# The African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYICRIP), Nigeria, has brought police authorities, university student leaders and other stakeholders together in Anambra State to strengthen police-youth relations and promote collaboration in crime prevention.
The one-day Police-Youth Crime Prevention and Community Safety Dialogue, held at the Madubuko Min-Auditorium, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, focused on the theme, “Promoting Police-Youth Relationship and Preventing Negative Profiling Narratives for Improved Security in the South-East Region.”
Addressing participants, the Executive Director of AYICRIP, Ambassador Chris Ibe, said the dialogue was organised against the backdrop of persistent mistrust between law enforcement agencies and citizens, particularly youths.
Ibe identified negative profiling, stereotyping, mutual suspicion and allegations of police brutality as some of the factors affecting police-youth relations.
He stressed that the programme was not intended to apportion blame, but to provide a platform for constructive engagement and practical solutions to security challenges.
According to him, strained relations between youths and security agencies could create opportunities for criminal elements to operate.
Ibe encouraged youths to openly share their experiences and offer practical suggestions for improving police-youth relations, stressing that stronger cooperation was essential for effective crime prevention and safer communities.
He also commended Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Spaces for Change for supporting the initiative.
Declaring the event open, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Hilda Osisioma, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Stanley Anyaehie, commended AYICRIP for organising the dialogue.
She expressed hope that the engagement would contribute to improved relations between security agencies and young people.
In her presentation, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, DCP Ngozi Ezeabata, announced the introduction of the Anambra State Police-Youth Engagement Platform, with telephone number 09169531886, as a channel through which youths can engage the police and report alleged improper conduct by officers.
Ezeabata urged young people to make use of appropriate reporting channels, stressing that effective crime prevention requires open communication and cooperation between the police and youths.
# The Anambra State Ministry of Health has called for the removal of barriers to family planning and contraceptive services, stressing the need for individuals and couples to have access to accurate information and make informed choices.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Obiageli Uchebo, made the call during a press briefing at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka, to commemorate the 2026 World Contraception Day.
The celebration, themed, “No Barriers, Just Choices: Contraceptive Access Now,” focused on improving access to safe and effective contraceptive methods and addressing misconceptions surrounding family planning.
Giving an overview of family planning services in the state, Dr. Uchebo disclosed that 146,183 clients were counselled in 2025, with 44,615 new acceptors recorded.
She added that between January and June 2026, 73,687 clients received counselling, while 18,389 new acceptors were recorded.
Dr. Uchebo explained that access to contraception goes beyond the availability of commodities, noting that individuals and couples also require quality counselling and reliable information to make decisions about whether, when and how often to have children.
She said the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey showed that 15 per cent of currently married women aged 15 to 49 in Anambra State had an unmet need for family planning, placing the state among those with the lowest unmet need in the country.
According to her, health facilities in the state provided 13,726 injectable contraceptives, carried out 5,402 implant insertions and recorded 537 intrauterine device insertions, while 11,186 condom clients were also recorded.
She further disclosed that 17,814 women received counselling between January and June 2026, including 978 postpartum Implanon NXT and 489 Jadelle insertions.
# The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Idemili South Chapter, has honoured the outgoing Mayor of Idemili South Local Government Area, Hon. Amaka Obi, with an Outstanding Performance Award in recognition of her achievements in office.
The award was presented to the mayor at the council secretariat by the Head of Local Government Administration, Comrade Victor Orji, on behalf of the union.
Speaking on the recognition, the NULGE Branch Chairman, Idemili South Chapter, Comrade Edoziuno Innocent, commended Obi for what he described as remarkable achievements during her tenure.
He highlighted her contributions to human capital development, infrastructural development and workers’ welfare, as well as her cordial relationship with members of staff, as some of the reasons for the award.
According to him, NULGE decided to honour the mayor in recognition of her commitment to grassroots development and her administration’s attention to the welfare of local government workers.
He further noted that Obi’s leadership fostered an atmosphere of cooperation between the council administration and its workforce throughout her tenure.
Receiving the award, Hon. Amaka Obi expressed appreciation to NULGE for the recognition, describing it as an honour she deeply valued.
Obi dedicated the award to the entire workforce of Idemili South, whom she described as the engine behind the achievements recorded by her administration.
The Head of Personnel Management, Heads of Departments, Supervisors and other staff of the local government were present at the event to celebrate the outgoing mayor.
# The Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has taken its health insurance sensitisation and enrolment campaign to Iyiowa Odekpe in Ogbaru Local Government Area, urging residents to embrace health insurance as a means of protecting themselves from the financial burden of unexpected medical expenses.
The agency explained that sudden illness can place significant financial pressure on individuals and families, particularly when healthcare costs have to be paid out of pocket.
The outreach focused on educating residents on how health insurance works, the services covered under the scheme and how enrolment can provide financial protection when healthcare services are needed.
Representing ASHIA, Mr. Amaefule Christian stressed the importance of enrolling before the onset of illness, urging residents not to wait until they require medical attention before seeking health insurance coverage.
He encouraged residents to enrol with ASHIA and maintain active health insurance coverage, noting that early enrolment enables beneficiaries to access covered healthcare services in accordance with the terms of their chosen package.
Interested residents were also given the opportunity to commence registration during the outreach, bringing the enrolment process closer to the community and enabling prospective beneficiaries to obtain clarification before signing up.
