* The correspondent of The Nation newspapers in Anambra State, Mr. Emma Elekwa, has won the 2024 edition of the prestigious Professor Chinyere Stella Okunna Award for Ethical Journalism.
Elekwa was announced the winner of the prize at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Council Press Week/Man of the Year Award, following submission of his article titled, “Erratic power supply cripples poultry businesses in Anambra, Farmers resort to lanterns, charcoal”.
Speaking before the award presentation, a member of the panel of judges, Mr. Jude Atupulazi said the occasion was an opportunity to celebrate media practitioners in the state who had distinguished themselves especially in the area of ethical journalism.
Atupulazi also announced the reporter with Ikenga online, Lawrence Nwimo, as runner up, out of a total of ten entries. He congratulated the awardees for their dedication and sacrifice, describing the selection process as fair and transparent.
* The Anambra State Government has announced plans to initiate low-interest loans to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state, to the tune of N10m and above.
The State Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Christian Udechukwu, made the disclosure while declaring open, a one-day Anambra Small Business Summit with the theme: “Enhancing the Growth of Small Business for Job and Wealth Creation, held at King David Hotel Awka.
He said that the idea was born out of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision of making Anambra a prosperous homeland in Nigeria.
Udechukwu explained that the mandate of the ministry was to enhance businesses for the creation of jobs and wealth, adding, “The ministry under my watch, we have funds that we have made available to micro, small, medium and large enterprises.
* The Vice-Chancellor Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh has made his first set of appointments.
This was disclosed in an official release from the institution’s Registrar, Barr. (Mrs) R.I. Nwokike with Reference Number
According to the memo, Prof. Isaac Nwankwo is the new Director, TETFUND and will be assisted by Arch. Dr. Lynda Chinwendu Mbadugha in the capacity as Deputy Director of TETFUND.
Prof. Chigozie Damian Ezeonyejiaku was appointed the Special Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor (SAVC) on Accreditation, Rev. Fr. Engr. Chetanna Jude Chukwuneke was appointed SAVC on Campus Infrastructure and Green while Prof. Anthony Okoye will serve in the capacity of Coordinator Campus Utilities (Water and Electricity).
* The Anambra State Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, alongside celebrated technocrats like Prof. Barth Nnaji, a former Minister of Power, and Dr. Valentine Ozigbo, renowned business executive and former CEO of Transcorp, each bagged a prestigious award and significant honor at the just-concluded 2024 International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Smart Agriculture for National Development.
Organized by the Faculty of Engineering at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, the well-attended event also beamed light on some of the notable contributions of the awardees toward sustainable green energy initiatives in Nigeria, vis-a-vis the general strides being made to address pressing national challenges through eco-conscious solutions.
It was gathered that Commissioner Chukwuemeka’s recognition is rooted in his transformative role in advancing Governor Charles Soludo’s green energy solution agenda across Anambra State. Chukwuemeka has led a series of impactful initiatives under the state’s ambitious strategy to integrate renewable energy.
* Traders of Ogbaru Main Market in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State have expressed gratitude to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, for responding to their Save Our Soul Message (SOS) over failed portion of the drainage system which had claimed lives and shops worth over several millions of naira.
The Upper Iweka portion of the market, facing the Pedestrian bridge had collapsed causing flood to carry traders’ shops since the beginning of this year’s rainy season.
The President of the market, Chief Ndubuisi Ochiogu, with his executives had made frantic efforts, committing millions of naira to address the problem but erosion was beyond them.
He made clarion call to the Governor, asking him to save the lives, shops and wares of the traders near the failed portion from being washed away by flood.
* Valentine Chineto Ozigbo, Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate for Anambra State in the upcoming 2025 elections, has extended heartfelt appreciation to the Obidient Movement for their endorsement and ongoing support to the party.
Speaking at the 2024 Obidient Movement South-East Good Governance Symposium, held at All Saints Cathedral Onitsha, Ozigbo lauded the event’s organizers for promoting crucial dialogue on Anambra’s future and the value of transformative leadership.
Organized by the Obidient Movement in partnership with Anambra State Support Groups, with backing from the Valentine Ozigbo (VCO) Foundation and Naija We Can, the symposium provided a platform to discuss Anambra’s development trajectory and promote governance rooted in transparency and accountability.
* A new Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Ekuase Monday, (SP), has taken over the Fegge Police station in Onitsha, the commercial hub of Southeast, urged residents to come up with useful information that will lead to arrest of criminals.
Reading the riot act to criminals, he stated that they better vacate the area in their own interest or be ready to meet their waterloo, assuring the informants that their identity would not be disclosed.
The new DPO who succeeded Mr. Uche Noah, (CSP), the immediate past DPO of the station, expressed satisfaction with the hospitality of the residents, pledged their support to ensure that the area is free of crime and criminality.
* The headteacher of Unity Primary School in Awba Ofemili, Awka North LGA, Mrs. Bertha Chidebe has been demoted and directed to hand over her duties to the next senior officer, Mrs. Helen Okafor, due to consistent absence from her post.
Chidebe’s demotion was announced by the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, during the distribution of writing materials donated by Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Dr. Nonye Soludo to state-run primary schools in Anambra State.
Prof. Chuma-Udeh expressed disappointment with the poor condition of the school and, upon further investigation, found that the headteacher had been largely absent from her responsibilities.
* The member representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Peter Aniekwe
has launched an empowerment initiative aimed at supporting select farmers in his constituency.
The beneficiaries of the initiative are profiled farmers at Igbokenyi farm settlement in Anambra West, and their counterparts at Igbariam Farm Settlement in Anambra East Local Government area.
The program, held at the Rep Members constituency office at Otuocha, also witnessed the distribution of essential farming equipment, including water pumping machines and water guns, to beneficiary farmers to facilitate dry season farming.
* Governor Chukwuma Soludo has sworn-in three members into the Anambra State Judicial Service Commission.
Those sworn-in are Ben Nwankwo, Ifeyinwa Obegolu, and Adol Ezeoke.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Government House, Awka, Governor Soludo emphasized the importance of the role played by the judiciary in maintaining the rule of law, saying that the State Judicial Service Commission is crucial in ensuring that Ndị Anambra have access to a fair and transparent justice system.
On her part, Dr. Obegolu promised, on behalf of others to deliver on their mandate.
