Photos of the week – CBN extends old notes swapping…Mami Wata is here O!…Tinubu whistle stop changing Anambra political dynamics…Obiano top 10 brands of 2022…Obi of Onitsha in a class of his own…Aguleri shines in London…plus South East Digest…

 

Photos of the week

CBN extends old notes swapping

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), today announced a 10-day extension of the old notes swapping deadline from January 31, 2023 to February 10, 2023.  In addition, a seven-day grace period beginning February 10 to February 17, 2023 would allow Nigerians to deposit their old notes at the CBN after the February 10, 2023 deadline when the old currency would have lost its Legal Tender status. 

Mami Wata is here O!

The Nigerian film, Mami Wata, directed by CJ Obasi and produced by Oge Obasi, has won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Cinematography at this year's Sundance Film Festival.  The award was accepted on behalf of the Director of Photography, Lílis Soares, by the film's director, CJ Obasi. 

According to one of the reviewers of the film, Cassondra Feltus, “the monochromatic film is visually stunning from beginning to end, especially the darkness of the character’s hair and skin in stark contrast to the white face art and cowrie shells in their hair.  When discussing Lílis Soares’ (Um Dia Com Jerusa) incredible cinematography, Obasi says, “You might call it the gaze, but for us, it was just more or less how dark skin is and dark bodies are depicted on screen.” Soares uses distinct lighting to illuminate beautiful Black skin against a pitch-black sky. Since the village is without electricity, night scenes are only lit by fire or the glowing moon.”

Tinubu whistle stop changing Anambra political dynamics

A day in politics, they say, can change a whole lot of things!  This is perhaps what the one-day visit by Seyi Tinubu, son of the APC Presidential Candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is doing in Anambra State.  Suddenly, APC is coming alive in Anambra State.

As one observer put it, “APC has been non-existent in Anambra State not because the party had no offices here, but because of the kind of leadership the party has had.  Most of the leaders are not the type of people ndi Anambra would like to identify with or boast about.”

It took, Uzuegbuna Okagbue, Governor Willie Obiano’s former Chief of Protocol and former senatorial aspirant, to bring APC back to life.  Like the typical action man that he is, Uzu took Seyi Tinubu round Anambra State in just one day, during which they met with key traditional rulers and other key stakeholders across the State. 

During the one-day visit, Seyi Tinubu, was conferred with the chieftaincy title of Nwannedinamba in Anambra State by the traditional ruler of Mbaukwu kingdom, Igwe Peter Anukwu.

 

According to political pundits, APC now has a voice in Anambra State, and is very likely to make a good showing in the forthcoming Presidential elections.

Again, INEC extends PVC collection

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the collection of the Permanent Voter Cards by one week.  This was disclosed in a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.  “The ongoing collection of PVCs nationwide will therefore continue and end on 5th February 2023.”

This is the second time the commission is extending the collection of PVCs due to the progress recorded so far.

Anambra State hosts 1st Southeast Human Capital Development Regional Conference

Anambra state has hosted the first Southeast Human Capital Development Regional Conference which is geared towards improving the living standard of people of South East region.  The conference focused on bettering the lives of people in the zone in three thematic areas which include health and nutrition, education and labour participation.

The two-day event which held at the International Convention Centre in Awka, with the theme, “Changing the Narrative Towards Entrenching Human Capital Development in South East Nigeria, attracted top government officials, critical stakeholders’ health and nutrition, education and labour sectors, as well as civil society organizations and representatives of disability community.

Declaring the event open, the Anambra state Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim who is the Chairman Anambra state Human Capital Development Council while pointing out that human capital is one of the major pillars of the Professor Chukwuma Soludo led administration, said that actualization of a very productive human capital that is exportable in South East geopolitical zone demands the collective efforts of the five states in the zone, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, and Abia states, as according to him the states cannot achieve such feat in isolation.

Deputy Governor Ibezim who expressed hope that the event will yield positive results in the interest of people of South East, explained that the conference is in line with the federal government’s vision of accelerating human capital development across Nigeria, a target according to him, the National Economic Council in 2018 established the Human Capital Development Core Working Group, CWG, to achieve.

Obiano top 10 brands of 2022

Anambra State’s immediate past Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, is the only individual who made it in the list of top 10 brands in Nigeria for the year 2022.   The list compiled by Plexus Media Interlinks, an integrated communications firm, listed Afrinvest West Africa, Optimus,

Central Primary School, Obioma, UBA, Interswitch, Pocket by Piggyvest, Access Holdings, Dangote Group, and  Leadway Assurance, as winners among the top ten brands in Nigeria. 

Obi of Onitsha in a class of his own

His Royal Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, Obi of Onitsha, last week presided over the 42^nd Convocation ceremony of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in his capacity as the Chancellor of that university. 

Photographs of His Royal Majesty officiating at that ceremony have been trending in the social media with several positive comments.  Lots of Ndigbo, including this writer have been “prouding”!  Yes O!! Yours sincerely contributed his own little quota in the emergence of this great giant.

