# The Anambra State House of Assembly has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct the Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Entertainment to
declare and designate the National Yam House in Igboukwu as a tourism and festival centre.
The resolution followed a motion moved during Thursday’s plenary by the member representing Aguata two Constituency, Dr. Tony Muobike.
Presenting the motion, Muobike noted that Nigeria’s three major ethnic groups, the Igbo, Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba, each have distinct cultural festivals recognized at the national level.
Muobike recalled that while the Argungu Fishing Festival represents the Hausa/Fulani culture and the Osun-Osogbo Festival represents the Yoruba culture, the Iri Ji Ndị Igbo Festival in Igboukwu serves as the national cultural festival for the Igbo people.
According to him, following the Federal Government’s declaration of Iri Ji Ndị Igbo as a national festival on October 4, 2007, the National Yam House was established at Etiti Village, Igboukwu, to serve as the national secretariat for yam festivals in Nigeria.
# Tension is mounting within the Anglican community in Agulu, Anambra State, as members have threatened to boycott diocesan activities over what they describe as the Awka Diocese’s failure to address issues repeatedly raised with church authorities.
In a statement issued after a recent meeting, stakeholders of the Agulu Anglican Community said they would commence a gradual boycott of diocesan programmes involving the Archbishop, as well as certain local church activities within the community.
According to the statement, the decision followed months of waiting for a response from church authorities on matters including petitions submitted by community members involving allegations of wrongdoing against a priest, the proposed creation of a new diocese, and concerns over alleged missing properties belonging to Agulu Grammar School.
The community said representatives of the diocesan leadership attended a meeting in April 2026 and requested additional time to consider the issues raised.
# Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has inaugurated the 8th Governing Council of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) charging members to prioritize academic excellence, innovation, and institutional growth.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Light House in Awka, signals a renewed commitment by the Anambra state government to strengthen the university’s position as a leading centre for research, innovation, and quality education.
Addressing the newly constituted council, Governor Soludo emphasized the importance of effective governance in sustaining the university’s stability and expanding its academic frontiers.
Prof. Soludo urged the council to work closely with the Vice-Chancellor and management team to implement reforms that align the institution with global best practices and Anambra State’s development objectives.
The Governing Council is chaired by Prof. Peter Onwualu, who serves as Chairman and Pro-Chancellor.
Other external members of the council include Dr. Chris Oranu Chidume, Prof. O. J. Ogbuagu, Chief Christopher Ndubuisi, and AIG. Chris Ezike (Rtd).
Internal members of the council include the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration and Environmental Sustainability), Prof. A. C. Nweke; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Obiora Ejiofor; and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development and Uli Campus Affairs), Prof. Sylvia Okonkwo.
Also serving on the council as Senate representatives are Prof. Matthias O. Ananti, Prof. Ogonna Ifebi, Prof. Nkeiruka Orji, Prof. MaryJude Igbodika, and Dr. Chukwunonso Ekesiobi.
# The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, has cautioned Nigerian students against cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice, and other criminal acts, warning that such vices could destroy their future and undermine societal stability.
The Anambra State Commandant of NSCDC, Commandant Maku Olatunde, represented by the Head of Media and Tactical Operations, SC Okadigbo Edwin, gave this warning while delivering his goodwill message during the inauguration of the National Executives of the National Union of Anambra State Students, NUASS, held at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra East LGA, on Wednesday, 10th June 2026.
Speaking at the event, the State Commandant congratulated the newly inaugurated executives of NUASS and commended students for their role in nation-building. He noted that youths, especially students, remain critical stakeholders in the fight against vandalism and destruction of critical national, state, and local government assets and infrastructure.
Commandant Olatunde warned students against the unlawful pursuit of wealth, cult-related activities, and other social vices capable of truncating their academic pursuit and future. He stressed that cultism has continued to claim lives, destroy dreams, and breach public peace across campuses.
The State Commandant reaffirmed the commitment of NSCDC to serving the populace and enjoined the students to partner with the Corps in ensuring community safety within their academic environment.
# Anambra Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, says that the state government, through the Ministry of Health, has all it takes to eradicate the transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from mothers to children.
Dr. Obidike stated this in Awka as he chaired a stakeholders’ meeting on the Expanded Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Programme, where he informed participants that the state government remains committed to drastically reducing HIV transmission from mothers to their children, especially during childbirth.
Discussions during the meeting centred on the assessment of programmes in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, Elderly Health and Nutrition, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and Non-Communicable Diseases, among others.
The meeting, which brought together health workers, development partners, and implementing agencies, also reviewed interventions and strategies for strengthening healthcare service delivery across the state.
Dr. Obidike, while elaborating on the issues discussed at the meeting, stressed the importance of reviewing identified gaps in healthcare service delivery, stating that the state government would not tolerate any lapses that could undermine healthcare delivery.
# The Traditional Ruler of Ikenga Community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe Chinonso Vitus Ezeokafor, is scheduled to be arraigned before the State High Court sitting in Ekwulobia on July 19 over allegations of forgery, impersonation, and related offences.
The case is between the Anambra State Government and Chinonso Vitus Ezeokafor, the traditional ruler of Ikenga Community in Aguata LGA.
According to reports, Ezeokafor, during the process leading to the selection of the traditional ruler of Ikenga, allegedly presented two forged West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). He is also accused of manipulating his age to gain eligibility to sit for another WAEC examination in 2024.
Ikenga Community has been embroiled in a prolonged chieftaincy dispute over who should occupy the traditional stool of the town.
Other aspirants to the throne had alleged that Ezeokafor failed to meet the stipulated guidelines for contesting the position.
Despite the objections raised by other contenders, he was eventually declared elected as the traditional ruler, a development that reportedly deepened disagreements among his fellow aspirants.
# The Senatorial Candidate for Ànambra Central Zone, on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Hon Dozie Nwankwo has warned against making political capital out of the fatal attack on the convoy of the Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Anambra State Government, Ben Nwankwo.
Chief Nwankwo reaffirmed his confidence in the security architecture of Anambra State as put down by Governor Chukwuma Soludo, expressing satisfaction that before the latest incident Anambra had recorded zero crime of such magnitude.
Nwankwo, a well known philanthropist,
while reacting over the last week attack
along Awa-Ufuma Road, which cost the lives of two police escorts and two aides, described it as an unfortunate incident that could happen to anyone anywhere in the world.
In a press statement, Nwankwo, a former House of Representatives member that represented Dunukofia, Njikoka and Anaocha Federal Constituency, said any loss of human life was always a minus to humanity and not what anyone would use to score what he described as cheap political points, even as he expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.
# The Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA), Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi, has commended the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, for his open-door policy and commitment to work with football stakeholders in the state.
Chief Iloenyosi gave the commendation while responding during the “Thank You Luncheon” hosted by the Commissioner for sports stakeholders, aficionados, and leaders of sports associations at the Ministry’s conference hall in Awka.
The ANSFA boss described the meeting as historic, noting that it was the first time in a long while that a Commissioner for Sports in Anambra State would invite the FA Chairman for a meeting and a programme of this nature.
He thanked the Commissioner for promising to work in synergy with the State FA and assured that ANSFA would reciprocate by working closely with the Ministry to reposition sports, especially football, in Anambra.
