The Anambra State Government is delighted to share a pivotal document that encapsulates the transformative journey and significant achievements of Anambra State over the past two years. “100 Foundational Footprints: Two Years of Excellence” is a comprehensive presentation that meticulously outlines the strides made in various sectors, including security, infrastructure development, economic transformation, human capital enrichment, and governance reforms, under the astute leadership of Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, our esteemed Governor.
The document is a testament to Anambra State’s unwavering commitment to fostering sustainable development, enhancing the quality of life for our citizens, and laying a robust foundation for the future prosperity of Anambra State. It highlights the accomplishments to date and delineates the strategic roadmap for our ongoing and future initiatives aimed at realizing the vision of transforming Anambra into a livable and prosperous international smart megacity.
We cordially invite policymakers, stakeholders, residents, and well-wishers of Anambra State to delve into this insightful presentation. It serves as an opportunity to engage with the developmental narrative of Anambra State, understand the depth of work undertaken, and join us in the collective journey towards a brighter, more prosperous future. Your engagement and feedback are invaluable as we strive for excellence and inclusive growth. We encourage you to access and share this document, as it reflects our achievements and our unwavering dedication to transparency, accountability, and participatory governance.
March 17, 2024 marks exactly two years Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, and his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, were sworn into office.
Governor Soludo’s pitch for the job was crafted in his manifesto document, *THE SOLUDO SOLUTION – A PEOPLE’S MANIFESTO FOR A GREATER ANAMBRA*, which aims to transform the state into a liveable and prosperous smart mega city – a preferred destination to live, invest , learn, work, relax and enjoy.
To effectively realize these objectives, governance was strategically structured into five compartments or the famous *5 Solution Agenda* , namely: _Security, Law and Order; Economic Transformation and Infrastructure; Human Capital and Social Agenda; Governance, Rule of Law and Value System; and Environment_.
Guided by this agenda, Governor Soludo and his team have significantly created a humongous impact on Ndi Anambra and the landscape in just two years. Even the naysayers cannot but acquiesce that Odenigbo has done Very Well.
From tomorrow, Sunday, the 17th of March, I will, on daily basis, walk you through the journey so far in a 5-series Second Anniversary exposé.
_Reacts to call for Federal and State Governments to prioritize security and food_
Rose Oranye :
Activities marking the second year in office of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, of Anambra State have commenced with the commissioning of roads and a plethora of other completed projects.
Anambra State’s Commissioner for Information, Paul Nwosu, who disclosed this in an interview said the governor, on Tuesday, distributed 2000 laptops to teachers and commissioned Port Harcourt and Niger Streets on Wednesday, and will proceed to Amansea-Ebenebe-Ugbenu-Ugbene-Awba Ofemmili Road on Thursday the 14th of March to perform the same function.
According to the Commissioner, “the unique aspect of the road commissioning is that, unlike some states that will fly in dignitaries to cut the tape, Governor Soludo believes that no commissioning can be better than the one done by regular members of the public such as the bus and keke drivers who ply the roads as well as the villagers who are having a tarred road pass their communities for the first time.
He said that the climax of the anniversary events will be an interdenominational thanksgiving service on Sunday, which will attract a lot of dignitaries, after which the commissioning of projects will continue, since there are quite a lot of them.
“To mark the occasion, we will soon release a document, cataloging over 100 sterling achievements of Governor Soludo within the two years for people to see and appreciate. Our indefatigable Governor has done a humongous amount of work within this short period and it’s important that our people should know,” Nwosu said.
Reacting to the call by some politicians for federal and state governments to suspend everything they are doing and declare state of emergency on security and food, Nwosu said he would not speak for others but what he knows for sure is that when Soludo came into office, he declared a state of emergency on security. He created the Ministry of Homeland Affairs, appointed a retired Air Vice Marshall as Special Adviser on Security and reorganized the Anambra Vigilante Group.
