# The traditional ruler of Aguluizigbo, HRH Igwe Rufus Ilodiuba, has promised to sponsor an annual U-13 football competition in Anambra State.
The Secretary of the Anambra State Football Association, Mr. Ralph Nweke said the traditional ruler disclosed this when members of the state FA, alongside officials of some local football councils, paid a thank-you visit to the royal father in Aguluizigbo.
The visit followed the successful hosting of the ANSFA/NFF President Grassroots Football Competition for U-13, U-15 and U-17 in the community.
According to Mr Nweke, the Igwe made the pledge during the visit and directed that the U-13 tournament be played annually in his honour.
Mr. Nweke commended the Igwe for the pledge, describing it as a timely intervention that aligns with the FA’s grassroots agenda.
He assured that the state FA would work closely with the palace to ensure the competition is well-structured and sustained.
Giving reasons for the gesture, Igwe Ilodiuba said he was motivated by the need to catch young talents early and give them a platform to grow.
The Monarch also expressed his desire to support the state Football Association in its drive to bring Anambra state up to speed in grassroots development, especially following the successful ANSFA/NFF President grassroots competition for U-13, U-15 and U-17 held in Aguluizigbo.
He added that the annual tournament will serve both as a tribute to the sporting spirit of Aguluizigbo and as a call to other traditional rulers and stakeholders to invest in youth sports.
# The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) has moved to strengthen collaboration with the Nigerian Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV/AIDS.
ANSACA also deepened HIV awareness, reduce stigma and promote access to appropriate HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care across the state.
The Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, stated this on Thursday, August 20, while receiving a delegation of the organisation at the Agency.
The delegation, led by the Anambra State Coordinator of NINERELA+, Dcns. Ugwu Makuachukwu, included Kabiru Badamosi, Chairman, Muslim Society Anambra State NINERELA, and Onwumelu Musa Hamza, JNI and Chairman, Southeast Muslim Forum.
Discussions focused on leveraging the influence of Christian, Muslim and traditional religious institutions to strengthen grassroots HIV sensitisation, combat stigma and discrimination, and address myths and misinformation surrounding HIV.
Dr. Okeke stressed that while faith and spiritual support remain important to many people, they should complement rather than interfere with evidence-based HIV treatment and care. He noted that misinformation and unnecessary spiritual interference could discourage testing, undermine treatment adherence and negatively affect health outcomes.
ANSACA and NINERELA+ agreed to strengthen faith-based HIV education and community engagement as part of efforts towards achieving Zero New HIV Infections and an AIDS-Free Anambra State by 2030.
# The Southeast Leader of the Obidient Movement, Mr. Ikenna Azomchine, has urged Ndigbo to support President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking after touring villages in Nibo, Awka South LGA of Anambra State, Azomchine said the Southeast had benefited from infrastructural development and federal appointments under the Tinubu administration.
He noted that his experience in opposition politics over the past three years convinced him that the platform was not strong enough to secure the presidency for the Southeast.
Azomchine therefore called on Ndigbo to join mainstream politics, arguing that supporting the APC could improve the region’s chances of producing an Igbo president in the future.
Comrade Okoli disclosed that they took it upon themselves to identify the twelve core values of Onye Anambra to be guided by the shared values, and to find those whose character symbolizes the values, and make them role models to help in directing, leading, and instructing the youths of their areas on how to become useful to themselves, their parents, community, and society at large.
# The Enugwu-Agidi Women Organization, led by its Chairlady, Lady Ebele Okafor, has held its 2026 Annual Convention, bringing together women from various villages in Enugwu-Agidi, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, for a celebration of unity, culture, family values and community development.
The convention, featured a procession from the Enugwu-Agidi Secretariat to Ebe-Ijele and back, followed by a colourful march-past at the Secretariat.
In her opening remarks, Lady Okafor described women as pillars of the family and custodians of cherished values. She urged them to reassess their roles as mothers, mentors and guardians, particularly in raising their children and instilling sound moral values amid increasing social vices among young people.
The Vice President-General of Enugwu-Agidi Town Union, Comrade Emeka Ementa, who represented the President-General, Chief Pius Nwankwo and EBU Nigeria, congratulated the women and assured them of the Town union’s continued support and partnership. He highlighted the important role women play in the unity, growth and development of the community.
Representing the Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Clem Aguiyi, Hon. Ifunanya Nwanadile, the incoming Deputy Chairman of Njikoka Local Government Area, urged the women to embrace tree planting and environmental protection. She cautioned against indiscriminate tree felling and stressed proper waste disposal as measures to reduce flooding and promote a healthier environment.
# The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme of the European Union, in collaboration with the Anambra State Bureau of Public Procurement (ANSBPP), has trained civil society organisations (CSOs), media practitioners and other stakeholders on anti-corruption principles and best practices in public procurement.
The capacity-building programme, which focused on “Anti-Corruption in Public Procurement for CSOs and Media,” was aimed at strengthening stakeholders’ understanding of procurement reforms and equipping them to contribute more effectively to transparency, accountability and value for money in public expenditure.
In her opening remarks, the Anambra State Coordinator of RoLAC, Dr. Josephine Onah, said the engagement was necessary against the backdrop of concerns that some stakeholders were not sufficiently involved in the state’s procurement processes and were also not adequately familiar with the Anambra State Public Procurement Law, 2020.
Onah, who stressed the importance of supporting the state to achieve its procurement plans, explained that CSOs and the media have important roles to play in promoting best practices by drawing attention to gaps and encouraging corrections where necessary. She emphasised that the objective was not to police procurement officials but to support and “midwife” the process towards greater transparency and improved performance.
