* The Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC), Awka, has empowered 86 individuals with cash grants to boost their businesses and support startup ventures.
This initiative is aimed at enhancing economic growth and reducing unemployment in Awka Diocese. By providing beneficiaries with the necessary resources to expand their enterprises, JDPC Awka hopes to create job opportunities and stimulate economic development.
According to Rev. Fr. Levi Ukor, the Director of JDPC in Awka Diocese, the empowerment program is a key component of the organization’s mission to promote integral human development and reduce poverty. Fr. Ukor emphasized that the initiative is designed to support entrepreneurs and small business owners, particularly those in rural areas, to access the resources they need to grow their businesses.
* The Anglican Bishop of Ogbaru Diocese, Rt. Rev. Prosper Amah, has described Christmas as the fulfillment of God’s promise to mankind. In his sermon, Bishop Amah emphasized that through the birth of Jesus Christ, God fulfilled His promise of sending a Savior who would bring salvation to humanity.
The Prelate also urged politicians and leaders to always fulfill their campaign promises to the people.
* Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) of Archbishop A. K. Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno, led by Mr. Andrew Okeke, have concluded a 3-month intensive digital skill acquisition programme for her members and other interested individuals.
With the theme: “YCP Choose a Skill Initiative ”, took place at Obiefuna Auditorium at Fides Media, Okpuno, with Fides Media providing a conducive training environment, steady power supply, free unlimited internet access and other goodies for the participants daily within the 3 months.
The Chairperson of the Organizing Committee of the historic programme, Mrs. Kosisochukwu Ojukwu, informed that more than 100 individuals participated in the programme, with each of the participants choosing and learning from either App/Web Development, Research/Data Analysis, Digital Marketing, Graphics, or Robotics/Automation.
* Anambra State Government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has commenced scale up programme in nine local government areas that recorded zero immunization during the COVID-19 period.
The State Immunization Officer, Mrs. Edith Onwuka, while monitoring the exercise at Akwaeze in Anaocha local government and Nnokwa in Idemili South, commended nurses at the Primary Healthcare Centers in the affected areas for effective mobilization of mothers, who turned out in large numbers for the catch-up programme.
According to Onwuka, the catch-up programme will last from this month to February, 2025, and urged mothers and local government health workers not to relent to ensure that all children are immunized within the period.
The affected local government areas are Aguata, Idemili North, Idemili South, Nnewi South, Ihiala, Anaocha, Orumba North, Orumba South and Ayamelum.
* The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, has said that education forms one, not just in learning, but in character, noting that being uneducated is like being blind.
The Bishop stated this at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, on the occasion of their 10th Investiture, Academic Prize Award Ceremony and Send-off of their immediate past SS3 Students, known as the ‘Erudite Set’.
The Prelate who is also the Proprietor of the school, said it was not enough to be an academic firebrand and insisted that education ought to affect also the character and moral dexterity of the individual.
* Governor Chukwuma Soludo has expressed earnest congratulations and greetings to all residents and people of Anambra State on the celebration of the dawn of the New Year 2025.
Soludo in his new year message to ndi Anambra signed by Mr. Christian Aburime, Press Secretary to the Governor, stated that the dawn of 2025 brings refreshed hope and unprecedented opportunities for accelerated transformation in Anambra, especially with the signing into law of the 2025 appropriation bill of N606.99 billion marking a significant milestone in the administration’s journey towards building a livable and prosperous smart mega city.
The comprehensive 2025 Anambra state budget reflects Governor Soludo’s uncompromising dedication to transforming Anambra State through strategic investments in critical sectors.
* The Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Anambra State Branch, has held its Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Seminar in Awka; where they also recognized Governor Chukwuma Soludo with an award for excellent leadership qualities in governance and land administration reforms
The seminar with theme, “Contemporary tools for effective land administration and property management in Nigeria”, was attended by members of the institute, policy makers in government, sister professionals and other industry stakeholders.
In his address, the State Chairman of the Institution, Mr. Raji Adewale, explained that the seminar was aimed at helping members meet global best practices through exploring tools like the Geographic Information System, GIS, which enables equitable housing provision and addresses mapping vulnerability.
* Thirty-three seminarians have been invested with the clerical soutane, a symbol of their commitment to the life of love of God and priestly vocation, by the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, at Archbishop A. K. Obiefuna Retreat, Pastoral and Conference Centre, Okpuno.
The Bishop instructed that it was not enough to be called into one vocation or the other by God, but that those called are to answer and follow the directives of God who called them.
The Prelate therefore, reminded the seminarians that their vocation to the Catholic Priesthood was one that required discernment, discipline and devotion to God and the Church. He exhorted them to bear in mind that the journey of life was marked with thorns and roses and that each was necessary for shaping them into better agents of peace, justice and development in the world.
* A centenarian, Ichie Wilson Okeofor of Obunagu Achalla in Enugu Agidi, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, has commended their peace move with the Ezinano community in Awka South Local Government Area of the state to resolve a 70-year land dispute.
Ichie Wilson Okeofor, who holds the title Oji Ani (the oldest man in Enugu Agidi), stated that the greatest achievement of his lifetime was the peace initiative aimed at ending the 70-year land dispute that has caused them misfortune.
Ichie Okeofor explained that since 1954, they have been in court over the land, and today they are in the process of peacefully resolving the long-standing dispute.
* Professor Chris Abakare, a renowned expert in sports development, has emphasized the need for the Anambra state government to prioritize the development of sporting facilities and stadiums across the state.
This call was made during SWAN week in Awka, where Prof. Abakare delivered a keynote lecture titled “Sports Development in Anambra state, the Infrastructure question”.
Prof. Abakare decried the current state of non-existent sports stadiums and infrastructure in Anambra state, citing the example of the Awka City stadium, which has been converted into a leisure park and fun city despite the outcry from sports stakeholders.
