Author: Kenechukwu Ofomah

Nyango Gyang of Plateau State has emerged winner of the maiden edition of the Anambra State Marathon, defeating other marathoners to win the prize money of N1 million. Gyang won the 40 kilometer marathon, which began at the Ogbunike Toll gate, through Enugu -Onitsha expressway, and ended in Awka, in a record 1 hour 26 minutes. The event, organized by Thanos Charity Foundation, in partnership with Federal Ministry of Sports and the state government, began at the Ogbunike Toll gate, through Enugu -Onitsha expressway, and ended in Awka. Ismael Sadjoh came second to win the cash prize of N300,000 while Selengwe Constant, won…

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Some rights groups have called on the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Mr. Solomon Arase and the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to discipline an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Akoko Obadiah, and his colleagues over alleged criminal exploitation of a complainant to the tune of one million, one hundred naira (N1.1m). The call was contained in a joint statement by the Campaign for Democracy (CD) and Human Rights Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE) in Onitsha, made available to newsmen on Monday. The statement was signed by High Chief Uzor A. Uzor, who…

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The Anambra State Police Command on Monday, vowed to fish out gunmen who attacked the State Vigilante Office at Amichi in Nnewi South Council Area of the state last week. The gunmen who invaded the facility in their numbers had set a building at the place as well as a vigilante operative they met in one of the cars in the premises ablaze while shooting sporadically. Amichi and some other communities in Nnewi South LGA including Ukpor, Osumenyi, Unubi, and others, have been terrorized by gunmen, who came from the forests of the communities that border Ihiala LGA. Although the…

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Anambra State Government through the State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, has handed over instructional materials, monitoring vehicles, and other educational support equipment to Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in the state. The materials were procured under the Universal Basic Education, UBE initiative, where Governor Chukwuma Soludo, paid the state counterpart fund of over N3 billion, to match the Federal Government’s contribution for the materials. Among the items distributed to the schools at the event which took place at the ASUBEB headquarters in Awka, were Galaxy tablets to be used by Quality Assurance evaluators for e-quality assurance, UPS stabilizers, English,…

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A pro-Igbo group, Odinala Cultural Heritage Foundation (OCHIE Igbo), says teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) using the mother tongue will guarantee easy understanding and ensure Nigeria progresses as it should in the areas of science and technology. The Executive Director, of OCHIE Igbo STEM school, Mr Okoro Chinedum, stated this on Thursday in Awka, during a media chat to announce the inauguration of the committees for the development of the curriculum for STEM in Igbo language. The OCHIE Igbo STEM initiative is in collaboration with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka. The initiative is to make STEM real and practical for students and not abstract, by…

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As part of efforts at unleashing sporting potential in Anambra State, the Thanos Charity Foundation will on Saturday, 16th of March, 2024, be holding the first Anambra Marathon event. The event which will commence on Saturday by 7 am, will see athletes take off from Ogbunike Tollgate and end at Emmaus House, Awka. They will cover about 35 kilometers on the Onitsha to Awka stretch. The winner of the event will go home with N1,000,000, the first runner-up will take home N500,000 while the second runner-up will get N300,000. Addressing a press conference on Thursday to announce the sporting event, the…

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Schools in Anambra State have been besieged by non-indigene pupils and students, coming to take advantage of the free education policy introduced by the state government, under Governor Chukwuma Soludo. The State Commissioner for Education, Prof Ngozi Chuma-Udeh made the disclosure in a media chat to mark the 2nd year-in-office anniversary of the Soludo administration in Anambra. Recall that the governor had announced free education for pupils of primary schools and students in Junior Secondary Classes One to Three, as part of efforts to avail every child access to education in the state. In the Senior Secondary Classes, students are to…