“He also developed a very good working relationship with the local commanders of the armed forces and the police. The result we see today is that seven out of eight local governments hitherto under siege by criminals have been liberated. Ndị Anambra in the diaspora can now return home to attend funerals and different social functions.
“At the inception of this administration, Governor Soludo came with a new concept to growing and producing food. He calls it Regenerative Agriculture.
This kind of agriculture enhances the organic nature of the crops we farm because natural manures are used. So when people are thinking of just producing food, Governor Soludo is thinking about the quality of the food we produce.
“For the Governor, it’s not just about consumption. He also thought about economic empowerment through agriculture. This led to the procurement and free distribution of 1,140,000 early fruiting varieties of hybrid oil and coconut palm seedlings to over 100,000 households of ndị Anambra. Another 1,000,000 will be procured this year, including 340,000 economic tree crops like ụkwa, akịlu, ọjị́ Igbo and pawpaw, among others”, he said.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the government, in partnership with IFAD, has empowered 27,800 small scale farmers across seven local governments with subsidized seedlings that have significantly jerked up agricultural production in the state.
“So, the argument that other aspects of governance should be suspended except provision of security and food is flawed. You know why? In the first place, there is no economy, even the best in the world, where people are kept in their houses for government to knock on their doors every morning and supply them food.
“Secondly people are economically active by nature. That’s how God created man. The purpose of government is to create the conducive environment for man and his economic activities to thrive. And all of these, our progressive Governor has achieved through his policies and programs in the last two years. They are such that have created jobs through the many construction sites. They have empowered youths through skills importation and start-up grants. They have employed thousands of teachers and medical personnel whose salaries have been running uninterruptedly. They have supported a vibrant civil service whose regular salaries were increased even before the advent of palliatives. The free education has enabled the unprivileged child to acquire basic education. The free antenatal and delivery services.I can go on and on.”
The Commissioner concluded thusly: “Those politicians are entitled to their opinion but I am sure they were not directed at Soludo.*
The Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has affirmed that teachers are the greatest while doling out over 1000 Lenovo brand laptops to Headteachers and Principals at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Awka.
Addressing the teachers and top government functionaries who graced the event, Mr. Governor applauded teachers for the great work they do toward moulding the future of the young ones entrusted to them.
.
He said that the distribution of the laptops is in alignment with his administration’s quest to transform state schools into smart schools and it starts with those at the helm of leadership.
He equally highlighted that the teaching profession is not just a job but a vocation.
“If you want to predict the future of any society, you need to look at the quality of teachers and the quality of teachings obtainable in that society.”
Prof. Soludo acknowledged that the state teachers are excelling nationally but enjoined them to look beyond the national level to international level and aspire to replicate what their counterparts are doing in the teaching sector.
He said that the provision of the work tools is to help them be at the cutting edge of technology as the state is looking to train global children who would be useful at home and exportable abroad.
Gov. Soludo pledged that as long as the resources are available, his administration would prioritize the state education sector.
“My administration is out to turn schools into smart schools. My administration is out to end the era of schools without teachers, hence, the recruitment of 5000 teachers nine months after the assumption of office as the Governor of the state and the subsequent approval for additional recruitment of 3000 teachers,” he said.
The governor said that he envisioned an era where every teacher in the state would carry their laptops just as they carry the phone, adding that in line with his administrative pillar on human capital development, basic training on computer skills and provision of WiFi to schools would be implemented.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh applauded Gov. Soludo for his passion and zeal to elevate the state education sector to international standard.
She acknowledged his dexterity and commitment to the teachers welfare which clearly showed that he is a teacher to the core.
Prof. Chuma-Udeh noted that with the pronouncement of free education by Gov. Soludo, there has been a surge in enrollment in public schools, emphasizing that this is an attestation that Mr. Governor knows and understands the pain points of the populace.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the Post Primary School Commission (PPSC), Prof. Nkechi Ikediegwu, and the Chairman of Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Prof. Vera Nwadinobi said that the provision of work tools to teachers would enhance efficiency and prompt service delivery in the sector.
