# The Province of Niger, Anglican Communion, has concluded its Provincial Council Meeting held at the Cathedral Church of St. Gabriel, Umueri, in the Diocese of Niger West, Anambra State.
The meeting featured an address by the Provincial Archbishop, Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, who declared that the Province and families would continue to flourish together.
Archbishop Ibezim urged members to remain righteous, faithful, steadfast, prayerful and united. He also congratulated Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Deputy Governor Onyekachukwu Ibezim on their successful swearing-in, while commending the administration for its efforts in infrastructure development, security, economic growth and urban transformation across the state.
He said the church appreciated the progress recorded by the state government and called for greater collaboration among the government, church leaders, traditional rulers, communities and other stakeholders.
The Archbishop further assured the government of the church’s continued prayers and support for the development and progress of Anambra State.
However, the provincial council expressed concern over tax demand notices reportedly being issued directly by the state government to dioceses and church-owned schools across Anambra State.
# The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Esther Onyekesi, has commended the empowerment initiatives unveiled during the visit of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the state last Thursday.
Senator Tinubu visited Anambra to launch the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-East Zone and support empowerment initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and economic wellbeing of citizens.
Mrs. Onyekesi described the interventions as strategic measures capable of improving livelihoods and strengthening vulnerable families across the state.
She said the empowerment component of the initiative was particularly significant as it provides women with productive assets that could serve as a foundation for income generation and sustainable livelihoods.
According to her, economically empowered women are better positioned to provide for their families, increase household income and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.
# Parents have been urged to make the upbringing of their children a priority by dedicating adequate time and attention to their development.
Mrs Uchechi Nnamani, wife of the founder of Vale of Hebron Seedtime and Harvest Revival Labours, Uru Ogidi, made the call during the Christian ministry’s weekly Tuesday meeting at its revival ground.
Nnamani said parents had a crucial role to play in shaping the character and future of their children, stressing that the formative years required adequate guidance, love and supervision.
She cautioned parents against becoming overly occupied with work, business and other commitments at the expense of their children, noting that inadequate parental attention could expose them to negative influences.
Nnamani also advised parents to lead by example, noting that children often learnt more from their parents’ actions than their words.
# Governor Chukwuma Soludo has congratulated His Lordship, Most Reverend Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, on the joyful occasion of his 74th birthday today.
In his goodwill remarks, signed by Christian Aburime, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prof. Soludo eulogised Bishop Ezeokafor for devoting his life to the service of God and humanity through his decades of priestly devotion. Having been ordained priest since 1984, served as Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Diocese from 2007 to 2011, and continues asthe Bishop of the Diocese with distinction, pastoral wisdom, and unrelenting commitment, Bishop Ezeokafor hastoday become a living testimony of divine possibilities.
“His Lordship remains a respected spiritual father, a consistent advocate of peace, unity, and development, and a steady moral voice whose leadership continues to enrich the faith community and the larger society in Anambra State and beyond,” The Governor noted
Thus, as the Most Reverend Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor marks another year of the gift of life with God’s faithfulness, Governor Soludo wishes him happy birthday celebrations.
The Governor prays that the Lord will continue togrant the Bishop robust health, strength, wisdom, and grace for many more impactful years in the service of God and society.
# The First lady of Anambra State, Dr Nonye Soludo has condemned the trending case of sexual assault and exploitation which happened in Onitsha, Anambra state.
Dr Nonye Soludo stated that she’s profoundly disturbed by such news coming out from Anambra State
The Anambra first lady stated that there are some things that are simply beyond comprehension, and the alleged abuse of innocent children is one of them. She maintained that children are meant to be protected and subjected to any form of sexual molestation or exploitation
Dr Nonye commended the Anambra State Police Command and everyone whose information and intervention led to the rescue of these children. She urged the police to conduct a thorough, transparent and professional investigation into this matter, leaving no stone unturned in establishing the full facts.
She directed the police to identify anyone else who may have been involved, and ensuring that where wrongdoing is established, the law takes its full course. She expressed her concern on the children rescued and pledged to help them heal emotionally.
Dr Nonye Soludo also appealed to everyone, especially parents, guardians, neighbours and members of the communities, to remain vigilant and speak up whenever they notice anything that threatens the safety or dignity of a child. She stated the at Silence can never be an option when the safety of a child is at stake.
She maintained that Anambra, under the Solution Administration, stands firmly against every form of violence, abuse and exploitation of our women and children.
# The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, has urged the people of Okpuno Community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State to make land available to the Catholic Church for the construction of a modern hospital.
Bishop Ezeokafor made the appeal while carrying out his pastoral duties at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, Okpuno, following reports that some indigenes of the community had expressed preference for a hospital or school instead of the filling station recently established in Nodu Village.