 

Igwe Achebe is a daily reminder that Ndigbo must always put their first eleven forward.  I remember my Public Relations 101 days.  There is this quote, I think from “The Manual of Public Relations” by Bowman and Ellis, which says that “no matter how expert a sculptor you are, you cannot carve rotten wood”.  Ndigbo must do away with the foreign culture of appointing or selecting all sorts of people to represent us!!!

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

ABIA STATE

Ikpeazu dedicates award to late Ikonne

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, has dedicated his award to late Prof Eleazar Uche Ikonne. The Governor who emerged the Sun Governor of the Year 2022 in an epoch making event organised by Sun Newspapers at the Expo Convention Centre of the prestigious Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday, said he felt inspired and honoured by the award. 

He went further to dedicate the award to the memory of the late governorship candidate of the PDP in Abia State, Prof Eleazar Uche Ikonne, a man he described as “my brother, my friend and my compatriot” assuring that wherever he is, “We will keep the fire aglow for him”. 

Governor Ikpeazu while receiving the award which was presented to him by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, declared thus: “This award I will dedicate to the memory of my brother, my friend and my compatriot, Prof Eleazar Ikonne who departed on the 25th of this month, and to say to him wherever he is today that we will keep the fire aglow. And to say to him also that though his own sun has dimmed but the Sun is on my roof today. The sun will come to the roof of all of us some day. May it be so someday in Jesus name”. 

ANAMBRA STATE

Mrs Soludo urges women, aged people to access ongoing Free Health Screening in Anambra hospitals

Anambra Governor's wife, Mrs Nonye Soludo has asked women residing in the State who are within vulnerable age brackets, to quickly get involved in the ongoing free screening for non-communicable household diseases.

Mrs Soludo, who stated this in Awka while appraising the free health programme which was introduced by the Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Health, said that the novel exercise which looks at getting Anambra residents to know their health status with regards to common killer diseases, is a major step to getting rid of common sicknesses which have been prowling around the State.

The Governor's wife who maintained that the free medical screening which includes diagnosis for blood pressure, blood sugar level and body mass index (BMI) is a deliberate health policy that looks to give Ndi Anambra, especially women, an upper hand against these silent killer diseases by getting then to know letting them know how close they are to the ailments.

She said that the screening which is for common Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), is a way to remind residents of the state that the present day government is interested in their overall wellbeing, adding that screening is the first most important step to dealing with any ailment. 

The Governor's wife, noted that as a healthy living advocate, she is disturbed by the growing count of people, especially women, who have died as a result of these manageable diseases and asked those who are still showing apathy to the current exercise to see it as an important step to survival.

She said that it is important for Anambra women in their vulnerable ages to quickly embrace the ongoing exercise, explaining that those who neglect the free programme might have missed out on the opportunity to know their health status

Mrs Soludo also assured that necessary provisions have been made to make the exercise seamless, stressing that the government is out to ensure that every resident of the state lives healthily and help government achieve its ultimate dreams.

She also pledged to continue to lead the campaign for a healthy society, bearing women and children in mind, and stressed that the present administration in the state, is taking on all development fronts to give ndi Anambra the most pragmatic form of governance. 

Aguleri shines in London

Aguleri was picked as the fourth best community in the World Igbo Cultural Festival held in London recently.  The Festival featured Igbo communities in the United Kingdom and Ireland.  See photos below:

IMO STATE

Imo Government plans to use Tourism to bolster Economy

The Imo State Government has made public its plans to use tourism to grow the State’s economy.  Jerry Egemba, the State Commissioner for tourism, reaffirmed the commitment of the government to the development of tourism in the State and its openness to welcome investors in the sector during a webinar last week titled “Opportunities in tourism in Imo State,” which was organized by Prof Kenneth Amaeshi, the Chief Economic Adviser to the State Government. 

He discussed how the growth of hotel businesses was a result of tourism helping the State’s hospitality industry, and how additional investments in the industry would create job possibilities for young people among other locals.  According to him, I have never seen a government more committed to tourism than the present administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma.  “Talking about investment, we want to turn the Nworie River into a tourism centre, and that is ongoing,” he said.

The commissioner envisaged a situation whereby a lot of Imo indigenes would be coming home to see interesting tourist centres as he noted it was already happening. 

Also speaking, one of the panelists, Osiagwu Chikezie, identified “attraction, activities, amenities, accommodation and accessibility” as important components to boost tourism. 

Another key component identified during the webinar is transportation, being a complementary factor to tourism, as it determines both accessibility and employment opportunity.

Other panelists at the programme were: Head, Branding and Standardisation, Corporate Affairs, Niger Delta Development Commission, Clara Braide; General Manager, Uchemec Group of Companies, Owerri branch, Igbo Queen, and Chief Executive Officer, Creative Niger Radio, Frank Meke.