# Hon. Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central, has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the Catholic Church and initiatives that promote the spiritual and social wellbeing of the people.
The assurance was conveyed by Hon. Romanus Ibekwe, the immediate past Mayor of Anaocha Local Government Area and Deputy Director-General (Operations) of the Dozie Nwankwo Campaign Organisation, who represented Onyendozi at the 2026 Awka Diocesan Catholic Catechist Association Retreat held at the Retreat Centre, Okpuno, Awka.
The retreat, led by Mr Dominic Ngwu, President of the Awka Diocesan Catholic Catechist Association, provided an opportunity for catechists across the diocese to gather for spiritual reflection, renewal, and fellowship.
Addressing the gathering, Hon. Ibekwe conveyed the goodwill and warm regards of Hon. Dozie Nwankwo, explaining that the senatorial candidate was unavoidably absent but remained fully supportive of the Catholic community and its activities.
He described Onyendozi as a committed Catholic and a consistent supporter of the Catholic Diocese of Awka and the Church beyond the diocese. According to him, Dozie Nwankwo recognises the important role of the Church, particularly catechists, in nurturing faith, promoting moral values, and shaping responsible members of society.
Hon. Ibekwe further stated that Onyendozi’s aspiration to represent Anambra Central in the Senate is anchored on a commitment to people oriented projects and initiatives that respond to the needs of the people.
He called on the catechists to support the candidate as the 2027 general elections approach, noting that effective representation should be driven by a genuine understanding of the people’s needs and a willingness to serve the common good.
# The Archbishop and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, has charged students of the College of Nursing Sciences, Charles Borromeo-Shanahan University Teaching Hospital, Onitsha, to see their calling to the nursing profession as a divine vocation to save lives.
Archbishop Okeke, who is the Proprietor of the College, gave the charge during his homily at the ninth matriculation and capping ceremony of over 100 students of the college.
He told them that their profession is service to humanity which he assured them will guarantee their names in the book of life if they perform their duties with diligence, noting that as nurses, life and death are sometimes in their hands and the way they treat a patient can make him live or die.
In her welcome address, the Provost of the College, Mrs. Theresa Obi-Odunukwe, said the college has recorded steady growth in structure, manpower and academic development, and has remained committed to producing competent, compassionate and globally competitive nursing professionals.
In a keynote address on the theme: “Becoming the Nurse the world needs: Excellence, compassion, integrity and professional responsibility,” Dr. Mrs. Salome Nwogu urged the matriculants to take their studies seriously, attend lectures regularly, read beyond their notes and participate actively in clinical practice.
# The Anambra State Police Command has convened a peace meeting with parties involved in the ongoing dispute at St Faith Anglican Church, Awka, as part of efforts to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The meeting was held at the office of the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, who acknowledged that the matter was already before a court and urged the parties to respect the judicial process.
The Commissioner encouraged those involved to pursue peaceful dialogue and explore appropriate channels within the church’s established ecclesiastical hierarchy to resolve their differences without prejudice to the ongoing court proceedings.
He stressed that parishioners and worshippers should not be drawn into the disagreement or made to suffer the consequences of differences among church leaders.
CP Ama urged all concerned to demonstrate restraint, mutual respect and maturity in the interest of peace, unity and the sanctity of worship.
He also cautioned against inflammatory statements, confrontational conduct and any actions capable of escalating tensions or threatening public peace.
# The Anambra State Police Command has intensified efforts to sustain peace and prevent any breakdown of law and order in connection with the ongoing dispute involving St Faith Anglican Church, Awka.
As part of these efforts, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, held a meeting with the parties involved in the dispute at his office.
During the meeting, the Commissioner acknowledged the ongoing court proceedings relating to the matter and emphasised the importance of respecting the judicial process. He urged the parties to pursue peaceful dialogue and explore appropriate channels within the church’s established ecclesiastical hierarchy to resolve their differences, without prejudice to the ongoing court proceedings.
The CP stressed that parishioners and worshippers must not be drawn into the disagreement or made to suffer the consequences of differences among church leaders. He called on all concerned to demonstrate restraint, mutual respect, and maturity in the interest of peace, unity, and the sanctity of worship.
He further cautioned against inflammatory statements, confrontational conduct, and any action capable of escalating tensions or threatening public peace. He warned that the Command would not hesitate to take appropriate lawful measures to prevent any breach of law and order.
Reassuring the parties of the Command’s impartiality, the Commissioner affirmed that the Police would continue to discharge their responsibilities professionally, address legitimate security concerns, respect the authority of the court, and uphold the rights of all parties in accordance with the law.
# The Anambra State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Commandant Maku Olatunde, has reaffirmed that training and manpower development remain central to operational excellence and effective service delivery.
Commandant Maku stated this while welcoming four operatives of the Command on their return from the Basic Operational Field Tactics and Navigation (BOFTAN) Course held from 6th to 17th October, 2026 at the Centre for Civil Defence Studies, National Headquarters, Sauka, Abuja.
