The Mayor of Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Rome Ibekwe, has commissioned a skill acquisition centre at Umukabia, Neni, as part of activities marking the end of his two-year administration.
Comrade Ibekwe also commissioned four factory-fitted ambulances to provide emergency medical services to primary healthcare centres and health posts across the local government area.
The skill acquisition centre, named after the outgoing mayor, currently has 500 youths undergoing training in various vocational skills, including tailoring, pastry making, hotel management, shoe and bag making, decoration, information and communication technology (ICT), masonry, Almacco installation, automobile mechanics, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Ibekwe thanked God for giving him the strength and inspiration to address what he described as the core needs of the people of Anaocha during his tenure.
He said that within two years, his administration had cleared the major refuse dump in Agulu, provided solar-powered boreholes in the ten communities of the local government area, strengthened security infrastructure, and upgraded several health posts to primary healthcare centres.
According to him, the upgraded health facilities were equipped with modern medical equipment to improve healthcare delivery, while the administration also embarked on the renovation and facelift of the local government headquarters.
Ibekwe expressed appreciation to the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, for his fatherly advice and support, as well as stakeholders across the local government area for their cooperation throughout his tenure.
The local government chairman said their support enabled his administration and team to deliver on the Greater Anaocha mandate.
Commending Ibekwe for what he described as a successful tenure, the President-General of Neni, Sir Christian Ikebudu, testified to the development witnessed across the council area in the past two years.
Speaking on the transformation recorded in the health sector under the Ibekwe-led administration, the Head of Department of Health, Anaocha Local Government Area, Mrs. Lucia Udala, described the mayor as “God-sent.”
Udala highlighted what she said was a drastic reduction in deaths and preventable deaths recorded at health centres across the council area over the past two years, attributing the improvement to the administration’s investments in the health sector.
Also speaking, one of the beneficiaries of the skill acquisition programme, Miss Treasure Okafor, said Ibekwe had not only empowered young people but had also given them hope, dignity and a stake in the prosperity of their communities.
She said the mayor had laid a solid foundation for the beneficiaries and the next generation.
In his remarks, the Vice Chairman of Umukabia Neni, Chief Chukwudi Ndommadu, commended Ibekwe for his achievements and prayed God to elevate him to greater heights.
