* The United Nations Development Program ( UNDP), is to partner the state Ministry of Youth Development to empower thousands of young people from Anambra State through the UNDP sponsored SME start-up/expansion project. Speaking on the programme, the UNDP Team Lead, Mrs. Joycee Oburu stated that the ultimate goal of the project is to enhance the youths with Business Startup/expansion plans not just to compete in the state but in the country and globally. According to Oburu, the business financing programme will involve disbursement of a grant of ₦100,000 to 10,000 SMEs and will also incorporate mentorship and coaching of the SMEs for higher productivity.
* Anambra State Government through Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade, has sealed hotels and business premises for disobedience to court summons. The Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Comrade Celestine Anere lamented the flagrant disobedience to environmental laws by some hotels and leisure centre operators. Anere said the enforcement was due to a public outcry over the environmental state of the areas where the businesses are located while noting that the issue of disobeying environmental laws has become a perennial problem that is posing a serious threat to the sanity of the society.
* Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka has explained that the Senate meeting of the university is not for the election of the Acting Vice Chancellor of the university. Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, Special Adviser to the Vice Chancellor (Public Relations & Special Duties), gave the explanations in a press release made available to newsmen. Ojukwu’s explanation followed insinuations in some quarters, especially amongst those aspiring to the office of vice Chancellor of the university, that the outgoing VC, Prof Charles Esimone, is convening the Senate for the sole purpose of electing his successor.
* The President, Awka Diocesan Council of Knight, Anglican Communion, Anambra State, Sir Prof. Emmanuel Emelummadu Ezenwaji, has said that Nigeria can be free from bad leadership, crime, only when we work and pray to God Almighty alone. Ezenwaji argued that the quest for power and worth among some Nigeria leaders including religious leaders has deviated their hearts from worshipping God in totality. Ezenwaji, who made his position known while speaking to Journalists at the just concluded 2nd session of the 13th Synod of the Diocese, held at the Church of Pentecost Awka, on Sunday, regretted that Nigerians are enduring immense suffering as the prices of essential commodities soar to higher and higher every day.
* The Olive Charles Football Academy have continued to show their resolve to be on the front burner of youth football in Anambra state through stellar performances. The Ogidi based Football Academy which has been doing exploits in youth football development began the year with a superb performance at the FA Chairman’s U-17 tournament where they had an unbeaten run to the final.
* The commissioner of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Barr. Anthony Ifeanya,
says the ministry is ready to embark on an aggressive monitoring of filling stations across the state, with a view to apprehending those that tampered with their meters. Ifeanya who announced this to the press in Awka the state capital, warned perpetrators to desist forthwith or face the full weight of the law. The Commissioner also admonished those selling adulterated fuel upon exorbitant prices to retrace their steps.
* The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, has expressed his admiration for Nigerian nurses for their unwavering dedication and commitment to humanity as they mark the annual Nurses Week. In an encounter with nurses from Holy Rosary Hospital Waterside and Borromeo Hospital, Ezeokenwa interacted with these nurses and commended them for their dedicated service to mankind, showcasing care, empathy, and love.
Describing nurses as the backbone of the healthcare system, the APGA National Chairman emphasized the critical role nurses play within the healthcare system, often working tirelessly under challenging conditions to safeguard the well-being of their patients.
* The Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Youth Empowerment Programme, Dr Nelson Omenugha has recommended legal reforms to protect individuals from online media-induced prejudice and provision of ethical guidelines for responsible online media reporting. This he said will help mitigate the negative implications of online media trials. Dr Omenugha gave the recommendation while delivering a paper titled “Guilty as Charged: Implications of Online Media Trials on Justice Delivery to the Human Person in Nigeria” at the 17th annual memorial lecture in honour of Pope St John Paul II held at the Pope John Paul II Major Seminary, Okpuno.
* The ever busy Eke Awka Roundabout, Saint Faith and Dike Park junctions along Zik Avenue Awka usually characterized by gridlocks recently witnessed free vehicular movement. This was as members of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Awka South Division voluntarily manned traffic control posts as part of activities lined up for the commemoration of the 2024 World Red Cross Society Day.
Speaking in an interview shortly after the traffic control, the Chairman, Awka South Division of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Chief Emmanuel Ezeobi, said the exercise was in line with the theme of this year’s celebration which is “Keeping Humanity Alive”. Ezeobi, who stated that strict adherence to traffic rules can nip in the bud the rate of road casualties, advised road users to always and strictly obey traffic rules and road signs to key into the campaign of keeping humanity alive.
* A Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting in Awka has found one Michael Arinze a student of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), not guilty of an alleged rape, armed robbery and other crimes.
Michael Arinze who was arrested in 2022
when he was a student, with nine-count charges against him, was discharged and acquitted in court presided over by Honourable Justice Peace Otti. Delivering her judgement, Justice Otti noted that facts presented by the Prosecution were not proven beyond reasonable doubt, which is why the court could not grant the conviction of the defendant.
