# Twelve Newsrooms drawn from media stations in South East region, including Delta and Edo states, both Print and Broadcast stations have gathered to brainstorm on how to navigate legal challenges, laws that criminalize journalism and Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, SLAPPs.
The event organized by Center For Journalism Innovation And Development held at UNIZIK FM, Awka, featured lectures on “Operational strategies for journalists and media organizations to avoid legal repression” delivered by the Managing Editor, Premium Times Newspaper, Mr Idris Akinbajo, who stressed the importance of media stations going extra mile to ensure that governments do not clamp down on media stations because of their reportage.
In his lecture on “Understanding inhibiting laws against journalism and how to navigate SLAPPs”, another resource person and legal luminary, Barrister Inihibe Effiong, took the participants who are mainly journalists, Newsroom Managers, Editors and Media owners on ways to carry out their duties without attracting litigations, urging journalists to avoid hate speech, ensure they check their facts, have strong editorial policy, document and keep their interviews as evidence in case of litigation, have courage in their abilities, knowing that journalism is a calling and not just a job, and recommended that judicial reporters should be given constant trainings to be abreast with any changes regarding their beats.
On her part, the Deputy Director, Journalism Programme, Centre For Journalism Innovation And Development, Mrs Busola Ajibola, spoke extensively on Gender nuances of press freedom violations in Nigeria, highlighting the importance of ensuring gender equality and creation of sexual harassment policies in News Rooms, the need for journalists to always be there for each other especially in times of harassment and litigations, and the need to raise remuneration of journalists so as to discourage self censorship among journalists.
# The people of Osumenyi in Nnewi South LGA has elected Chief. Chukwuemeka Akuzue as President General.
Chief Sunday Okonkwo and Mr Chukwuebuka Aladuba won the office of first and second Vice President respectively in the community election held at Community Primary School, Salvation Army, Osumenyi.
While the office of Secretary General and Assistant Secretary went to Mr Ogonus Odiejije and Chijioke Egbeigwe, Mr Gilbert Aguocha took the office of Financial Secretary, Mr Jude Okeke got the position of Treasurer.
Other elected executives include Mr Jaachimma Igwemadu and Chidozie Igwemezie who won the Publicity Secretary and Assistant Publicity Secretary, while Sir. Martin Nnakenyi got the office of Chief Welfare Officer; to be assisted by Chinedu Onyeka and Chinenye Adimora, while Chief Chike Ugwunne and Udoka Umeh won Chief of Protocol and Assistant Protocol.
Bernard Ezeh and Vincent Anosike are Provosts 1 and 2.
# Governor Chukwuma Soludo has reiterated his administration’s intentionality about reforming the state’s healthcare ecosystem.
Soludo stated this when he paid an inspection visit to the Trauma Center built by his administration within the premises of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka.
According to the Governor, apart from the efforts in healthcare delivery, including construction of five brand new General Hospitals, recruitment of healthcare personnel, among others which fall within the primary and secondary care, his administration has been paying attention to tertiary care, specifically the Teaching Hospital, and discovered a missing link; which was the absence of a Trauma Center.
While expressing optimism that the Center will be ready by next month or two, the Governor equally expressed happiness that the equipments are coming up.
# The Anambra State Police Operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Gender Unit have secured evidence for the prosecution of three arrested suspects in separate incidents of defilement reported in Eziowele, Oba and Ogidi Divisions of the State.
According to a press release signed by Anambra Police Spokesperson, SP. Tochukwu Ikenga, the cases are: Police Operatives attached to the Oba Division, recently, arrested one Ihechiluru Okorie over a case of defilement of a 14-year-old girl. The suspect confessed to forcibly having carnal knowledge of the victim when she came to barb her hair in his shop.
Secondly, Police Operatives attached to the Eziowelle Division arrested one Chidubem Udem ‘M’, aged 28 years over the defilement of a 5-year old girl. Investigations revealed that the suspect visited the victim at her grandmother’s house, where he forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. The victim was immediately taken to the Hospital, where a medical examination confirmed a case of defilement.
Furthermore, one Kalu Ilo ‘M’, aged 30 years was arrested by Ogidi Police Operatives over defilement of a 13-year old daughter of his neighbour who is mentally challenged in Nkpor. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly went to the victim’s house, where he forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl.
