The Anambra State House of Assembly has confirmed names of those nominated by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo as Board members of the State Civil Service Commission.
This followed the presentation of a report presented by the Chairman House Committee on Screening and Election Matters, Chief Chukwuma Okoye (Awka South II) during the plenary session.
Chief Okoye who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House, while presenting the report noted that the nominees had appeared before the Committee and answered questions posed to them satisfactorily.
He said that the Committee therefore recommended that the members be confirmed based on the conviction that they are capable to do the job for which they were nominated
The House resolved into the Committee of the whole where the nominees introduced themselves after which the recommendations of the Screening committee was adopted by all following a motion moved by Mr Noble Igwe representing Ogbaru Constituency 1 and seconded by Mr Patrick Udoba of Anambra West Constituency.
The Speaker of the House , Mr Somtochukwu Udeze who presided over the plenary, thereafter put it to voice vote where the lawmakers unanimously confirmed them as members of the Anambra State Civil Service Commission.
Udeze enjoined the five man board members to be dedicated and work in partnership with other relevant agencies to promote peace and development.
In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Anthony Ezenwaka thanked the lawmakers for the confirmation and promised not to be an ally but to work in the interest of the Civil service of the state and in collaboration with government for peace and progress.
The House also confirmed and approved the nomination of Mr Charles Okocha as Substantive Auditor General of Anambra State and Mrs Josephine Anyaegbunam as Auditor General for Local Government after adopting the reports presented by the House Committee on screening and election matters.
The House also went further to confirm and approve Mr Anthony Ughanu as new Acting clerk of the State Assembly.
*Chizoba and Gloria are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, has described Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s free education policy as a way of breaking generational poverty transfer among families where poverty has become a dynasty in the state.
Addressing journalists on Thursday, October 3, 2024, when he led a delegation of Governor Soludo’s media team to the October monthly meeting of members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Godwin Ezeemo International Press Centre, Awka, the commissioner further observed that both the ‘One Youth, Two Skills’ Programme and the free education from primary to senior secondary schools are ways of dealing with poverty transfer, just like the ‘Igba Boi’ system adopted by Ndigbo after the civil war.
According to Mefor, “Governor Soludo wants to reset the entire state, and he’s doing that through the road networks he’s building. I keep talking about roads because it’s one major physical infrastructure connecting every part of the state; the 21 local government areas are being connected with stone-based roads constructed to last at least twenty years.
“The latest he has done is to proclaim free education from primary to junior secondary. Now he has added senior secondary. That free education is breaking generational poverty transfer. There are widows and poor families where poverty has become a dynasty. There’s now the possibility of riches coming into such families through free education. That’s the kind of future Soludo is building.”
Dr. Mefor urged journalists in the state to do more in fairly reporting the governor’s achievements, even as he assured that he would work out a physical interactive meeting between the governor and journalists in the state.
“I want us to work together. Let’s strike a chord—a synergy that will make Anambra better. Soludo is on a mission of rebranding; resetting the entire state, and he’s doing that already,” he said.
In their separate remarks, the Anambra State Chairman of NUJ, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, and the first female professor of mass communication in Nigeria and former commissioner for information in Anambra State, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, assured of the union’s support and willingness to partner with the government for a better and greater Anambra.
After considering the memo presented by the Chairman of Anambra Urban Regeneration Council (AURC), Arc. Michael Okonkwo, the 31st Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC) meeting approved the award of a contract for the reconstruction of the Oduigbo Market Onitsha as part of the Urban Renewal initiative of the Governor Chukwuma Soludo administration. The project will be done for N475,776,756.20 (four hundred and seventy-five million, seven hundred and seventy-six thousand, seven hundred and fifty-six naira, and twenty kobo) and will be delivered in three months.