The Bishop said the Church was prepared to build a standard hospital in the community if the people could provide a suitable parcel of land.
He stressed that the Church remained committed to contributing to the development of the community, noting that several projects had already been undertaken.
The Bishop also called on parishioners to embark on the comprehensive renovation of the church building, which he said had become old and required urgent attention.
During the pastoral visit, Bishop Ezeokafor also administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to more than 200 candidates.
He charged the newly confirmed Catholics to live exemplary lives and remain useful to themselves, their families, the Church and society at large.
# The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka Branch, Anambra State, has suspended its withdrawal of services following the full payment of the outstanding August 2026 salary to all its members.
The suspension took effect five days after the branch commenced the industrial action over the non-payment of the full August salary.
In a statement signed by the Branch Chairperson, Comrade Innocent Nnubia, and Secretary, Comrade Osita Nnajiofor, the union directed its members to immediately resume their academic and administrative responsibilities.
Members were directed to return to teaching and lectures, supervision, marking of scripts, committee meetings, submission of results and other official duties.
The decision followed the implementation of a resolution reached by the Branch Congress on September 7, which activated the ASUU National Executive Council’s “No Pay, No Work” position over the delayed payment of the complete August salary.
The Branch Executive commended members for their unity, discipline and resoluteness throughout the period, noting that their collective action had yielded a positive outcome.
The union, however, urged members to remain vigilant and continue to monitor developments, assuring them that further official information would be communicated through its established platforms.
# It was a moment of celebration as parishioners of Our Lady of Assumption, Nimo, in Njikoka Local Government Area, Anambra State, including friends and well-wishers, converged to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Church as a parish since creation in 1951 by the then Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev Charles Heerey.
The historic event also came with a pastoral visit by the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor.
Speaking in a homily, the Bishop expressed satisfaction with both the spiritual and infrastructural growth of the Church, and thanked the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Shedrach Anunwa, as well as his predecessors, for his service.
Bishop Ezeokafor, who described the event as a big celebration, thanked God for His grace upon the Church throughout the 75 years, and the parishioners, for their support to their priests.
# The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to deepen strategic stakeholder partnerships and expand its intelligence-gathering network as part of sustained efforts to strengthen public safety and security across the State.
The Commissioner stated this while receiving members of the Nigeria Legion (Military Veterans) and the Nigeria Forest Security Services, who separately paid courtesy visits to the Command Headquarters, Awka.
Receiving the Nigeria Legion delegation, CP Nnanna acknowledged the immense value of the experience, discipline and institutional knowledge acquired by military veterans through years of service to the nation. He noted that their familiarity with security matters and extensive community networks constitute valuable resources that can complement the Police in crime prevention, early identification of threats and the promotion of public safety.
In a similar engagement with members of the Nigeria Forest Security Services, the Commissioner underscored the strategic importance of human intelligence (HUMINT) in contemporary policing, particularly in detecting emerging threats, identifying criminal networks and providing early warning of activities capable of undermining public safety.
He emphasized that stakeholders with operational presence in communities, forests and other difficult-to-access locations occupy a unique position in the intelligence architecture of the State. Their timely observations and credible information, when properly channelled to the Police, can significantly enhance situational awareness, facilitate preventive action and enable the Command to respond decisively to emerging security challenges.
CP Nnanna therefore charged both groups to maintain regular communication with the Police and promptly provide credible, timely and actionable intelligence, stressing that effective security is strengthened when responsible stakeholders work collaboratively with law-enforcement agencies within the ambit of the law.
The Commissioner further assured the delegations of the Command’s openness to lawful partnerships and sustained engagement with stakeholders, emphasizing that the Police will continue to build bridges with communities, professional bodies, veterans’ groups and other legitimate security-support structures in order to broaden its intelligence base and strengthen its capacity for proactive policing.
He reiterated that the Anambra State Police Command under his leadership remains firmly committed to intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing, and will continue to exploit every lawful avenue of strategic engagement to prevent crime, disrupt criminal activities and safeguard lives and property throughout the State.
# A new life has been breathed into the comatose Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Awka Diocese, with the convening of a meeting aimed at reviving the association in the diocese.
Addressing the gathering, the Fides Director, Rev. Fr. Ikeh, welcomed the members and apologised for what he described as the decline in the activities of CAMPAN in recent years. He explained that he had only recently appreciated the significance and role of CAMPAN after studying its constitution.
The Director observed that CAMPAN appeared to be more active in the northern part of the country than in the South-East and stressed the need to revive the association in the Diocese of Awka and subsequently across the ecclesiastical province.
He highlighted the benefits of an active CAMPAN, including evangelisation, promotion of social ethics, responsible communication, regulation of content released through social and conventional media, and the protection of the corporate image of the Catholic Church