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The Anambra Police Command on Tuesday said its operatives its operatives have smashed a deadly insurgents’ gang in Awka-Etiti Community in Idemili South Council Area of Anambra State. The Police Spokesperson in Anambra, Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Awka. According to him, police officers attached to the command, while on patrol with the local vigilante in Awka-Etiti, Idemili South LGA, accosted the gang, which was on a yet-to-be-unraveled mission while heavily armed. He said the joint security team chased the hoodlums until the vehicle they were in ran into a ditch. The hoodlums, Ikenga said, had…

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Contrary to the agelong myth that constant taking of processed cassava otherwise known as garri can lead to Glaucoma and eventual loss of sight, an Optometrist, Dr Chidiebere Ezeanowai, has said there is no connection between food and Glaucoma. Dr. Ezeanowai, who is the Anambra State Chairman of the Nigerian Optometric Association, disclosed in a media chat in Onitsha, as part of activities to mark this year’s World Glaucoma Week, held from the 10th to the 16th of March 2024. The year’s celebration, with the theme ‘Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World’, is dedicated to raising awareness about glaucoma, a group of…

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2,000 brand new laptops were on Tuesday, distributed to headteachers, ICT teachers, and principals of public and public-mission schools across Anambra state. Governor Chukwuma Soludo, who made the presentation at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Awka, said the distribution aligns perfectly with his vision which the Anambra State ICT Agency is driving, to ensure the full digitization of all sectors of the state economy. The implication of headteachers, ICT teachers, and principals owning laptops is that they will fully key into the digitization vision of Mr. Governor and, as such, guide school pupils and students early in their lives to join the digital revolution in the state. In Governor…

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Mixed reactions have trailed a video that went viral online, showing a man alleged to be a tout, being tortured with a pestle by operatives of the State Special Anti-Touting Squad, SASA. In the viral video, one of the SASA operatives dressed in mufti carelessly hit the victim with a short pestle. The SASA operative repeatedly hit him with the pestle on the suspect’s ankle and other bony parts of his body, including his chest, while his colleague videoed the victim as he was rolling on the ground, helplessly crying and begging them to allow him to explain. There were also stains of fresh blood on different parts…

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command in its quest to protect critical national assets has reiterated its commitment to deploy  all proactive measures to holistically address and mitigate vandalization Maku Olatunde, the State NSCDC Commandant stated this on Monday when he paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to all the financial institutions in Awka. The visit was to assess the performance of personnel deployed to protect and build the confidence of the public in all financial institutions, markets, and public avenues in and around Awka. The State NSCDC Command helmsman stated that his visit was part of…

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As part of efforts aimed at advancing the cause of healthy living among the elderly across parts of Anambra State, the wife of the Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo has distributed 27,000 cartons of Vitamin Supplements to the elderly in the state. The distribution took place at the Utility Hall of ASUBEB Awka over the weekend and saw the governor’s wife distribute the vitamin supplements to Councilors of 326 wards in the state. The initiative will see 80 elderly persons per ward benefit. The supplements include multivitamins suitable for addressing deficiencies due to reduced body metabolism, and vitamins A, B, and…

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Less than three weeks after a two-storey building collapsed at the Oduigbo Section of Ochanja Market, Onitsha, killing at least ten persons, a five-storey building Sunday afternoon, collapsed at Fegge in Onitsha South local government area of Anambra state. Sources said the five-storey building was under construction when it suddenly collapsed. Residents of the area say they heard the sound of a crack and then a loud noise and the two-storey building collapsed. It is not clear if there were workers on site, but an eyewitness had it that there were human activities under the building two hours before it…

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The Anambra State Police Command on Monday said it has recovered an AK-47 rifle with two magazines loaded with 50 rounds of ammunition while trailing kidnappers at Awgbu in Orumba North Council Area of the state. On Friday, the Command said its operatives, while on patrol and snap checks with the local vigilante, intercepted some kidnappers along Amagu-Awgbu Road, as they were heading towards an exit route from the State. According to the police spokesperson in Anambra, Tochukwu Ikenga, the gang, had opened fire sporadically on sighting the patrol team, but bowed to Police-Vigilante superior firepower, while two of the…

