# The Head of the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Dr. Nkemakonam Aniukwu, has announced the death of popular Nollywood figure and lecturer, Mr. Patrick Okoye, widely known as “Energy.”
In the statement signed by Dr. Aniukwu, the university community expressed deep sorrow over the sad development. According to the statement, Mr. Okoye passed away in the early hours of Thursday, May 28, 2026.
The department described the late actor and teacher as a vibrant soul, a distinguished personality in Nollywood, an exceptional teacher, and a mentor who touched many lives through his work in the entertainment industry and academics.
The statement noted that his death came as a painful shock to colleagues, students, friends, and everyone who knew him. It added that his passing has created a huge void that will be difficult to fill.
Dr. Aniukwu prayed for the peaceful repose of the late actor’s soul and asked God to grant strength and comfort to his family, loved ones, and the entire university community during this difficult time.
# The Federal Road Safety Corps has intensified efforts towards reshaping society through continuous road safety education for schoolchildren,
Over 250 primary school pupils in Anambra State benefiting from practical lessons on traffic rules, road signs and responsible road usage.
The pupils, drawn from public and private schools with Road Safety Clubs, were educated on various aspects of road safety, including traffic signs, traffic lights, pedestrian usage and road traffic regulations, aimed at preparing them to become responsible future drivers and safety ambassadors.
Speaking during the event, the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, said the programme forms part of the FRSC’s commitment to catching children young and instilling discipline, safety consciousness and proper road culture in them from an early age.
C.C Asekhauno explained that the Road Safety Club remains an important arm of the FRSC dedicated to grooming children into responsible citizens who understand the value of obeying traffic laws and promoting safety in society.
The FRSC boss noted that beyond classroom learning, the children were exposed to practical teachings capable of helping them identify road signs, understand traffic rules and guide road users around them, including their parents.
# The administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo has continued to demonstrate commitment to football and sports development in Anambra State through investments in infrastructure, grassroots programmes, youth empowerment initiatives, and improved security measures.
One of the major steps taken by the government is the proposed construction of an Olympic-sized stadium aimed at promoting sports and football development in the state.
The project, according to the governor, is designed to provide modern sporting facilities, encourage grassroots participation, and create opportunities for young athletes and football talents to thrive.
The Soludo administration has also introduced youth-focused empowerment programmes, including the “One Youth, Two Skills” initiative, which seeks to productively engage young people across the state. Though not limited to football, the programme is expected to reduce youth unemployment while creating avenues for sports participation and talent discovery.
# Anambra State Government has assured women farmers and agricultural advocacy groups of government support while urging stronger monitoring of agricultural programmes and budget implementation in the state.
Secretary to the Anambra State Government (SSG), Mrs Chiamaka Nnake,
gave the assurance during an advocacy visit by the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) and the Small Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON).
The groups visited the SSG to advocate increased investment in agriculture, climate-smart policies and improved support systems for smallholder women farmers across the state.
Responding to the concerns raised, Nnake commended SIDEC and SWOFON for sustaining their advocacy efforts and maintaining partnerships aimed at improving the livelihoods of rural farmers despite changes in government administrations.
The SSG encouraged the organisations to go beyond advocacy by ensuring that government agricultural programmes and budgeted activities are effectively monitored and evaluated for proper implementation.
In her speech, SIDEC Executive Director, Mrs. Ugochi Ehiahuruike, said the organisations remained committed to promoting inclusive development, food security, climate resilience and sustainable agricultural practices through grassroots mobilisation and advocacy engagements.
She identified major challenges confronting smallholder women farmers in the state to include poor access to farm inputs, inadequate storage facilities, weak extension services, limited agricultural financing and poor rural infrastructure.
# Many companies in South-East Nigeria are shutting down, while those still operating are functioning below thirty per cent of their installed capacity.
These worrying statistics, according to the Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi States Chapter, Dr. Ada Chukwudozie, are driven by high electricity and energy costs, as well as little or no access to funds.
Dr. Chukwudozie explained that the challenges facing manufacturers in the region and the need to solve them inspired the initiation of the MAN South-East Stakeholders’ Industry Conversation on electricity regulation, billing transparency, and industrial productivity.
She emphasized the critical role of the manufacturing sector in the economy and insisted that for change to happen, there must be clarity, transparency, and accountability regarding expected supply hours, actual services rendered, and remedies and protections available where supply consistently falls below expected thresholds.
In his intervention at the roundtable meeting, which attracted manufacturers, key stakeholders, and regulators in the region, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, said the state government is committed to providing an enabling environment for investors to maximize the electricity market and is ready for partnerships that will create quick fixes for power supply in the state.
# The Chief Medical Director of Princeton Specialist Hospital and Orthopaedic Centre, Awka, Dr. Amaechi Nwachukwu, has advised Nigerian health professionals and others planning to relocate abroad to have a rethink.
Nwachukwu argues that there are more opportunities here waiting to be explored, and that those who have what the people need will make money here without much stress.
