Resolving insecurity in the South East, Soludo’s panacea…The APGA intimidation…99.8% of annual income from Anambra’s N5.5 trillion economy in private hands…”SkillUpImo Challenge”…Enugu to be a manufacturing regional hub – Tinubu…plus South East Digest…

 

Resolving insecurity in the South East, Soludo’s panacea

Anambra State Governor and National Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.  Governor Soludo who made the call during the flag-off ceremony for the APGA's 2023 elections campaign at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, yesterday, offered to stand surety for the detained Kanu, if he cannot be released unconditionally to help proffer solution to the insecurity situation in the South East Region.

Governor Soludo insisted that as a non-kinetic measure to insecurity in the region, a round table discussion is incomplete without Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's presence.

The Governor requested that all major stakeholders in the South East need to meet at a round table to discuss the region's security and prosperity, appealing to the federal government for assistance.  He added that there needs to be a comprehensive, heart-to-heart approach to discuss the future of the South East. 

The APGA intimidation

Ekwueme Square, Awka, yesterday witnessed what has been described as the largest gathering ever for any activity or function.  In the words of Ugochukwu Udeze, Secretary of APGA Ward 1, Nsugbe, “it started in praise and ended in praise yesterday at Alex Ekwueme square where our great party APGA had their campaign flag off .  The crowd there was intimidating and I have not seen such in sub-Saharan Africa.  All our candidates from Presidency to State House of Assembly were given flags to take off for their campaign.  Our leader and Governor of Anambra State, Prof. C.C Soludo, advised the party faithful to vote APGA all the way.”

Governor Soludo, National Leader of APGA stated that the party will continue to deliver on its ideology of Progressivism in all facets of human development and beckoned on Nigerians to support the party.  He used the occasion to call for the immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained IPOB leader, pleading to stand surety for him if the Federal Government cannot release him unconditionally as directed by the courts

APGA National Chairman, Ozonkpu Victor Oye, who presided over the flag-off ceremony which featured the handover of flags to all the flag bearers stated that the party has grown and will continue to witness growth in incremental proportion, such that due to the deliverables of the party, part of which are being delivered by Governor Soludo, the APGA will outlive everyone.

The Chairman of the National Board of Trustees of the party and former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, emphasized that APGA has been synonymous with victory all these years and victory in 2023 is certainly not in doubt with everybody's support.

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

ANAMBRA STATE

99.8% of annual income from Anambra’s N5.5 trillion economy in private hands

Governor Chukwuma Soludo stated last week  that Anambra has an estimate of N5.5 trillion annual economy, but 99.8% of the income is in private hands.  According to him, the Public Community Private Partnership (PCPP) with the public sector is critical, stressing that his administration is attempting to get Anambra to contribute at least 5% of their income.

He mentioned that countries that are rapidly developing contribute 22% of their income to the government. “When the oil money arrived, we abandoned the taxes that had been in place since the first and second republics. There is no society in the world that has developed without the use of taxes. 

He said: “We are currently at 0.2%, but 22% income or higher is required for any economy to develop rapidly.  Individuals may provide public goods, public infrastructure, waste management, security, law and order, and so on. That is the primary responsibility of the government…People have forgotten that they must contribute a portion of their income to the government in order for it to provide public services. This has been the practice for decades.” 

Governor Soludo made the revelation while addressing a delegation from Amawbia community in Awka South Local Government Area of the state that paid him a courtesy visit at Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.

2023 Igu Aro ceremony

Obu Umunri Enugwu-Ukwu was agog with celebration penultimate Saturday, January 7, 2023 as ndi Enugwu-Ukwu , the entire Umunri clan friends and well-wishers of the community gathered to witness and hear what the New Year holds for the people from the custodian of Enugwu-Ukwu culture and traditions, igwe Ekpeh.

The Iguaro festival commenced with cabinet chiefs arriving the arena, cladded on their red George and white lace apparel, with their okpu nkata resting respectfully on their heads, among whom were the former Managing Director of the ABS, Chief Uche Nworah. 

At the appointed time, igwe Ekpeh entered the arena flanked by the cabinet chiefs as they danced to the igbaeze music. 

While performing the kolanut ritual, igwe Ekpeh who had been on isolation to commune with his ancestors and get first hand message for the new year said he brought message of peace, long life, good health, multiplication and bountiful harvest. 

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Comrade Don Onyenji said that igwe Ekpeh is among the Frontline traditional rulers in Anambra, one of the reasons he graced the occasion even as he prayed for long life upon him. 

Comrade Onyenji expressed satisfaction that culture has received much boost in Anambra as according to him, every community witnessed cultural activities all through the yuletide, while some are still at it, adding that the Governor Soludo administration will continue to provide enabling environment for such norms and tradition to continue.

On her part, the commissioner for Budget and Economic planning, Ms Chiamaka Nnakee expressed happiness with the quality of the event and announced that Enugwu-Ukwu General hospital has received budget for rehabilitation as well as other projects in Njikoka

council area, assuring that Governor Soludo is always ready to identify and solve the problems of Ndi Anambra.

