“Sports, the new gold field”… “Don’t judge a book by its cover”…More on Achalla…It’s a wrap for Samson the Navigator…Quote of the Week…Picture of the Week…plus South East Digest

 

Quote of the Week

 

Picture of the Week

 

“Sports, the new gold field”

One of the biggest industries yawning for exploitation in Nigeria, and particularly, the South East, is the Sports industry, with a market of over 80 million people to address, in the South East and South South alone.   This was one of the facts disclosed by Nkechi Obi, CEO, Sport Nigeria.  She was speaking in Enugu last Friday at “Nkata Umu Ibe” a “monthly distinguished Speakers Series” organized by the Centre for Memories.

She listed a plethora of opportunities across the various segments of the sporting industry including the building of sports arenas in towns and communities such that users would not have to travel beyond two kilometres to get to such sporting centres.  Such opportunities also include the production of sports kits and other sporting apparel among others.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover”

There have been pockets of criticisms against the Anambra State Government in recent times particularly on its invigorated drive for revenues.  Some bad belles also accuse the government of being too forceful.  It was with this at the back of my mind that I encountered the logo of ANJET (see below).  Apart from being too rowdy and other negative brand reasons, I thought the logo evoked fear.  Of course, immediately I was beginning to agree with those who said the government was being too forceful.

But I seemed to have been in a hurry to pass judgment.  Only yesterday, I came across videos of ANJET in action in one of the markets in Onitsha.  I expected to see commotion everywhere!  But that was not the case.  Instead I saw officials educating and appealing to traders who were displaying their wares illegally, including closing down whole streets.  The traders were given opportunities to peacefully and safely remove their wares, although cautioned that subsequent flouting of the law would lead to prosecution.  Kudos to ANJET.

 

Concerns as South East fails to fill quota of Army Recruitment

Fear of ethnic and religious prejudices, inadequate equipment to prosecute assignments and hoarding of vacancies have been blamed for the inability of the South-East geo-political zone to meet its quota in the ongoing recruitment exercise in the Nigerian Army.

The Enugu State Government last week expressed worries over the inability of the state to fill its quota in previous recruitment exercises.

The government, while announcing the expected visit of a team from the Army Headquarters to the state, urged Enugu youths to take advantage of the ongoing Recruitment Exercise to be enrolled into the army.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve Oruruo, urged those interested to seize the opportunity and register.

More on Achalla

Last week we brought you a report on the New Dawn in Achalla.  For brevity sake, we could not serve you some of the photographs, particularly, from the introductory Joseph Ndubuisi Nwokedi Lecture series which was delivered by an outstanding doyen of the Mass Communication profession in Nigeria, Professor Sylvanus Ajana Ekwelie.  We bring you those and other highlights omitted from the Iruji Ora festival proper:

It’s a wrap for Samson the Navigator

Samson De Navigator!  Remember him?  He was the subject of one our most read stories, “Anambra money don go Imo”.  Well, the news is that Samson has finally wedded.  His wedding to former Miss Jennifer Adaeze Onyewu was solemnized at the Intimate Vessels Church, Awka, yesterday.  The couple had a classy reception for a select number of guests at Jac Milla events centre, Agu Awka, immediately after the church programme.  We bring you some photo highlights below:

(A digest of latest reports on the Economy, Industry, Politics, Sports, and developments around the South East of Nigeria)

ANAMBRA STATE

Over 70 Students of Awka Skill Acquisition Centre Get Start-up Tools

Mrs Nonye Soludo, wife of the Anambra State Governor, has formally presented empowerment kits to more than 70 graduates of the 2021 batch of Skill Acquisition Centre, Awka. 

The skill acquisition centre is domiciled in the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, and trains students annually on different skills to help them become self-reliant.

The 2021 batch had spent the mandatory one year training classes at the centre, and brings the total number of graduates produced so far since the school began in 2008 to 1,229.

The current programme was organized in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, Ebuka Okafor Foundation. 

Equipment given to the graduands include sewing machines, hair drying machines, mechanized ovens, among other tools.

Succour to flood victims

Although the floods have started receding, a great deal needs to be done by governments and the communities to help families and others displaced by the floods prepare to return and begin the process of returning to their normal lives.  It was in recognition of this that the Aguleri World Forum, a body of ndi Aguleri across the world presented cheques of N1 million each to three of the communities hardest hit by the flood – Eziagulu Out community, Enugwu Aguleri community, and Mkpunando community.

ENUGU STATE

Enugu government to begin remedial work on two Federal roads

Enugu State Government says it will begin remedial work on the 9th mile-Opi junction, along the Enugu-Makurdi expressway, and the 9th Mile-Opi old road to ease the pains of people in the area.

This is contained in a press statement issued by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji, in Enugu on Friday.

Nnaji said that given the deplorable condition of the roads, the administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has opted to carry out remedial work on the two federal roads in the interim while awaiting the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

He disclosed that the Enugu State Executive Council, conscious of the difficulties arising from the situation of the roads, set up a Technical Team to visit the axis with a view to identifying the critical failed sections.

IMO STATE

Yuletide:  Uzodimma tells Imo residents to cooperate with security agencies,

flags off Exercise Golden Dawn II

Ahead of this year’s Christmas and New Year festivities, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has told Imo indigenes and residents alike to cooperate with security agencies deployed to the state to keep the peace and maintain law and order.

Uzodimma spoke last week at the 82 Army Division in Orlu, while formally flagging off this year’s Exercise Golden Dawn II of the Nigerian Army, which will last from October 4, 2022, to January 4, 2023.

The Governor said the operation became necessary because the Yuletide is a period that all “our beloved brothers and sisters far and near come home to celebrate the festive period with us.”