# With a call to unity and divine renewal, ‘Heavenly Mandate Global Missions’ has hosted a solemn assembly that brought Ndi Igbo worldwide together in prayers and worship at the Recreation Center, Housing Estate, Fegge, Onitsha, Anambra State.
Welcoming participants, the convener of the Heavenly Mandate Mission Solemn Assembly, Most Rev. Mayor Mike Chukwudum, called on elders, priests, leaders, and the entire Igbo nation to come before God’s presence in humility with fasting, weeping, groaning and prayers, seeking His mercy and restoration for the Igbo race.
Also speaking, the General Overseer of Grace of God Mission International, Bishop Paul Nwachukwu Snr, who spoke on the power of unity among Ndi Igbo, urged them to embrace oneness and turn away from all forms of wickedness and division.
# The Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra State Council ends 2025 press week with a special thanksgiving service held at the Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit, Awka.
NUJ Chairman Anambra Council, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD
led the union members to the thanksgiving service where they thanked God for his grace in the past year.
While thanking God for his love and grace so far, Dr. Odogwu charged NUJ members, whom he described as
conscience of the society, to always uphold the ethics of the profession by being balanced in their reports and always do their jobs diligently as watchdogs of the society.
In his sermon, the Vicar of Church of the Holy Spirit, Awka, Venerable Onyeka Egwuonwu explained that thanksgiving is a visible form of showing gratitude to God’s blessings which turn attracts more blessings as he urged the congregation to imbibe the act of regular thanksgiving.
Dr. Egwuonwu commended journalists for their doggedness in informing, educating and entertaining the society.
# Determined to tackle all forms of insecurity head-on, Ihiala Local Government Area has formally launched it’s own community-driven security outfit; Agunechemba.
The launching, held at Ihiala Local Government Headquarters, had in attendance community leaders, including the Traditional Ruler of Ihiala, Igwe Thomas Obidiegwu, Ihiala Agunechemba Committee members, youths and other stakeholders from the town.
In his remark, the Chairman of Ihiala Local Government, Engineer Charles Orjiako, appreciated the Anambra State Government for the Agunechemba security initiatives that helped the council area greatly, calling for synergy and sincerity of purpose from all to ensure that security is achieved in the area.
Chairman of Ihiala Agunechemba Management and Finance Committee, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chief Chukwudi Enwerum, who outlined modalities for operations, noted that the homeland security law, 2025 has repealed the 2014 Anambra State vigilante law, and empowered Agunechemba security outfit, as a community based security.
The representative of the Anambra State Police Commissioner, ACP Abiodun Alabi, assured that the police will give all necessary support, and partner with the community security outfit to succeed.
# The Ikukuoma–Iyom Campaign Organization at the Radisson Hotel, Awka, officially confirmed Chief Chido Obidiegwu as its Director, Media and Communications.
Chief Obidiegwu brings to the role over three decades of robust experience spanning print, broadcast, and integrated marketing communications.
Speaking on his appointment, the campaign organisation expressed confidence that Chief Obidiegwu will “build a media powerhouse capable of energizing the grassroots, dominating the airwaves, shaping digital conversations, and ultimately securing the mandate of Ndi Anambra in November.”
# The culture and traditions of Ndi Ogbunka in Orumba South Council Area were brought to fore as their traditional ruler, Igwe Dr John-Mark Anyaoha celebrated the Ihejioku Ogbunka for this year.
Ihejioku festival which celebrates new yam in the community is used to thank God for a bountiful harvest and the end of the farming season.
The event started with a special holy mass and attracted members of the Igwe’s cabinet, Ndi Ogbuehi and Ndi Amala, Umuokpu, and representatives from the five villages in Ogbunka.
While performing the kolanut ritual, Igwe Anyaoha said Ihejioku festival is a time they come together as one family in appreciation to God and an opportunity for him to see his subject, interact and merry with them because they share love, unity, oneness and peace.
The monarch asked the youths to embrace agriculture to make their contributions to food sufficiency as the community remains a major agrarian community.
He also called on Ndi Ogbunka to come together in peace for massive development and progress of the community as he backed the second term bid of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