In an interview, Chief Uche Nworah, former ABS MD said he is happy to be part of the event which he said commenced days back and climaxed with the Igu Aro festival, commended Governor Soludo for all he has done within a short time calling for more support to his administration even as expressed felicitations to the ABS family and its boss Sir Chido Obidiegwu, urging him to keep up the good work he is doing in ABS .

The event featured cultural dance and masquerade display.

2023 Ovala Aguleri ends

The week-long 123^rd Ovala of the Aguleri ancient kingdom came to a crescendo penultimate Saturday with the Ovala ceremony proper which featured His Royal Majesty, Dr Michael Chinema Idigo V, Ezeudo, Igwe Aguleri in his majestic splendor as he made his traditional parades.  This year’s ceremony has been adjudged as one of the best in recent times with “orderliness, timeliness, and colourful varieties of dancing round the Ama Igwe (the Igwe’s square)”.  We bring you some of the photo highlights:

EBONYI STATE

2023:  Diaspora stakeholders urge Ebonyi residents to shun tribalism, endorse PDP Guber Candidate

Residents of Ebonyi have been advised to shun tribalism and zoning when voting heir preferred governorship candidate.  The advice was given to the residents by the Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural in Diaspora.  The group also endorsed the governorship ambition of PDP guber candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii.

The group also called on people of the state home and abroad to shun zoning arrangement, tribalism and money-induced politics and vote for Odii to end poverty, create massive employment and good governance through his five-point agenda manifesto. In a statement sent signed by AESICID President, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, the group encouraged all registered voters in the state who are yet to get their PVCs to take advantage of the additional days which INEC has provided to get their voters cards.

ENUGU STATE

Presidency: 'We will make Enugu regional hub for manufacturing', Tinubu reveals agenda for southeast state

APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has vowed to turn around the economic fortune of Enugu state for a better.  The presidential hopeful made the promise during his presidential campaign in the state on Wednesday.

Tinubu also urged Nigerians to get their PVCs before the due date while noting that the people of Enugu are creative and innovative. The presidential hopeful also spoke on the devolution of resources to the State, adding that will make Enugu state a regional hub for manufacturing.  This was disclosed in a statement signed by Tunde Rahman, the head of Tinubu's media office. According to the statement, Tinubu, who was in Enugu state on Wednesday for his presidential campaign rally, said the State has what it takes to be the economic power hub of the country. The former governor of Lagos state said the State not only has natural resources for economic growth but has a friendly climate for national prosperity. 

IMO STATE

Imo targets 300, 000 youths with digital skills initiative

As part of efforts targeted at engaging the teeming youths population in Imo State, the government has introduced weekly youth competition to ignite and unlock students’ digital literacy ingenuity and innovation.  The competition, tagged: ‘SkillUpImo Challenge,’ is a sub-initiative of SkillUp Imo, a broader and premier human capacity development programme launched by the state government in December, 2022.

As an offshoot of the SkillUp Imo Project, the SkillUpImo Challenge is expected to fire up digital innovation and ideas among students in the state with cash prizes handed to winners each week.

The SkillUpImo Challenge, is also expected to drive the overall objective of the SkillUp Imo Project, focused on empowering citizens of the state with cutting-edge digital skills that will keep them relevant in the 21st century, among others.  

At the maiden edition of the SkillupImo Challenge, held in Owerri, a student of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), was adjudged winner in digital skill innovation in the first week, based on shared experiences, ingenuity and digital innovation exhibited. 

While presenting cash prize to the winner, the Commissioner, Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government in the state, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, said the SkillupImo Challenge will accelerate the actualisation of broader objectives of the Skillup Imo.  

The broader objectives, according to him, are to train 300,000 Imolites in the next three years, with 100,000 trained each year; connect 60 per cent of graduands to high-paying jobs, as well as empower 40 per cent of graduands to be their own bosses, become tech entrepreneurs and launch their own companies, among others. 

How transparency in governance earned us over N21b World Bank grant, by Imo Govt

The Imo State Government, last week provided insights on how it received more than $30 million (N21 billion) grant from the World Bank in a period spanning three years (2020, 2021 and 2022).  The State Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Statistics, Dr. Christopher Osuala, while interacting with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Enlightenment, Prince Eze Ugochukwu, disclosed that the State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had taken a decision to conform to the bank’s State Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS), programme.

Osuala added that the State, under Uzodimma’s watch, is working assiduously to earn 2023 grant on the same capacity from the bank. 

He informed that the funds were utilised in both ongoing and executed infrastructural projects since the administration came on board. He noted that no previous administration had achieved it since the state was created in 1976.

On how the feat was achieved, including components of the programme, Osuala, said: “SFTAS is a programme by the World Bank and Federal Government of Nigeria to deepen transparency in budgeting processes for qualified States.”