The course, with a specially designed curriculum, was aimed at enhancing operational readiness, tactical proficiency and field effectiveness. It exposed participants to critical competencies including map reading and navigation, field communication, operational planning, field tactics, team safety and basic drone operation for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).
Commandant Maku Olatunde congratulated them for their discipline, dedication and remarkable performance, emphasizing the Commandant General’s zero tolerance for mediocrity and noting that officers and men must be continually equipped with requisite knowledge, skills and motivation to meet evolving security challenges.
According to him, a competent and motivated workforce is the foundation for professionalism and operational efficiency, adding that more training and retraining programmes will be sustained across the Command.
# The Anambra State Police Command has recovered a Toyota Highlander Jeep allegedly stolen in Anambra State and traced to Calabar, Cross River State, leading to the arrest of a male suspect, identified as Muonago Chibuze.
The recovery was made on October 16, 2026, by operatives of the Central Police Station (CPS), Onitsha, following credible intelligence on the vehicle’s whereabouts.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, preliminary information indicates that the vehicle, with registration number ENU 387 BB, was allegedly stolen on October 9, 2026.
He said intelligence-led efforts enabled the operatives to trace and recover the vehicle in Calabar, highlighting the importance of timely information gathering, proactive policing and inter-state collaboration in tackling vehicle theft.
The Command said the recovery underscores its commitment to investigating criminal activities and recovering stolen property, regardless of where such items may be taken.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has directed that the recovered vehicle be transferred to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, for further investigation and necessary action.
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft, determine the suspect’s level of involvement and identify other persons who may be connected to the incident.
# The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, has commended the Head of Service, Barrister Mrs Ngozi Anuli Iwouno, for introducing innovative activities to mark the 2026 Civil Service Week, describing the initiative as value-adding and worthy of institutionalisation.
Dr. Mefor gave the commendation in an interview after a novelty football match between the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation and the Ministry of Transport, organised as part of activities for the 2026 Civil Service Week by the Office of the Head of Service.
The Commissioner described the annual celebration as an important opportunity for civil servants to reflect on their work, assess their performance and identify areas for improvement.
He noted that this year’s edition, the first to feature activities such as novelty football matches, quiz competitions and dance contests, demonstrated the Head of Service’s commitment to fostering unity and camaraderie among workers.
Mefor urged Iwouno to sustain and institutionalise the initiative beyond her tenure, stressing that it had brought significant value to the civil service.
# Alor community in Idemili-South Local Government Area of Anambra State will in no distant time welcome the first government-owned primary and secondary schools for the people to enjoy unhindered access to quality and comprehensive education.
The community at the moment does not partake in Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s comprehensive free education policy because the community is governed by private schools owned either by the church or private individuals which makes it extremely difficult for the poor and indigent children to access cognitive development in such places.
Barr. Ebuka Igwe, the incumbent lawmaker representing Idemili-South state constituency in the 8th legislature has stated that the story is about to change because he has attracted a primary school and a secondary school which are currently under construction and would be ready for access before the commencement of second term academic section.
Igwe who spoke in his office at the state assembly complex in Awka, said Alor his community is blessed with road infrastructure but the absence of a public-public school is a fundamental issue in the community because not every family can afford the exorbitant school fees of private schools.
The lawmaker who is seeking to be reelected for a second term in office, disclosed that apart from attracting the construction of a government-owned primary and secondary schools in his community, he has equally extended constituency interventions in other communities of Idemili-South Local Government Area.
# The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has intensified efforts to prevent and manage Hepatitis B and C among people who inject drugs (PWIDs) through a two day capacity building training focused on improving screening, diagnosis, treatment and referral services.
The training brought together health stakeholders from Anambra, Ebonyi and Rivers states to strengthen service delivery through Needle and Syringe Programmes (NSP) and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).
Participants received practical guidance on clinical management, laboratory procedures, infection prevention, medical supply management, safe healthcare waste disposal and referral coordination. The training also emphasised the need to protect patients’ confidentiality and dignity while ensuring access to healthcare without stigma or discrimination.
Representatives of the National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCP) and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) contributed to discussions on Nigeria’s HIV and viral hepatitis burden, prevention strategies and clinical management.
# The Executive Director of the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA), Dr. Nkem Okeke, and the Mayor of Idemili South Local Government Area, Mr. Oluchukwu Ilogbenu, have inspected selected Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Oba, Akwukwu and Ojoto to assess healthcare delivery, HIV services and infrastructure needs.
The inspection focused on strengthening primary healthcare, improving access to maternal services and identifying gaps affecting the delivery of HIV prevention, testing, treatment and support at the grassroots.
During the visit, the team encountered about five mothers who had recently delivered their babies under the free antenatal care and delivery programme of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.
Dr. Okeke commended the Governor for his commitment to making maternal healthcare more accessible, noting that the initiative helps ease the financial burden on families while supporting better health outcomes for mothers and children.
He stressed the importance of addressing identified infrastructure and service delivery gaps to improve the quality of care at primary healthcare facilities, ensuring that essential HIV services reach more people in local communities.