The rehabilitation of Nnewi to Oba road to ensure pleasurable movement of people and goods that have remained impassable for many years, especially during the rainy season, was also awarded. The memo was presented by the MD/CEO of Anambra Road Maintenance Agency (ARMA), Engr. Obinna Nduka, through a direct procurement at the cost of One Hundred and Thirty-One Million, Three Hundred and Four-Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Twelve Naira, and Twenty-Eight Kobo (N131, 343, 612. 28).
The ANSEC Meeting also approved the rehabilitation of Nkpor to Obosi Road. The rehabilitation will be directly carried out by the Anambra Road Maintenance Agency (ARMA) at the sum of Sixty-Three Million, One Hundred and Ninety-Three Thousand, Six Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira, Thirteen Kobo (N63, 193, 633. 14).
The rehabilitation of the Nteje to Otuocha road, aimed at ensuring the smooth movement of people and goods, was also awarded. The Anambra Road Maintenance Agency (ARMA) will directly oversee this project, which is estimated to cost Fifty Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira, and Seventy-Three Kobo (N50, 440, 849.73).
Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, this Tuesday, received his co-psychologists from the Department of Psychology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
Addressing the commissioner during the visit, the Director of, the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Reduction (ICUDOR), Nigeria, and immediate past President of, the Nigerian Psychological Association, Prof. Michael Ezenwa, leader of the group, said the essence of the visit was to identify with the commissioner and see how they can collaborate with him and the government to improve governance in Anambra State.
Prof. Ezenwa described Mefor, who is also a journalist, as a practising psychologist with depth who never ceased to demonstrate love for the profession. He thanked Governor Chukwuma Soludo for spotting him.
“If there are responsibilities you want us to do for the government or your office, we’ll be willing to do that to ensure that both you and your principal succeed.
“This is our state, and the governor, Prof. Soludo, has demonstrated leadership. He has invested a lot in security architecture and infrastructure. I just wanted to tell you this without mincing words. Today, Uga, my own community, is having a road under construction. Soludo has brought a road into my community…We are not politicians; we are academics. We speak what we see,” Ezenwa said.
Also speaking, the Head of Psychology Department (HOD), UNIZIK, Prof. Chidozie Nwafor, explained that they have erudite professors who are experienced in research, psychoeducation, and everything that will make a state work in addressing behavioural change.
“We will be available 24/7 to participate, share ideas, and support the government of Anambra State, your ministry, and others to ensure that Anambra State progresses.”
Responding, Commissioner Mefor thanked them for identifying him as one of their own, adding that he has three degrees in psychology and that he started publishing the first psychologist magazine as a young psychologist and cannot afford to take psychology for granted.
“I’m always worried about the place of psychology in Nigeria and national development. It has been a cause of concern for me because I believe that psychology is grossly underutilised and possibly because psychologists haven’t been able to stake their position or prove what they can do. I believe that you don’t have to wait for opportunities; you create them. I wouldn’t want to say that psychology is shut out of our national life. We haven’t done enough to break into the mainstream.
“So every little opportunity we have such as this, we should try and demonstrate what psychology can do. I sincerely believe that we can do a lot together. Even before you called, I was already reaching out. There is work to be done, and luckily for psychology and psychologists in Nigeria, Prof. Soludo just created a purely psychological agency—the Anambra State Agency for Civic and Value Orientation. It’s a pure socio-psychological intervention agency. I have been thinking all along before the agency was created about 4-5 weeks ago. So you can break into the agency and help the man who is in charge there in fulfilling the mandate given to the agency by Governor Soludo. We should be able to pull collaboration around there. I am not sure if the agency is under my ministry, but it won’t matter.
“Many of our youths have lost their way in Anambra State, the South East, and Nigeria. So there is a need to launch full social rearmament campaigns, value reorientation, and moral rearmament campaigns with the information ministry and the new agency…,” Mefor said.
The United Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka has called on everyone to join the advocacy on promotion of Children’s Rights, protection and welfare especially in the present information age.
The call was made during the Maiden National Summit on Child Rights cum inauguration of Child Right Clubs in Anambra Primary and Secondary Schools held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.