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As the International Women’s Day was marked the world over yesterday, the wife of Anambra State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo has called on women to rise above socio-cultural, religious, and economic obstacles, to excel in their chosen careers and businesses. The governor’s wife is also advocating for an end to the hostilities, societal pressure, molestation, battery, abuses, stigma, and short-changing rules that have held women down from achieving their manifest destinies. This year’s International Women’s Day celebration has as its theme, ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.’ Speaking at a ceremony she celebrated at the governor’s lodge, Amawbia, with young student…

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As part of efforts to address the recurring issues of students’ exploitation and extortion by lecturers, the Acting Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Dr. Uche Onyegbu launched a dedicated phone line that will be used to report all cases. The Rector is therefore warning all staff of the institution against all forms of extortion and exploitation of students, calling on the students to resist extortion by lecturers under any guise. Speaking on Friday at the 40th matriculation ceremony of the institution, Onyegbu also warned against any form of indecent dressing and behavior, insisting that decency and good conduct were…

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Any structural development commenced henceforth in Anambra State without a permit will be brought down as an illegal structure. The Chairman, of Anambra State Physical Planning Board, ANSPPB, Barr Chike Maduekwe disclosed in a press briefing on Thursday to mark the commencement of the operation across parts of the State. Recently, two out of three buildings under construction at the Oduigbo section of the Ochanja Market, Onitsha had collapsed, resulting in the death of about 10 persons, while many were injured. The State Government through the ANSPPB, had embarked on the demolition of the remaining three buildings, claiming the developer…

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It was an enriching workshop that exposed Anambra journalists to the numerous capabilities of Artificial Intelligence, AI, in the Journalism practice, as Anambra State ICT Agency and Activ8 Hub put together a workshop on AI in Journalism for media professionals. The workshop which took place in Awka, saw practitioners undertake classes on emerging AI models, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Bing AI, and Microsoft Copilot, among others, with the aim to enhance their journalistic practices, ensure more efficient, accurate, and compelling reportage. The workshop facilitated by experts including Mr. Chukwuma Mezie-Okoye, co-founder of Activ8 Hub, and Nehemiah Onyekachukwu Emmanuel, an AI Engineer with Microsoft, offered deep…

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The Anambra Chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have handed a 7-day ultimatum to the Anambra State Government to address issues of the welfare of workers in the state. The ultimatum was contained in a communique jointly signed by the leaders of the two Labour Unions, Comrades Humphrey Nwafor (NLC) and Chris Ogbonna( TUC) in Awka. The organized Labour said failure to address their demands may jeopardize the existing industrial peace and harmony in the state. The communique described the contributory pension scheme in the state as a scam, noting that workers’ salaries are being deducted without counterpart remittances from the…

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The Anambra Truth, Peace and Justice Commission has expressed worry as to why neither a coroner’s inquest nor investigation was conducted into the 2017 Ozubulu massacre, raising suspicion over some form of political connection to the incident. On August 6, 2017, while Governor Willie Obiano was at the state’s helm of affairs, no fewer than 35 persons were killed and about 22 injured, when gunmen stormed St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, during a morning mass. Four months later, the incumbent governor then, Obiano, was to run for re-election, in a heated political season, with some persons fingered in the incident,…

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A non-governmental Organization, the Civil Rights Concern (CRC) has identified a correlation between the increasing mass unemployment, high debt profile, and widespread poverty in Anambra State with Planning officers, bank policies, and Civil society organizations. The CRC is also accusing key stakeholders and citizens of not living up to their duties in monitoring actively, what governments at various levels do with funds, especially the series of huge loans they have been taking. CRC, at an engagement seminar with Stakeholders including media practitioners in Awka,  Anambra State, through her Executive Director, Mr. Okey Onyeka, harped on the need to find a lasting solution to the hydra-headed…

