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By Rose Oranye :
Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, has described Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo as a statesman who is concerned about the future of Ndi Anambra, and the present condition of the state.
Speaking when he received the members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Angels News Network (ANN) Chapel, who paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Awka, Mefor maintained that the governor doesn’t make empty promises like the everyday politician but is more interested in what will become of the state in the next 10-50 years, just as he worries about the welfare of Ndi Anambra and the development of the state.
He says, “Mr. Governor is concerned about what will happen after us as much as he is worried about the present conditions of the people and state. The governor is looking at what our children inherit, and how we make Anambra inclusive enough to carry everyone along. For example, he believes that if we cannot change the state of the Anambra woman frying Akara today, we can do something to ensure that her children do not end up like her. That explains why he believes free and compulsory education is necessary, and he has introduced it from primary to senior secondary school in the state. It’s not just for Ndị Anambra but for whoever lives here in the state. There are other empowerment schemes to augment, like One Youth, Two Skills, digital skill training by the Solution Innovation District, and many others.
“You know that possibly up to 50 percent of Ndị Anambra do not live in Anambra. So what Soludo is doing will also benefit all others who live here because Anambra State is home for all. We are very hospitable people. We have to be accommodating because our people are outside also—in other states, Africa, and the world—and we expect them to be treated fairly wherever they may be. And there are many populist, inclusive policies that Soludo has introduced in the last 32 months. You can see many, ranging from basic programs and projects to infrastructure. No part of Anambra has not been touched deeply.”
The Commissioner commended journalists in the state for the fair reportage the state has received in the last couple of months and urged them to do more, even as he assured he would continue to run an open door policy to enable journalists to get firsthand and verified information.
In their separate speeches, the Chairman of Angels News Network Chapel of NUJ, Comrade Bonvera Onyebuchi Ndubuisi, and Dr. Ifeanyi Obiefuna said the visit was to identify with the Commissioner and the Information Ministry and assured of their readiness to promote the activities of the Ministry and the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
Highlights of the visit were the presentation of gifts and the chapel’s cap to the Commissioner as an ambassador of the ANN Chapel.
By Daniel Obagha :
The Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has emphasised his determination to put to use every Kobo paid as tax by Anambra people. Soludo said this at the grande finali of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) School Tax Competition (ASTC) themed: “Increasing Tax Awareness in Tomorrow’s Leaders” held on Friday at the SSG Hall, Government House, Awka
Represented by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, Soludo emphasised that as long as Anambra people pay their tax, all the money must be accounted for.
“We are already accounting for that. No student from nursery to SS 3 is paying school fees in government schools in Anambra.
“Under two years and eight months, we have employed 8, 115 teachers and none of them is going home with less than ₦70,000 every month. Where do you think we are getting the money from? It is from the tax.”
The governor also mentioned other numerous ongoing projects of his administration that are funded by tax paid by Ndi Anambra.
“At Kwata junction, we are building a brand new Solution Funcity where people will go to relax after a day’s work. Look at what tax payers money is doing at the new government house and governor’s lodge at Aroma. And before our third anniversary in March 2025, we will move from Amawbia to the proper governor’s lodge,” he said.
Soludo also mentioned numerous road projects all over the state that are being constructed with tax payers money and urged every Anambra person to pay their tax.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman/Chief Executive of AIRS, Mr Gregory Ezeilo, said that with the speed Gov. Soludo is embarking on massive infrastructure development, the Anambra Taiwan agenda was already a completed deadline.
“At AIRS, we realised this fact that it is an agenda with a completed deadline right before the time. So we also tried to be more disruptive in our innovative processes to be there when the agenda is already completed.
“So just as the governor told me to fire from all cylinders, we are firing from grassroot development cylinder and today we have leaders of tomorrow with tax consciousness,” Ezeilo said.
The Chairman praised the students for the way and composure they detailed their points in their presentations and expressed hope that what they know about tax will become indelible in their hearts.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Mrs Amara Oyeka, who organised the competition said that the idea was to encourage the private schools to pay their tax.
