal requests regarding the installation of the Governor as their Grand Patron as obtainable in other states, among other issues.

Earlier, the SWAN Chairman, Anambra State, Chimezie Anaso expressed the association’s commitment to promoting Governor Soludu’s administration through positive reportage of his moderate strides in the sports sector.

*Oranye is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State

MORE SCHOOLS IN ANAMBRA REPORT PROGRESS AS 2024/2025 ACADEMIC SESSION UNFOLDS

Michael Ezenwata :

Following the resumption of Primary and Post Primary Schools in the state for the 2024/2025 academic session,the press visited some schools to monitor the resumption exercise.

A visit to St.Patrick’s College Awka a mission institution, speaks volumes of order,discipline and commitment to duty by the school management.

The Manager/Principal of the College, Reverend Father Paschal Udo announced that the institution met all requirements in terms of their pre resumption meeting for teachers, orientation exercises for the new intakes in the school, and their parents,and resumption tests for the students.

In terms of challenges facing the College,Father Udo listed the economic challenges facing the country and grappling with stabilizing the new intakes.

He announced that the College took the 1st position in the state this year in the German/Chinese languages competition organized by the Stelated-Bilateral Educational Consultancy, a foreign Firm based in Nigeria.

The Manager charged the teachers to aim at more academic excellence and moral probity to advance the academic and intellectual property of the students and the standard of the College.

At the Kenneth Dike Memorial Secondary School Awka, the Principal of the college Mrs. Catherine Onwurah reported an impressive turnout of teachers and students on the day of resumption and and the conduction of resumption tests for the students.

She mentioned some of the needs of the college to include provision of functional laboratories,security, dilapidated Sumo for water reticulation etc.

The principal commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for posting 15 teachers to the school.

A visit to the Hez- Dike Secondary School Awka was fruitful as the Principal Mr.Mishael Okoye told the press that all teachers and over 85% of the students were present during the resumption of the school.

Mr. Okoye described the school as an institution that produces quality education but needs adequate funds to run its affairs.

He described governor Soludo as an educational friendly governor.

The press also visited the National Secondary school Awka where students were seen in their traditional attire portraying the Igbo cultural heritage.

The Principal of the College Mr.Christian Ebe told the press that teachers and students resumption presence on the school’s resumption day was appreciable and resumption tests held.

He called for the proper funding of the college.

APGA SET FOR LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN ANAMBRA LG ELECTION – IBUZO—DESCRIBES SOME POLITICIAN AS JOBLESS

By Juliana Nwachukwu :

Former Anambra State lawmaker, who represented Onitsha North 1 in the State House of Assembly, Edward Ibuzo, has expressed confidence that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will dominate the upcoming local government elections on September 28.

Ibuzo who was the candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), representing Onitsha North/South in the Federal House of Representative during the last general election disclosed this at Alex Ekwueme Square during the APGA Rally for local government election.

He stated that it is APGA all the way because Governor Soludo has delivered dividends of democracy to the people, ”Anambra State is now APGA.

“The state has been progressing since APGA took over the mantle of leadership, Anambra is APGA and APGA is Anambra and I look up on APGA as a party that will one day provide president for this country”, he affirmed.

He also said that he was stopped from winning the election for the Green chamber because of the Tsunami of the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, (LP), Mr. Peter Obi.

According to him, the emergence of Obi as the LP Presidential candidate gave most of the candidates the opportunity to emerge victorious even if they were nobody and not known by the people who voted for them.

“Unfortunately those that were elected because of Obi have not been able to provide dividends of democracy to the people they represent. They are just there without any achievements. So those elected under the platform of Labour Party have disappointed the people.

“They never made use of their victory properly and I am highly disappointed in them. I hope the people are counting because the motive for them to be there has not been achieved,” he stated.

The former lawmaker disclosed also that 70 per cent of Nigerian politicians have no handwork but rather see politics as handwork which according to him, the situation plunged Nigeria into the present socio-economic and political quagmire.

“It is unfortunate that 70 per cent of Nigerian politicians don’t have handwork, they don’t have anything doing. You must have something doing so that if you are out of politics you go back to your business.

“I am now into oil and gas, I am also into estate management. When I was defeated by the Obi’s Tsunami, I went into my business. So politics is not business, you should look for something doing,” he advised.

* Nwachukwu is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State *

ENHANCING COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION: DR. LAW MEFOR’S STRATEGIC AGENCY VISITS

By Azuka Nnabuife, Ngozi Nnajiofor :

As part of his familiarization tour, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, visited the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) and the Anambra State Library Board in Awka.

The commissioner who explained that the visit was to engage with staff and understand the challenges they face in their work, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to improve operations.

Dr. Mefor emphasized the need for a comprehensive overhaul to bring about positive change, suggesting that the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) embark on community-focused projects. These projects would involve in-depth interviews with local communities about ongoing initiatives, shedding light on the administrative frameworks that have driven these projects forward.

He expressed his desire to organize town hall meetings across the 21 local governments in the state, where he plans to meet with the Presidents General (PGs) and traditional rulers.

He highlighted the vital role of journalists, referring to them as the government’s “megaphone”.

Mr. Chris Molokwu, the Managing Director of ABS, shared insights about the challenges the media house faces, indicating plans for training to rejuvenate their operations.

On his tour to the state Library Board, the commissioner pointed out Governor Soludo’s commitment to education, specifically mentioning the provision of scholarships for basic education from primary to secondary school.

He emphasized the initiative of “1 youth, 2 skills,” aimed at equipping young people with multiple skills to serve as ambassadors for their communities.

The Acting Director, Anambra State Library Board, Mrs. Obioma Obalum, outlined several challenges being faced by the board, including issues with electricity and the functionality of some libraries in the state.

Mrs Obalum explained that the board conducted sensitization and training programs for children during the long vacation to foster learning.

The commissioner’s visit was focused on tackling pressing issues through collaborative efforts, emphasizing the vital role of effective communication and education in the state’s development.

* Nnabuife and Nnajiofor are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State