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A health official in Anambra State, Mrs Adaku Ego has identified negligence and lack of regular health checks as major contributors to the high cases of sudden deaths in the country. Ego, who works at the Non-Communicable Diseases Unit, Public Health Department, Anambra State Ministry of Health, asserted on Tuesday in Awka during a free blood pressure screening tagged – ‘Know Your Numbers’ Campaign. The campaign is in collaboration with the Nigerian Cardiac Society and the Population Services International. She told newsmen that the causes of sudden deaths could include complications of hypertension, heart attack, stroke, and heart failure among others. According…

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As part of efforts to improve agricultural productivity to guarantee food sufficiency and security, the Nigerian government has mapped out strategies to deploy Genome Editing Technology in agricultural practice in the country. This was disclosed during a 2-day Training Workshop for Communicators on Genome Editing organized by the National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) in collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in Abuja. The training workshop drew strategic communicators from across the country and aimed to educate them on the technology. Genome Editing is a form of genetic engineering that addresses specific research areas in agriculture to produce better-yielding seedlings for farmers to grow, which may reduce the…

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The Enugu State Government through its Internal Revenue Service (ESiRS), in the early hours of Tuesday, sealed Enugu ShopRite, Spar over failure to remit purchase tax in their malls to the government after being served several warning notices. According to the ESiRS officials who embarked on the enforcement drive, other malls including Roban, and Mama Onyinye restaurant among others have also been warned and they included the purchase tax on the goods that the buyers pay whenever they patronize their outlets. The Enugu State Internal Revenue Service(ESIRS) HOD eateries, bars, hotels, and shopping malls, Egwuonwu Perpetual said the agency had visited the sealed malls on several…

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The Anambra State House of Assembly has stressed the need to urgently tackle the negative effect of crude oil exploration and theft in Ogwuikpele community, Ogbaru Council Area by Sterling Oil Exploration and Production Company, SEEPCO. The Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Hon Chidiebele Ibemeka, raised the concerns during an oversight of the community. The visit provided an opportunity for the legislators to witness firsthand, the challenges faced by the community in the region and the operations of the company. During the visit,  the lawmakers were confronted with the stark reality of environmental degradation, pollution, and socio-economic hardships caused by…

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Civil rights advocacy group, the Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) has expressed deep concern over what it tagged ‘the systemic injustices plaguing the retirement benefits of officers within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).’ According to the group, the huge difference in the treatment meted out to these dedicated officers, some sister agencies, and political elites, is a glaring testament to the inequity entrenched within the system. Recently, a police personnel with 35 years of service in the Force, received a mere 1.5 million naira. Meanwhile, the military receives far better packages at retirement, while political figures serving shorter terms enjoy extravagant perks, including multiple properties, luxury cars, and…

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As part of efforts to catch children young to imbibe the habit of healthy living, the wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo has inaugurated the Healthy Living Ambassadors and Champions for public Primary Schools under the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB. The champions were headteachers while the ambassadors were teachers who majored in Physical Health Education or related courses, who will lead the Healthy living clubs in select schools across the state. Inaugurating the Teachers at the Utility Hall, ASUBEB Headquarters, Awka, Dr. Nonye  Soludo said that the day is very significant as it marks the…

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The youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed its sadness over the rejection by the Nigerian Senate, of a bill seeking to include Anambra State as one of the member states of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The Senate had on Tuesday, thrown out the bill, saying that Anambra was not part of the Niger Delta region, which is the reason for the establishment of the interventionist agency. President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, thrashed the bill after the lead debate on the bill for an Act to amend the Niger Delta Development (Establishment Etc.) Act N 86…

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Amidst renewed deliberations by the Federal and State Governments on the suitability of State Police in tackling the growing insecurity in the land, some human rights and Pro-democracy groups have rejected the idea, saying that it would only amount to creating a “private militia for governors” The Campaign for Democracy (CD) in South East and Human Rights, Liberty Access and Peace Defenders Foundation (HURIDE) rising from their combined strategic meeting held in Enugu, noted that State Governors would use State Police against their perceived Political enemies. In the communique signed by High Chief Dede Uzor A Uzor, Executive Director, HURIDE…

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