Presenting a paper Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, who was represented by Dr Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe during the Summit themed “Taking Sustainable Positive Actions for the Nigerian Child in the Information Age”, said that when adults make decisions, they should think about how their decisions will affect children.
“All adults should do what is best for children. Governments should make sure children are protected and looked after by their parents, or by other people when this is needed. Governments should make sure that people and places responsible for looking after children are doing a good job.
“The Convention on the Rights of the child is very intentional on who child is, that is children below 18 years of age. Article 23 unequivocally maintained that Every child has the right to an education. Primary education should be free. Secondary and higher education should be available to every child. Children should be encouraged to go to school to the highest level possible. Discipline in schools should respect children’s rights and never use violence”.
The Keynote Speaker, Dean, Faculty of Law, NAU, Prof V Ogugua Ikpeze posited that both male and female children should be given equal opportunities to enjoy their fundamental human rights cum child rights, saying that negative cultural practices like female genital mutilation should be abolished.
“Let us be vigilant to protect our children because child molestation may be ongoing behind your curtain perpetrated by a family member, friend, neighbor or stranger. Watch when that child changes behavior and know the next step to take before the damage becomes irrecoverable,” Ikpeze added.
Moreso, the Chairman, Planning committee, Dr Obiora Edogor in his Speech stressed the need to sustain more efforts to ensure better protection of children.
“We implore development partners such as UNICEF and others to assist NAU more in its great efforts toward promoting child rights. The reason is that the present information age with its concomitant new media technologies adds to the hurdles confronting the rights of the Nigerian child.
“The abysmal situation of the Nigerian child even after over 20 years of the enactment of the Child Right’s Act 2003 is worrisome and should be redressed without further ado. This is to provide a conducive environment for the Nigerian child to thrive academically, technologically, scientifically, socially, politically, economically, and culturally.
“I would want to arguably state that, the Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s soil is manured with staff that exude enthusiasm for child rights as I got immersed into it from the university. I could vividly recall how Prof. Chinyere Okunna, first female professor of Mass Communication in sub-Saharan Africa FNGE, FNIPR, FACCE, NUJ Matriarch, implanted in me the mustard seed and zeal for studies on child rights.
“Today, this summit is one of the fruits of that Okunna’s mustard seed. Also, the child rights club to be inaugurated in this event in all public secondary schools within Anambra State emanated from the same Okunna’s seed,” Edogor said.
Declaring the workshop open a day earlier, the Acting Vice Chancellor, NAU, Prof Carol Arinze-Umeobi ably represented by the Director, Academic Planning, Prof Angela Ufele-Obiesie commended the efforts of UNICEF toward hosting the summit which is the first of such in Nigeria, adding that today’s global concern on Child rights sprouted from the aversion of the vulnerabilities to which children were exposed in Europe during the second World war.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul’s University and NUJ Matriarch, Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna, in her paper titled ‘The Role Of The Nigerian Media In Bridging The Urban And Rural Divide For Children In The Digital Age’, tasked journalists to be internet savvy and use their power to help children enjoy their rights as enshrined in the Child rights law, including access to the digital space.
Prof Okunna charged them as gatekeepers to open doors of access to quality information in the digital space and discourage anybody that does not want children both in the rural and urban areas to access the information opportunities provided by digital ICT.
Contributing, Executive Chairman ASUBEB, Dr Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi said,”We are interested in children and we fight for children, Children must be treated with respect, equality, they have the fundamental rights to life, protection, education.
“I thank UNICEF, in Anambra State, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo has done a lot to ensure that out of school children are back. He employed over 8000 teachers including those posted to hard to reach areas. Declared free education for all public primary and secondary schools. Governor commanded Principals to refund all tuition paid by Senior Secondary School students in the public Schools this term.”