“If you are not well tutored, you will be running abroad. For those of us who know, there is money in Nigeria. If you know that you know, there is money in Nigeria. And this is a place you make your money without so much hassle. This is a place you make your money without so many things breathing down on your head. You relax in your hometown, relax in your state.
“So, if you have what people need, you don’t need to run abroad. You stay here and offer your services, and people will pay for your services. And then you live well. After all, the reason for going abroad is to look for greener pastures. And then when you have greener pastures at home, what you are looking for in Sokoto may just be in your ‘shokoto’ somehow. So, I think that is what inspired me to get this place and then do this massive renovation to suit what I want to use it for. I am even trying to expand because I know that there is money in Nigeria. If you run away, who will salvage your country?
# The Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State Development and Investment Corporation (ADIC), Nwabu Okonkwo, has successfully concluded a high-impact, non-deal roadshow with Ndi Anambra indigenes and key stakeholders in Doha, Qatar.
The engagement was staged to promote ADIC’s investment vision and showcase the wave of emerging economic opportunities across Anambra State.
According to ADIC, the roadshow served as a strategic platform to strengthen ties with the Anambra diaspora community, highlight the state’s investment potential, and open discussions for collaboration in infrastructure, industrial development, real estate, energy, and other priority sectors.
Participants at the event expressed strong interest in partnering with ADIC to drive sustainable economic growth and back transformative development initiatives in the state.
ADIC said it remains committed to attracting strategic investors, mobilizing diaspora participation, and positioning Anambra as a top destination for investment, innovation, and long-term economic development in Nigeria and across Africa.
# Ultimate Destiny Uplifters Foundation, UDUF Africa has charged its newly elected executives to embrace leadership with vision, dedication and a strong sense of responsibility in advancing the organisation’s mission across Africa.
Speaking during a Pre-Induction Training Programme held at Onitsha Business School, the President of UDUF Africa, Pastor Uchenna Christopher, commended members and the newly elected officials for their commitment and readiness to serve.
According to him, the training was designed to equip the executives with the leadership knowledge, strategic direction and practical skills necessary for effective service and sustainable impact within the organisation.
He explained that the initiative was also aimed at strengthening leadership capacity and reinforcing UDUF Africa’s commitment to raising visionary leaders capable of transforming communities across the continent.
In a lecture titled “Leadership Foundation and Strategic Direction,” the Founder of UDUF Africa, Dr Smart Chinedu, highlighted the core principles of effective leadership, stressing the importance of vision-driven service, accountability and strategic planning for organisational growth.
Dr Chinedu also spoke on “Understanding Membership Growth and Resource Mobilisation,” where he outlined practical approaches to attracting and retaining members, fundraising and mobilising resources for sustainable development.
Encouraging participants to apply the lessons from the training, he noted that leadership knowledge only becomes valuable when translated into action.
# The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Anambra State Command has assured Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha, of continuous security support in line with the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative.
Commandant Olatunde Maku, the NSCDC Anambra State Commandant stated this on Thursday, 21st May 2026, when he received a familiarization visit from Mrs. Cornelina Ukama, the newly posted Principal of Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha, at the NSCDC Command Headquarters, Awka, Anambra State.
The visit, described by the Principal as a familiarization exercise following her recent assumption of office, underscored the importance of collaboration between the NSCDC and the college.
Mrs. Ukama said in her speech that the visit was to formally introduce herself to the Command and extend her appreciation for the sustained security support the Corps has provided to the college over the years.
She thanked the Corps for its consistent support and pledged to strengthen collaboration on security awareness, discipline, and emergency preparedness.
In his response, the State Commandant reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to the Federal Government’s Safe Schools Initiative. He stated that the NSCDC would continue to provide adequate security coverage and rapid response support to Federal Government Girls’ College, Onitsha, and other educational institutions across the state.
# The administration of Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has intensified efforts to improve mental healthcare services across the state, with initiatives aimed at supporting people living with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.
One of the key projects is the approval of a mental health rehabilitation centre in Nibo, Awka. The facility is expected to provide rehabilitation, counseling, and reintegration support for patients discharged from psychiatric institutions before they return to their communities.
The government has also strengthened infrastructure at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital Nawfia by approving reconstruction and fortification works around the facility to improve security and enhance its operations.
As part of broader healthcare reforms, the Soludo administration has upgraded primary healthcare centres, constructed new general hospitals, employed additional health workers, and introduced telemedicine services aimed at expanding access to healthcare, including mental health services, across the state.
The administration has equally promoted mental health awareness and screening programmes. During the 2024 World Mental Health Day celebration, the state government, in collaboration with the World Health Organization and the Anambra State Ministry of Health, organized free mental health screening for civil servants to encourage early detection and treatment of mental health conditions.
In another major intervention, Governor Soludo supported the establishment of a free psychiatric hospital in Aguleri through a partnership involving the Seraphic Homes Foundation and Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi. The facility provides free psychiatric diagnosis, treatment, medication, rehabilitation, accommodation, and welfare services for individuals living with mental illnesses, including schizophrenia.