In his vote of thanks, the State President, of the All Nigerian Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Mr. Jovita Arazu pledged teachers’ unwavering commitment to qualitative education in classrooms and collaborate with Gov. Soludo-led administration in raising a digitalized tribe of students who would be useful at home and exportable abroad.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of work tools to Headteachers and Principals.
The distribution of Laptops to the Headteachers and Principals is the first phase of the initiative, a second phase will comprise the distribution of laptops to each classroom teacher and ICT teacher in all the schools in Anambra State.
*Obiageli is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
The Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu has charged Ndi Anambra to key in to the Healthy living with Nonye Soludo.
Healthy living with Nonye Soludo is a social health crusade founded by Dr.Nonye Soludo, the wife of the Governor of Anambra State, aims at re-establishing a health conscious mindset and promote the philosophy of right health in families, schools and communities in Anambra State and beyond.
The mission is to mobilise all critical segments of the society to make healthy living an important culture
Speaking at the ASUBEB hall, during the distribution of 27,000 cartons of vitamins supplements to elderly people in the 336 wards of Anambra State by Healthy living with Nonye Soludo, the commissioner reiterates that good health and clean environment will bring out productivity in the lives of every onye Anambra for maximum output in rendering services.
He thanked Mr.Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo for creating enabling environment for greener, clean and livable Anambra, assuring the wife of the governor that he will personally take the crusade of healthy living with Nonye Soludo down to all corners of the state.
* Kennedy is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State*
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has terminated the Contract of NBHH Engineering Company at Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the State over negligence and delay in delivering nine roads totalling 14.053 km roads in Okpoko
The Governor announced the immediate termination of the road project contract when he visited the site unannounced on February 20.
Speaking to the contractor, Gov. Soludo said, “The entire project suppose to be through by June last year, this is the eight month after the project supposed to be through, you do not have the capacity to do the job.
“This project suppose to last for nine months and you were mobilized September 10 – February 10 this year, yet, this is February 20, this is the 9 month, and it was supposed to be ended.
“It is totally evident that your company is totally incompetent and we paid 50% mobilization 2022, there is no place else that pays 50% mobilization, and this project suppose to be delivered June last year, nine months after, you have not delivered.
“Today and here, I terminate this contract, it is over, you are going to calculate what you are going to refund back to the state government, you can move your things out here, from tomorrow, I am going to look for another person that will do this job”.
The governor also condemned the practice of street trading, emphasizing the need for organised markets and announced the construction of a modern fruit and vegetable market to relocate street vendors and improve overall aesthetics.
He highlighted the poor sanitary conditions and ordered immediate clean up efforts, assuring that the SASA Anti-tout taskforce will address harassment and illegal levies imposed on traders.
The Transition Committee Chairman of Ogbaru, Mr Paschal Aniegbuna applauded Gov. Soludo for his commitment to tranforming Okpoko community into a livable homeland and expressed optimism about the governor transforming the Okpoko markets into modern markets , following government’s meeting with okpoko market leaders.
The nine road project in Okpoko include: Obodoukwu – Owerri Road (L= 2.884km W=12m), Ogbuagu-Ik Onuora-Anumudu-Mgbuka Amazu -Owerri Road (L= 2.992km W=7.3m), Edeh Road-School Road-Awalite-Ojoto-Owerri Road (L= 1.48km W= 9m), School Road-Umuobom Street-Ojoto Street Junction (L= 0.576km W= 6m) and
Umuobom ST (Ojoto St Junction)-Adazi Ani ST-Owerri Road (L=1. 345km W=6m).
Others were Umenweke ST (Obodoukwu Junction)-Umeojiakor ST (School Rd Junction) (L=0.593km W=6km), Awalite (Ojoto Junction) -Anumudu (Mgbuka Amazu Junction) (L= 0.991km W= 6m), Uzii Street-Mission Street (Awalite Junction) (L= 0.538km W= 6m), and Anumudu Street (Ik Onuora Junction) – Gmo Road (L= 0.350km W= 9m), totalling 14.053km.