According to the Chief Judge of the competition, Dr Ifeoma Obieri, out of the 12 private schools that participated in the competition, only three made it to the final.
She said that Lady Hannah International School, Awada won the competition. While the second position went to Grace Court International School, Awka and Marist Comprehensive College came third.
Also in attendance at the occasion was the Managing Director of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr Chris Molokwu
*Daniel is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
By Sunday Okoli :
Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoma has bagged the Pechilly Investigative Media Award as the Best Working Commissioner of the Year 2024.
Presenting the award to him in his office, the representative of the media organization, Amb. Karen James noted that the board of Pechilly Investigative Media Ltd, after a careful selection process, chosed Mr. Ifeanyi Okoma based on his track record of service to the state.
She said that the organization works in corroboration with World Peace Advocacy and they celebrate those who tirelessly investigate, report and promote initiative that inspire dialogue across culture and thereby creating a more peaceful world.
In his acceptance speech, the commissioner thanked the Media Organization for finding him worthy of the award. He said that the credit should be given to Gov. Charles Chukwuma Soludo who is working tirelessly to uplift the infrastructural face of the state.
Michael Ezenwata. :
The Principal, Comprehensive Science and Technical College, Nawfia Venerable Dr. Nnamdi Emendu has commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for augumenting the salaries of civil servants in the state to cushion the effects of the harsh economic realities in Nigeria.
Venerable Emendu in a press statement in Nawfia, acknowledged the gesture as a relative relief strategy that needs to be reviewed upwards to properly take home civil servants who have multifarious challenges facing them in the challenging nation’s economy.
Expressing delight that the Soludo administration appreciates the contributions of the state work force in the administration of the state, he urged that such efforts be motivated by a further push in their take home pay.
Venerable Emendu further spoke of the College’s zero tolerance to examination malpractices and cultism, and its compliance with the state government’s approved use of Igbo language for communications and the wearing of Igbo cultural attire during school hours on Wednesdays in all approved government schools in the state.
He confirmed that Comprehensive Science Students do come to school on Wednesdays in their traditional Igbo attire except for some new intakes in the school who have taken delivery of their traditional attire waiting for it to be sewed after which they will join their colleagues in wearing it to school on the approved days.
Venerable Emendu used the forum to appreciate the Proprietor of the College and the Archbishop of the Niger Province and the Anglican bishop of Awka diocese Most Reverend Dr. Alexander Ibezim for his zero tolerance to cultism, examination malpractices, gay practices and other vices in the college and in all the Anglican mission schools in the Province.
He lauded his Grace’s fatherly overseeing of the activities of the college and wished him well in his endeavors.
By Uche Kalu :
Anambra State Police Command has confirmed that the shooting incident which happened at Izuchukwu junction, Nnobi/Nnewi Road by 7 pm on Wednesday November 20 was not carried out by non-state actors and also not about Senator Ifeanyi Uba’s burial.
A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga explained that security operatives mistook police personnel for unfriendly forces, leading to the exchange of gunfire.
According to him, “preliminary investigations reveal that the security operatives were trailing a suspect when the gun duel ensued at a security checkpoint.
“Unfortunately, bullets hit the fuel tank of the Toyota Venza Sedan carrying the men, and it was razed down. Two innocent passers-by were injured and taken to hospital.”
Ikenga further emphasized that the incident was not carried out by non-state actors, assuring the public that the situation is under control and that the attack was not an attempt to disrupt the burial ceremonies of late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
To ensure peace and security during the burial ceremonies, joint security forces have been deployed to Nnewi and the public is urged
to remain calm and allow investigations into the incident to proceed.
By Claribel Udah/Chika Obi/Chioma Nwankwo :
The Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC) Nnewi, hosted a capacity-building session for Ward Development Committees (WDCs) and Officers-in-Charge (OICs) of Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in Onitsha North LGA.
The event, held under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK II) Project, aimed to empower stakeholders in healthcare delivery and strengthen the state’s primary healthcare system.
