* All is now set for the 2024 Onitsha Ofala festival of His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe, Obi of Onitsha and Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council.
The Ofala is scheduled to take place between 18th and 19th October 2024. This information was contained in a press release issued by the Ofala Steering Committee.
According to the Chairman of the Steering Committee, Chief Dr. Mike Okechukwu Areh (Onya Ozoma of Onitsha), the festival, themed “Courage, Perseverance, and Self-Reliance,” reflects the monarch’s message of hope and resilience amid the prevailing hardships in the country.
* The Transition Committee Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka, has described the One-Youth, Two-Skills Initiative of the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, as the best empowerment programme in the country that will eradicate touting in the state.
The council boss while speaking at Abatete Civic Centre, charged the new intakes not to toy with what he described as a rare opportunity, reminding them that their counterparts in other states of the federation were in dire need of such opportunities. He urged them not to take it for granted.
Hon. Nkwoka who is the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chairmanship Candidate for the forthcoming Local Government Elections in Anambra State, advised the trainees and intending ones to pay serious attention to their trainers and ensure that they learned all they were supposed to learn. He asked them to be committed and responsive towards the exercise.
* Youths of Ogbaru in Anambra State on Monday mobilized and apprehended five indigenes who have been aiding secessionist elements in attacking communities in the local government are.
In recent times, there have been attacks on police stations, local government secretariat and even an attack on United Nations officials who visited the area.
One of them who was described as Eselu was said to be hardened, and responsible for most of the attacks, including inviting bandits who pose as freedom fighters to the local government for attacks.
* Mr Francis Okoyediji has been presented with a Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, STAN, Fellowship Award after years of meritorious service in the education sector.
Okoyediji who is the STAN Zonal Coordinator, Awka, comprising all private, mission and public institutions with Science and Technology departments on improving Science Education
The President of STAN, Professor Donatus Igbokwe, decorated Okoyediji with FSTAN Medal and issued him a certificate.
Reacting to the award, an elated Okoyediji said he felt very excited and filled with inner Joy for having attained what he had worked for, for the past 24 years.
* Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Anambra State Council on Monday paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Awka.
The leader of the delegation and State Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD, explained that the primary aim of the visit was to familiarize with new FRSC Boss, CC Alexander, who assumed office on July 29 as the 15th substantive and first female Sector Commander in the State.
While expressing appreciation for the longstanding collaboration between the Command and the media in Anambra State, Comrade Odogwu, who congratulated the new Sector Commander on her new role in the State, also assured her of stronger partnership and greater support of the media, as a member of the media family, to make her stay and service in Anambra a fulfilling, seamless and memorable one, marked by several achievements.
* Heineken Brand of Nigerian Breweries has launched Heineken 45cl Returnable Glass Bottle, RGB, to continue to offer premium quality at a price every consumer can afford.
The event which took place at Bon Hotels, Awka, Anambra State, had in attendance the who’s who in the company’s East Zone, its numerous distributors, sub-distributors, and retailers across its Onitsha Region.
In her opening remarks, the East Zonal Business Manager of Heineken, Mrs Chinwe Udeh, told the distributors and the retailers that the Heineken 45cl RGB, designed to fit seamlessly into the lifestyle of today’s Heineken consumers, was a life wire of their businesses, noting that it was known for excellence and quality.
* As the world marks International Peace Day celebration, Anambra State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (FRSC) Maku Olatunde has urged all citizens to promote peace and harmony, and to work towards resolving conflicts in a constructive manner, ensuring a serene and stable future for generations to come.
The NSCDC State Commandant stated this during an occasion to mark the International Peace Day celebration by Officer and Men of the command at the State Command Headquarters Awka on Tuesday 24th of September 2024.
Commenting on the theme of this year’s celebration “Cultivating the Culture of Peace”, Comdt. Maku stressed the need for all citizens to cultivate the habit of preaching and maintaining peace needed for socio economic development of the country.
* The senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District in the10th Assembly, Sen. Victor Umeh, has reacted to the incessant hike of the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as fuel, in Nigeria.
The senator called on the executive arm of government to, as a matter of urgency, take decisive action in reducing the hike of the pump price.
In noting the sufferings that the masses were going through with the hike in price, the Senator confirmed that at the moment, fuel prices had gone up between N1, 250 and N1, 300 as as a result of what he described as the selfishness of the managers and operators of the petroleum sector. This was even as he also called for a total overhaul of the structures of the industry which he described as largely the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
* Traders in Onitsha, Anambra State commercial hub have decried the alleged obnoxious and incompetent leadership of the President -General of Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna.
The traders who spoke journalists in Onitsha described the leadership of Chief Anuna as “a serious threat to Governor Soludo’s second tenure come 2025,” urging the Governor to act fast and investigate the activities of Chief Anuna before he put sand in his garri.
According to traders, inspite of several complaints against Chief Anuna, which they said fell on deaf ears, Anuna ignored them and continued to frustrate traders who are major supporters of the Governor.
* The All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed to capture Anambra State in the 2025 governorship election, employing the same strategy that secured their victory in Edo State on September 21.
At the APC Headquarters in Abuja, National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje urged party members to replicate their Edo State success in Anambra, describing it as a “project that must be executed.”
This call to action came during the winding down of the situation room at the NWC hall.