*Juliana is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
Commendations have trailed Gov. Chukwuma Soludo’s move in transforming the Awka metropolis to Dubai of our time, describing the activities as worth doing.
This was made known when Anambra Times reporter went round Awka metropolis to monitor some project sites particularly the road from Unizik to Okpuno axis and the road leading to Umukwa Awka where people confirmed that Awka is beginning to take a new look and shape.
Among the categories of persons that spoke were drivers, traders and some working class citizens in the state who noted, “the work has started giving the state capital a different look unlike past years when everywhere are congested with lots of unwarranted building blocking road and at the same time causing more harm than good”.
They explained that even though it is painful to know that some structures were heavily affected, “it is still the best option for a better future”.
According to them, it is a good strategy to put and make things right. It will bring orderliness in the state capital. There will be functional motor parks, reduction of crime rate and road side trading which most often risk the lives of some persons. The best belt is to allow our amiable governor to do that which he knows best to do for better.
*Chizoba is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
It was jubilation galore at Port Harcourt road and Niger street, Fegge, Onitsha South Local Government Area, Anambra State, on February 16, as Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, while inspecting the completed Port Harcourt road, had a sort of town hall meeting with Fegge Landlords and residents.
Addressing the residents, the governor expressed dissatisfaction with inter-state buses blocking drainages and mandated a five-meter clearance from the drainages.
He vowed to make Fegge “the best neighborhood anyone can live in” and announced that a new General Hospital would be built and completed before the end of the year.
In his bid to encourage green, clean and sustainable environment, he also announced N18 million for three cleanest and greenest streets, adding that the best street will smile home with N10million, second best N5million while the third will get N3million.
A partnership with landlords for property beautification was proposed, offering subsidized paint through “Made-in-Anambra” manufacturers.
The governor promised to provide transformers to be installed next week to address power supply issues caused by overloading and introduction of prepaid meters alongside the transformers.
“Solar power solutions will be implemented in the Anambra Fruit and Vegetable Market, Ogbaru to address electricity shortages,” Soludo further said.
The governor pledged to upgrade the Anambra Fruit and Vegetable Market, Ogbaru to make it one of the biggest in the state.
Earlier, the Transition Committee Chairman, Onitsha South, Mr. Emeka Joseph Orji, expressed gratitude for Gov. Soludo’s commitment to development, citing the completed construction of Port-Harcourt road and Niger Street.
Contributing, the Onitsha South Co-ordinator, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Mr Onyeke Franklin, thanked the governor for his excellent work in the state that include, employment of youths through 1 youth 2 skills initiative, road rehabilitation, sack of touts and fight against crime and criminality.
Earlier, the Onitsha South Chairman, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Uche C. Umennakaenyi, said that the governor has made them proud by constructing the Port Harcourt road and other roads in Fegge, urging him not to relent in making the state a better place to live in.
He vowed that those who dump refuse into the drainages and block the road would not go unpunished, adding that the governor’s achievements would speak for him come 2025 Gubernatorial election.
Contributing, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Bridge Head market, Mr. Chinedu Ezekwike Akweke, said that the market benefited from the construction of the two major roads, (Port Harcourt road and Niger street) that led to the market.
He commended the contractor that constructed the Port Harcourt road for extending it to the market through Oduwanu street even as he commended the governor for the rapid infrastructural development of the State.
According to him, APGA-led government has been up and doing in the infrastructural development of the state, especially in the areas of roads rehabilitation, employment through 1 youth 2 skills initiative.
The Onitsha South ASATU Youth Mayor, Mr Dunu Chiadikobi commended Gov. Soludo for his marvelous work in Onitsha South and expressed their readiness to re-elect him come 2025.