In his welcome address, Rev. Fr. Benedict Chima Okolo, Director of JDPC Nnewi, emphasized the importance of the workshop in enhancing public accountability and health outcomes, particularly in maternal and child healthcare.
The initiative, supported by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) and implemented in collaboration with the Community Empowerment Network (COMEN) and Civil Rights Concerns (CRC), seeks to address critical challenges in healthcare delivery.
Rev. Fr. Okolo acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Health and the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA), highlighting their contributions to improving health service delivery.
He stressed the pivotal role of WDC members and PHC officers in managing and ensuring transparency in the utilization of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), a cornerstone of Nigeria’s health financing reform aimed at achieving universal health coverage.
The Executive Secretary, ASPHCDA, Pharm Chisom Uchem delivered her goodwill message, highlighting their commitment to collaborate in strengthening maternal and child healthcare.
The training, which was conducted by the resource person Dr Ngozi, addressed public finance management, budget tracking, and immunization advocacy.
Interactive activities, including Question & Answer sessions, group discussions, and action plan development, encouraged participants to collaborate on practical solutions for system inefficiencies.
The training concluded with the distribution of post-test evaluations and a call to action for participants to leverage their roles in fostering accountability, trust, and improved healthcare delivery in their communities.
With this initiative, JDPC and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to making Anambra State a model for primary healthcare excellence through collaboration, capacity building, and community ownership.
*The officers are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
By Chisom Okpala :
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has reassured commitment in improving the quality of education in the state, aimed at putting Anambra educational system among the world best.
The Governor stated this while receiving members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Tetfund and other services at the State Government House, Awka.
Gov. Soludo represented by his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezimpeaking, noted that Anambra over the years has been accessing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) and it is being prudently put into good use.
According to him, Anambra is good in management of resources, every kobo given to the state is well accounted and judiciously utilized.
As part of his developmental achievements, especially in the area of education, the governor listed the introduction of free education among pupils and students in the state schools, employment of over 8,000 teachers, reconstruction of numerous schools’ facilities and others.
He commended President Tinubu and the leadership of the Federal House of Representatives for their intervention, while seeking for more funding through the Tetfund agency.
Earlier, the Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Miriam Onuoha, explained that the team is on a working visit to ascertain the level of accessing the tetfund intervention fund for the years under review (2020-2023).
She promised that the committee will avail its expertise with the stakeholders to ensure timely release of any outstanding and that of 2025 intervention fund, stressing that delay in approval and allocation of the fund can cause reduction in value due to inflation surge in the economy.
Also, in their separate interviews, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma- Udeh and the Vice Chancellor Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Kate Omenugha both described the visit as timely, saying that the education sector of the state is blooming with the recent introduction of free education that has brought education to the doorsteps of Ndi Anambra.
According to them, interventions such as Tetfund has contributed to development by providing conducive learning environment for pupils and students, as well as promoting research and development of staff at the tertiary level.
*Chisom is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
By Chizoba Okeke :
A bill seeking to authorize the sum of ₦606,991,849,118.16 for the services of the Anambra State Government for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, has passed its second reading at the State House of Assembly.
The bill was debated extensively during today’s plenary session, following a motion moved by the Majority Leader and member representing Ekwusigo Constituency, Sir Ikenna Ofodeme.
Speaking on the importance of the bill, the majority leader described it as a critical step toward achieving the goals of the state’s Gear 2.0 agenda.
He emphasized that the bill’s swift passage would enable the timely commencement of developmental projects and government programmes from January 1, 2025.
In their contributions, member representing Aguata Constituency 1, Hon. Anayo Okpaleke, member representing Orumba South Constituency, Engr Emma Nwafor and Barr. Obi Nweke representing Anambra East Constituency, commended the governor’s draft estimate and highlighted its alignment with the state’s vision and commitment to improving the welfare of Ndi Anambra.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, referred the bill to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further scrutiny, and urged the committee to expedite its report to facilitate the bill’s timely passage.
The second reading was unanimously supported by the lawmakers through voice vote.
*Chizoba is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