Dignitaries and Resource persons who added their views toward promoting Child Rights in the present information age during the 2 Day summit include, National Summit Chairman, President Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe represented by Former NBA Awka Branch Chairman, Barr. Amaka Ezeno, President; Associations of childhood Educators of Nigeria, Prof. Ngozi Anyikwa; Head, Department of Mass Communication,NAU, Prof Allen Adum,Registrar, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Mr Sam Ufoh represented by the Deputy Registrar, Dr Blessing Ezeafulukwe, The Nigerian Union of Journalists State Chairman, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service, (ABS), Mr. Christopher Molokwu, ably represented by Ms Sandra Akpan.
Highlights of the summit include Inauguration of the Child rights club in Anambra public Primary and Secondary Schools by UNICEF and the setting up of a six man committee to draft a template for Child Rights Reporting for journalists.
*Ugwunze is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.
The Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) in collaboration with Partners has held a one-day Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) planning meeting for Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) which entail the upcoming Integrated Measles campaign in the State.
The meeting which was held in Awka, was with the State Social Mobilisation Committee (SSMC) Stakeholders and Health Education Officers from across the 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the State.
The meeting objectives were to update participants on lessons learned on the implementation of ACSM activities from the 2023 SIAs, and to sensitize participants on ACSM activities that are to be implemented at State, LGA and Ward levels for 2024 Integrated SIAs.
Also, to update participants on the state of preparedness for 2024 Integrated SIAs.
The Director, Disease Control and Immunization, ASPHCDA, Dr Nnamdi Placid Uliagbafusi while thanking the participants for their attendance to the program noted that the essence of the exercise was to immunise children and protect them from vaccine preventable diseases.
He urged the Stakeholders to use their various platforms to spread the gospel of the upcoming campaign to ensure that all eligible children of nine to 59 months received the measles vaccine in the State.
The UNICEF SBC Consultant for the Measles vaccination campaign in the State, Dr Uju Eze emphasized that the Integrated SIAs aims toward addressing immunity gaps in the population not reached by Routine Immunization (RI).
“This is with the objective of achieving 95% vaccination coverage for Measles using opportunities provided by the campaign to strengthen health systems,” she said.
The participants while pledging their support to the program, assured that they would play their role in ensuring success of the Measles vaccination campaign in Anambra State.
The meeting had in attendance; State Health Educator- Mrs Uju Onwuegbuzina, Anambra Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman- Ven. Joseph Nweke, Chairman Anambra CSO Network- Prince Chris Azor.
Also, NOA Representative- Mrs Ngozi Ezenwaka, Representatives from the Ministry of Education, Information, Women Affairs and ASUBEB, others.
*Nnedinma and Grace are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, on Monday, September 30, 2024, met with the Head of Service (HOS) and Permanent Secretaries in Anambra State Civil Service.
Addressing the meeting at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat Complex, Awka, Dr Mefor commended them for their excellent performances and implored them to prepare for a weekly radio programme, ‘Ask the Commissioner’, where Commissioners of various Ministries and Heads of Agencies will take turns to tell Ndi Anambra about their achievements, ongoing projects, completed projects, policies and programmes and their benefits, as well as field questions and receive feedbacks.
According to him: “In politics, perception is more important than reality and for this reason, waiting for one’s achievements to speak for him or her is not just enough. We in Government have to blow our trumpets and set the media agenda and that way, shape public perception.
“That’s why the focus should be strategic communication which is moving information to strategic communication through praxis. Otherwise, the opposition will take the initiative and force the government to be playing catch-up.”
The Head of Service and the Permanent Secretaries welcomed the new commissioner and wished him success in his new assignment.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor has commended the peaceful conduct of the Local Government polls, saying that Gov. Chukwuma Soludo has archived yet another milestone by keeping his campaign promise of conducting LG Elections during his administration.
Dr. Mefor also praised Ndi Anambra for the peaceful conduct of the local government elections after monitoring polling units across the state, expressing satisfaction with the impressive voter turnout and the fair conduct of polls across the 21 LGAs of the state.
He eulogized the governor for breaking the jinx of conducting the election after almost 11 years, emphasising that with the elections, people at the grassroots level will start enjoying more dividends of democracy.
