# Anambra State Government is seriously tinkering on setting up modular refinery that will eventually graduate into Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG.
The Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Professor Charles Ofoegbu, disclosed this while welcoming in audience, members of National Association of LPG Marketers, Anambra State Chapter, who called on him in his office at the Jerome Udoji State Secretariat Awka.
Ofoegbu, who announced the decision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo to sanitize the sector, encouraged Ndi Anambra and other investors that want to set-up a gas processing plant to avail themselves of this rare opportunity as the state government is ready to assist with gas supply to their plant.
Reacting to the aims and objectives of their visit, Commissioner Ofoegbu noted that the importance of workshop can never be over emphasized especially when is tailored towards addressing the problems of the association in question.
# The APGA Candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District in the 2027 election, Hon. Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo has congratulated the newly inaugurated Local Government Mayors across Anambra State, with particular commendation to the new Mayors from Anambra Central.
In a congratulatory message, Onye Ndozi urged the new Mayors to see their mandate as an opportunity to bring practical solutions, meaningful development and responsive governance closer to the people at the grassroots.
Nwankwo wished the new Mayors successful tenures, urging them to uphold the confidence reposed in them by the people and justify their mandate through purposeful leadership and tangible development.
# 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.
# The Rector of All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha, Very Rev. Fr. Pascal Okonkwo, has called on education stakeholders to instil sound moral values and discipline in students for a better society.
Fr. Okonkwo made the call in his office, noting that moral upbringing will help children grow into responsible future leaders.
The Rector, while describing Governor Chukwuma Soludo as education-friendly, commended the governor and the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ekene Ogugua, for repositioning the sector.
He advised students to stay focused on their studies and obey their teachers and guardians to achieve their future ambitions.
# Senator Stella Oduah, through the Senator Stella Oduah Liberators Network, has sponsored the registration of residents of Anambra North under the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme (ASHIA).
The initiative was launched at the Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha, where beneficiaries commenced the process of enrolling with ASHIA.
Under the arrangement, the Senator Stella Oduah Liberators Network is sponsoring the beneficiaries’ participation in the scheme, while ASHIA is responsible for their registration and administration of the health insurance coverage.
During a sensitisation session, Mrs Okoli Tonia explained the registration process and guided participants on how to access healthcare services covered under the scheme after completing their enrolment.
The beneficiaries were also educated on their entitlements and how to utilise their health insurance coverage when they require medical attention.
The initiative is expected to provide beneficiaries with financial protection against eligible healthcare costs while giving them a structured pathway to accessing healthcare services through the state’s health insurance system.
# The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has held its second quarter data validation meeting with Global Fund programme managers, Monitoring and Evaluation officers and other stakeholders.
The meeting, held at East End Hotel and Suites, Awka, reviewed and reconciled data on Global Fund supported health insurance activities in the state during the quarter.
Addressing participants, the Executive Secretary of ASHIA, Dr Augustine Ezeka, appreciated the stakeholders for their efforts and urged them to intensify activities aimed at expanding health insurance coverage for people living with HIV and tuberculosis (TB).
Ezeka stressed the need to ensure that eligible beneficiaries were not left behind in accessing health insurance coverage and necessary healthcare services.
The Global Fund Focal Person, Nurse Ogochukwu Mbonu, presented the action plan for the second quarter validation exercise, saying the meeting provided an opportunity to review findings, clarify observations and ensure that the data accurately reflected programme activities.
Mbonu said enrolment had increased significantly, attributing the development largely to the field National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment exercise conducted to facilitate the registration of eligible beneficiaries.
She urged stakeholders to take greater responsibility for awareness creation and intensify sensitisation efforts to improve enrolment and access to the programme.
# The Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (ASPHCDA) is assessing eligible healthcare workers across the state’s 21 Local Government Areas(LGA) to determine their readiness for advancement, ensuring that qualified personnel are considered in line with established public service procedures.
The oral assessment, being conducted at the ASPHCDA office complex in Awka, follows a written examination held recently for eligible staff.
The exercise covers healthcare workers seeking advancement from Grade Level 6 to Grade Level 7 and Grade Level 13 to Grade Level 14, with eligibility determined by the applicable requirements for each category.
The assessment provides an opportunity for the agency to evaluate candidates against the relevant criteria and ensure that the process is conducted fairly and consistently.
The exercise was overseen by the ASPHCDA Administration Department, headed by Mrs Cecilia Peter-Okoye, alongside members of the assessment panel.
# The Anambra Commissioner for Education, Dr. Ekene Ogugua, has urged teachers and school administrators to reside closer to their duty posts to improve their availability and efficiency.
Ogugua made the call while addressing principals from Otuocha Zone at a meeting convened by the Ministry of Education at the ASUBEB Utility Hall, Awka, to review challenges facing schools in the zone.
He said spending substantial income and time commuting to distant workplaces was counterproductive, urging teachers to consider accommodation within reasonable distance of their schools whenever circumstances permitted.
The commissioner expressed concern over reports of poor performance among some teachers and principals posted to the zone, warning that the ministry would not tolerate negligence or inefficiency.
Ogugua said teachers should decide whether they were prepared to work diligently or resign, adding that government plans were nearing completion to recruit more teachers across the zone.
He said the ministry would also scrutinise transfers and recruitment into the zone, warning that applicants who secured employment as indigenes before seeking transfers elsewhere after appointment would no longer be allowed to do so.
The commissioner urged principals to take responsibility for improving learning outcomes by initiating practical changes while government addressed major infrastructure and resource challenges facing schools in the zone.
# A complex with 255 lock-up shops that will house Anaocha Building Materials Market has been commissioned and opened for business by the outgoing Mayor of Anaocha Local Government Area, Honourable Rome Ibekwe.
The complex situated in Nkwo Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area.
The commissioning of the complex brings to a climax projects initiated, completed and commissioned by Ibekwe as he bows out as the chief executive of the local government area.
The ceremony drew prominent Ndi Anaocha to the venue where they bid farewell to an administration many of the speakers described as historical and legendary.
Ibekwe said the market was the beginning of a fulfillment of a dream to transform Anaocha into an economic hub and has become a reality through the support of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
According to the outgoing mayor, the market is built to international with every necessary amenity needed to facilitate seamless buying and selling.
# The Mayor of Nnewi North LGA, Hon. Echezona Anazodo has been honoured with the prestigious Leadership and Community Service Award by the Anambra State Town Union Council, ASTUC, Youth Wing.
The award, which also came with a decoration as a Community Role Model, was in recognition of Hon. Anazodo’s outstanding leadership, youth-friendly governance and commitment to grassroots development in Nnewi North.
The award was presented on behalf of the ASTUC Youth Wing by the President-General of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi, Hon. Prince Jude Osumuoh.
Speaking during the presentation, Hon. Osumuoh commended Mayor Anazodo for redefining local government administration and for carrying the youths of Nnewi along in his programmes and policies.