Participants were taken through the relationship between Public Finance Management and procurement, as well as the vulnerabilities that make public procurement susceptible to corruption.
# The newly elected executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), ABS Awka Chapel, led by its Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Okonkwo, has paid a courtesy visit to the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration and seek support for the continued growth of the Anambra Broadcasting Service.
Accompanying the Chairman were the Vice Chairman, Comrade Uchenna Ifeanyi; the Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Chigbata; the Assistant Secretary, Comrade Mary Chidiogo; the Financial Secretary, Comrade Blessing Dennis; and Comrade Tochukwu Ochie.
Speaking during the visit, Comrade Okonkwo said the visit was to formally introduce the newly elected executive to the Commissioner and solicit the support of the Ministry in addressing the challenges confronting the station, while identifying the deteriorating condition of the newsroom and production complex, including the leaking roof, poor working environment, and other infrastructural deficiencies, as major issues affecting productivity.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the new executive to partnering with the Ministry of Information and the management of ABS in promoting professionalism and advancing the station to greater heights.
Comrade Okonkwo appealed to the state government to intervene in improving staff welfare and providing a more conducive environment for journalists to effectively discharge their constitutional responsibilities, and expressed satisfaction that the ABS Awka Chapel now has a democratically elected executive, describing it as a positive step towards strengthening the union and enhancing effective leadership within the chapel.
Responding, Commissioner Mefor congratulated the newly elected executive and commended them for taking the initiative to engage with the Ministry, noting that the media occupies a strategic position in every democratic society.
He stated that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) expressly assigns the press the responsibility of holding government accountable to the people, and described journalism as one of the few professions specifically recognized by the Constitution, while urging journalists to remain professional, objective, and responsible in the discharge of their duties.
The Commissioner encouraged media practitioners to take full advantage of the Freedom of Information Act in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, while assuring the delegation that the concerns raised, particularly those relating to the newsroom, staff welfare, and the overall working environment, would receive the government’s attention.
# The Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Arch. Okey Ezeobi, has declared that any illegal structure, collapsed building or property identified as being used for kidnapping activities is liable to be taken over by the state government in accordance with the law.
Ezeobi stated this during a lawful enforcement exercise at Umudala, Nanka, where he joined relevant government authorities and community leaders following concerns over unauthorised developments and structures earlier flagged by the Ministry of Physical Planning.
The commissioner said the exercise was a clear reminder that no individual, business, structure or activity is above the law, urging residents and investors to comply with government approved building and development guidelines.
The illegal structures were demolished and the debris immediately evacuated from the site.
Ezeobi further disclosed that the affected property had been converted to state government property for possible public use and development in the future.
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting Anambra’s culture and environment while ensuring that development is carried out in line with approved laws and regulations.
# The Chaplain of St. Martins Welfare Home, Igboukwu, Rev. Fr. James Michael Okpalaonwuka, has commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for raising the standard of road infrastructure in Anambra State, describing him as a “paragon” in that sector of governance.
Fr. Okpalaonwuka gave the commendation while speaking with information officers shortly after the burial Mass of his 6-year-old grandnephew, Master Chijindu Vincent Okpalaonwuka, at Agbelu Village, Akpo, in Aguata LGA.
The cleric, who is an immediate family member, noted that while the Soludo administration has performed well across all departments, its achievements in road construction stand out.
In his homily during the burial Mass, Rev. Fr. Ikenna Okpalaji, Priest in Residence at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Nanka, said death is a lesson to the living. He described the gap between life and death as “as lean as sewing thread” and called on Christians to live lives that positively impact others.
# Anambra State has been chosen as a pilot state for a new grassroots healthcare programme aimed at improving primary healthcare, strengthening referral services and helping residents get medical care on time. The programme is supported by the Mastercard Foundation, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and other partners, in partnership with the Anambra State Government.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed this during a three-day training programme on Community Based Health Workforce (CBHW) management, held at the Trig Point Hotel, Amawbia.
The training, titled “Leading and Managing Your Community Based Health Workforce (CBHW) Program,” is aimed at improving the skills of Local Government Health Authorities in managing community health workers.
Dr. Obidike said every local government in Anambra has a Supervisor for Health who helps coordinate health activities in the area. He said the system would improve accountability and ensure that health services are properly linked from the local government to primary healthcare centres, general hospitals and teaching hospitals.
According to him, the goal is to ensure that when a person in a community needs medical care, there is someone who can identify the problem and help the person get to the right health facility. He added that health workers at primary healthcare centres would be able to contact doctors for advice when they are not sure about how to manage a patient.
# As part of the moves to celebrate community shared values by the Anambra State Town Unions Council Youth Wing, ASTUC Youth, ten community role models were decorated and presented with awards of excellence at Anambra West Council Area by ASTUC.
The programme, which took place at Nzam, Anambra West Council Headquarters, saw ten sons of the council area who distinguished themselves in different aspects of life, both in character, community development, and learning, presented with awards as role models to lead the youths of Anambra West in positive aspects of life.
It also brought together youths from the ten communities that make up the council area, who received the ASTUC Youth Wing National President, Comrade Ken Okoli, and other state executives with cultural displays, masquerading, and a series of activities depicting the rich culture, traditions, and norms of Ndi Anambra West.
Addressing the gathering, the ASTUC Youth Wing National President, Comrade Okoli, said they were there to promote positive aspects of life among the youths as enshrined in the shared values of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, stating that no society can progress without a value system, and commended the governor for understanding the value system and making it one of his four key pillars in reshaping the state to be the envy of others.