The commissioner also commended APGA for remaining a strong political party which is very rooted in Anambra. He said, ” I see no reason why APGA should not sweep the polls, the party did, because of its strong roots in Anambra.
“I’m glad to be part of this history. The reports from our teams confirm a fair turnout. Governor Soludo’s commitment to grassroots development is commendable”.
At Abatete, Idemili North LGA, the Chairmanship candidate of APGA, Stanley Nkwoka, also commended peaceful conduct of the election.
Nkwoka made the commendation shortly after he cast his vote at his polling unit 005, in Ilo-Omalacha.
According to him, I came in at about 11: 00 am, every body was in line and we voted peacefully.
“I received call that there were shortage of materials in one or two places, the Supervising Polling Officer came in and took care of it.
“I didn’t go out that much, but from the reports I got from our agents in the field, I think it is peaceful”, he said.
Mr Chukwuemeka Akunna, the APGA Councillorship candidate, also lauded the peaceful process shortly after he cast his vote at his polling unit 012 in Ilo Udu, at Ogbu Primary School, Abatete.
Akunna thanked electorates that came out en masse to cast their votes peaceful, pledging that he will represent his Ward dutifully as a councillor.
Ojinnaka Law Okechukwu (Ichie Lichi) advised those elected into political offices to turn a new leaf , keep their campaign promises to avoid ‘End Bad governance protest’ from rising among the citizens, urging government to promote peace, provide basic amenities and security in the country.
Speaking at Ojoto, Idemili South the Chairmanship candidate of APGA, Mrs Amaka Obi while addressing newsmen, lauded the peaceful nature of the election, saying that there was no incident of violence anywhere in the LGA.
Mrs Obi further expressed optimism of wining the election, saying that even before the LGA Elections, she had earlier received an award as the most performing Transition Committee Chairman among the 21 LGA TC Chairmen of the state.
*Ugwunze is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
The All Progressive Grand Alliance(APGA) Chieftain, Chief Charles Obiekwe has applauded Anambra State Government for her doggedness to conducting local government elections, the first in about eleven years.
He said this while interacting with information officers shortly after casting his vote, at Polling Unit 006, Umueze Village Hall, Akpo, in Aguata LGA, on Sept. 28.
Obiekwe who is also an Awka based business Mogul said, “it is sweet seeing this election becoming a reality.
“Thanks to legislative arm of government for making speedy enabling laws that led to today’s election success.
“We had clamoured for the election, to bring government closer to rural communities.
“The election is smooth, peaceful in our polling boot here. Reports from other polling boots within my disposal are also suggesting smooth, peaceful conduct.”
He thanked Ndi Anambra who always proved civil at the face of elections, saluting the efforts of Gov. Soludo for putting up this election in a very short period.
“He is an economist that understand scale of preference, prioritizes activities to suit the time in which we are therein. Let us support him in the interest of our dear State.
“It is wise to put interest of our State ahead of personal interest. Election has come, it must have taken a lot from the treasure of the government. Individuals like us have also put in personal resources, time and other logistics.
“Accepting the elections, its results as they fizzle in, will go a long way to giving us value to all we have put into it.
“The chances of all of us becoming chairmen/councillors at the same time is not possible. So, whoever did not get it now should wait for another opportunity.”
Obiekwe enjoined politicians to play the game according to its rules having the well-being of the downtrodden at heart.
“Those of us wanting to destroy APGA in the name of politics should think again. The name behind APGA success, growth and development remains Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
“He was so selfless that he fought for the interest of others with his personal resources in the spirit of brotherhood. He has not died but transformed to better life glory. Let us not brake his heart by undermining brotherhood mantra of APGA (Onye Aghana Nwanne ya), but hold firm to it.”
Obiekwe pleaded with APGA National Leaders both those who emerged from court room and those from conventional arena to see how they can give some to take some, in order to keep the Ojukwu Flag of “Onye Aghana Nwanne ya” flying.
*David and Stella are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State.