# Residents of Anambra State, particularly those in rural communities, have been urged to stop spending money meant for survival on their health needs.
They were called upon to embrace health insurance to reduce the financial burden of medical treatment and avoid preventable health expenses.
The Secretary of the Community Empowerment Network (COMEN) in Anambra State, Albert Chinwuko, made the call at St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, Urum, in Awka North Local Government Area, during a health awareness outreach.
The outreach was organised under the Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) project, being implemented in Anambra State by the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Nnewi, Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC), Civil Rights Concern (CRC) and COMEN.
# For teachers and other school workers, an unexpected illness can quickly become a financial burden when medical expenses have to be paid out of pocket.
To help staff plan ahead for such situations, the Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA) has taken its health insurance awareness campaign to Creative Model International School, Iyiowa Odekpe, Ogbaru Local Government Area(LGA).
The sensitisation programme, held on Sept. 21, at the school along Down Acha Street, explained how the State’s health insurance scheme works and gave interested teachers and other staff an opportunity to begin their enrolment.
Speaking during the programme, Mrs. Okoli Tonia of ASHIA’s Marketing and Business Development Department explained the benefits of joining the scheme, including access to covered healthcare services and protection against the financial pressure that unexpected medical expenses can create.
She urged the staff to take advantage of the opportunity to register with ASHIA and secure health-insurance coverage, stressing the importance of making informed decisions about healthcare before illness occurs.
The session gave participants an opportunity to ask questions and obtain clarification on enrolment procedures, available services and how to access care after registration.
Staff members who expressed interest were guided on the registration process, bringing the awareness exercise beyond information-sharing to practical steps towards enrolment.
# For more than 50 people in Anambra State, access to healthcare has received a boost following the sponsorship of their enrolment in the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme (ASHIA) by Dr. Celestine Ezekwe.
The adoption exercise at Dr. Ezekwe’s residence, involved sponsoring the health insurance enrolment of the beneficiaries and providing them with information on how to use the scheme.
Representing ASHIA, Mr. Izuchukwu Ogbaji sensitised the newly enrolled beneficiaries on the benefits available to them, the services covered under the scheme and the importance of maintaining active coverage. He also encouraged them to seek clarification whenever they needed assistance.
Under the ASHIA Adoption Model, individuals, organisations and philanthropists can sponsor health insurance enrolment for people who may otherwise struggle to afford the cost of coverage. The model provides a practical avenue for private support to complement the State’s efforts to expand health insurance coverage.
The initiative aligns with the health vision of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, whose administration has identified affordable and quality healthcare and expanded health insurance coverage as important components of its health-sector agenda.
The State Government has reaffirmed its support for ASHIA’s drive towards Universal Health Coverage, while ASHIA continues to develop enrolment approaches aimed at reaching different groups of residents.
The exercise, therefore, brought together two elements: Dr. Ezekwe’s sponsorship of coverage for more than 50 people and ASHIA’s responsibility for enrolling and orienting them on the scheme, giving the beneficiaries a clearer understanding of how to access the healthcare protection for which their coverage provides.
# For 30 Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ, it was more than a celebration; but a thanksgiving for decades spent in prayer, consecrated life and service to God and humanity.
The Sisters marked three significant milestones of religious life, Diamond, Golden and Silver Jubilees, representing 60, 50 and 25 years of consecrated service respectively, during a Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha.
Family members, religious communities and the faithful gathered with the jubilarians to celebrate their years of commitment and the different stages of their vocation.
In his homily, the Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, reflected on the day’s gospel about workers in a vineyard who received their reward despite joining the work at different times.
He said the passage points to the generosity of God, whose mercy cannot be measured by human standards.
He thanked God for the witness of the jubilarians, noting that they had answered their vocation at different times and remained committed to their service.
The archbishop urged Christians to reject envy and embrace generosity, stressing that God freely gives His gifts and calls the faithful to live in peace, tolerance and unity.
#The Waste Management Team of Nnewi North Local Government Area has sensitised residents on proper waste disposal and other environmental practices to curb indiscriminate dumping in the area.
The team carried out the awareness campaign, warning residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, open urination and disposal of waste in drainages and waterways, particularly during rainfall.
It also cautioned residents against dropping waste on the medians of dual carriage roads.
The team warned that defaulters would face prosecution in accordance with extant environmental laws.
# The Anambra State Government has commenced plans to revitalise the Omasi Farm Settlement in Ayamelum Local Government Area as part of efforts to boost agricultural production and attract credible investment to the area.
The initiative was disclosed during a stakeholders’ engagement with the Omasi community, by a high-level government delegation led by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Ben Odoemena.
In his welcome address, the traditional ruler of Omasi, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Dr. Ben Okeji, expressed the community’s readiness to welcome credible investors and development initiatives capable of improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the area.
Igwe Okeji commended the State Government for its interest in the development of Omasi and appreciated Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for his administration’s attention to the community.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Ben Chuks Odoemena said agriculture remained central to community development, stressing the need to industrialise agricultural production and attract certified investors capable of bringing capital, technology and modern farming practices to Omasi.
Dr. Odoemena disclosed that Earthwheell Farms Global Limited, an investor partnering with the State Government, would soon commence the revitalisation of the Omasi Farm Settlement.