Speaking, Chief Ndubuisi Umezuruike, Deputy Chairman, Onitsha South Landlords Association, expressed satisfaction with the construction of Port Harcourt road and others in Fegge, stressing that since 1970 till date, it was Soludo that tackled roads in Fegge and urged residents to vote him for second tenure to enable him to complete his projects in the state.
“We have not had it like this before, this Port Harcourt road is one of the major roads in Fegge, the governor’s name has been written in the Guiness book of records. I was here by 5.30 in the morning and anybody who put refuse into the drainages or damage the roads will not go unpunished.
“Government cannot do all things for us, the governor has done his part, it is left for us to do ours. We urge the governor to also work on Uga street for us as it is also one of the major roads,” he pleaded.
In his contribution, a philantropist and oil magnet, Chief Pius Udokwu, said that the governor has been doing well to better the welfare of the people and urged all to support him in his efforts to move the state forward.
“Our governor is doing very well, he gave us time in this town hall meeting with him. This Port Harcourt road formerly was not motorable. We are happy with the governor and will continue to support him in his efforts to better the lives of the people in the state,” he said.
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion included, the Speaker, Anambra House of Assembly, Mr Somtochukwu Udeze; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu; Chief of Staff, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, and Chief of Protocol.
Others were Chinedu Nwoye Glamour; Commissioner for Environment, Mr Felix Odimegwu; MD ASWAMA, Mike Ozoemena; MD Anambra Urban Regeneration Council, Arc. Mike Okonkwo; and Chairman Onitsha North Local Government Area Caretaker Committee , Mr Charles Ozoma.
*Juliana, Patricia are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
*SPECIAL FOCUS ON SOLUDO’S REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION IN ANAMBRA STATE*
By Christian ABURIME :
In the pursuit of a prosperous homeland, the tenure of Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuna Charles Soludo, CFR, stands as a demonstration of unparalleled achievements within 22 months.
In the intricate terrains of governance, Soludo has carved a niche of progress and prosperity that resonates across the expanse of Anambra State.
The cornerstone of this administration’s success lies in its untiring commitment to key pillars of development: security, law and order, infrastructure and economic transformation, human capital development, governance reforms, and a sustainable environment.
The manner of progress that has unfolded is a tangible manifestation of a leadership dedicated to propelling the state towards unparalleled heights.
A pivotal chapter in this saga of transformation unfolds in the area of agriculture, where the Soludo administration has embarked on a visionary initiative. A staggering 1,100,000 hybrid coconut and palm seedlings have been distributed to over 100,000 households, igniting a beacon of hope in the pursuit of eradicating poverty, fostering neo agro-industrialization, and nurturing a green and environmentally conscious state.
This groundbreaking project, meticulously crafted to uplift households in the State, has bestowed upon them the invaluable gift of high-yield coconut and palm oil seedlings.
Each household, numbering over 100,000, has received approximately 10 seedlings free of charge, an investment in their future prosperity that will generate an annual income of between N1million to N2 million after fruition. This is one of the ways Governor Soludo is deliberately and intentionally turning the lives of poor masses around in Anambra State. A model that has attracted other state governments in the federation who are desirous of replicating it in their various States
In the span of a mere 3-5 years, the once-humble seedlings will metamorphose into bountiful trees, yielding not only a harvest of coconut and palm oil but also emancipating families from the shackles of hunger and poverty.
As these trees flourish, a ripple effect ensues, transforming rural households into bastions of newfound wealth.
The seeds of today are sowing the fields of tomorrow, cultivating a landscape where countless families ascend to the ranks of millionaires.
No doubt, Governor Soludo’s visionary approach to agriculture is not merely a cultivation of crops; it is a cultivation of prosperity, a renaissance that transcends the agrarian landscape and1 permeates the very fabric1 of1 society.
In this symphony of development orchestrated by Soludo, the agricultural initiative emerges as a crescendo, an anthem of hope, resilience, and prosperity echoing through the verdant fields of Anambra State.
