Flood Alert!…Picture of The Week… Anambra students on winning streaks …Abia gets $115m AfDB loan…plus South East Digest…
Flood Alert!
The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim has urged people in riverine areas in the State to prepare for relocation ahead of this year’s flooding. Dr Ibezim, who gave the order when he visited a Holding Centres in Anambra East Council Area, St Joseph Memorial School, Aguleri, in preparation for the flooding as predicted earlier by Nigerian Meteorological Agency(NIMET), regretted the number of lives the State lost to flood last year, stating that the State Government would not want to lose a single life to this year’s flooding, hence the early preparation and sensitisation of the people in flood prone areas of the State.
He reminded the people that NIMET predicted that this year’s flooding will be heavier than that of last year and told people residing in riverine areas to consider their lives first and get ready for evacuation.
Dr Ibezim assured that the State Government will make sure that people in Holding Centres across the State during the expected flooding, will be safe and comfortable; adding that material things can be replaced but life lost cannot be regained , even as he advised them to start monitoring their farms to know when to start harvesting the produce before the flood outbreak to avoid losing everything.
Picture of The Week
The only sector booming!
AfDB approves $115m loan to Abia for road
rehabilitation, erosion
The Board of Directors,
African Development Bank (AfDB), has approved a loan of 115 million dollars to
support a major road rehabilitation project in Abia State, Nigeria. This is contained in a statement issued by
the Nigeria Country Department of the bank on Saturday in Abuja.
It said the project would see to the rehabilitation of roads, erosion control infrastructure and preparation of solid waste management facilities in the state capital, Umuahia, and the commercial hub, Aba.
”Financing for the project estimated at a total cost of 263.80 million dollars, will come through an AfDB loan of 100 million dollars.
”A Canada–AfDB Climate Fund (CACF) loan of 15 million dollars; and a 125 million dollars co-financing loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).
”The Abia State government will provide 23.80 million dollars in counterpart funding for compensation to people affected by the project and implementation of a Resettlement Action Plan, “it said.
According to the statement, the project, which is expected to be completed in 2029, has a total of 248.46 km of road.
It said it had 58.03 km of roads in Umuahia and 190.43 km of roads in Aba which would be rehabilitated to asphaltic concrete standards at varying cross-sections.
It said:” Erosion sites in Umuahia and Aba will be reinstated as well as preparatory studies were undertaken for private sector participation in solid waste management for the two cities.
”The project will also include capacity building, project management and development of social infrastructure.
”This includes the rehabilitation of schools and the provision of sanitation facilities in schools, community markets and hospitals.”
Lagos to set up joint working committee over Alaba market demolition
The Lagos State Government will be setting up a joint working committee to resolve issues surrounding the recent demolition of some buildings in the Alaba International Market area and some other markets in Lagos.
The committee is to help clear some of the misunderstandings surrounding the demolition exercise. Members of the joint committee, the state government said, will include market leaders.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known while speaking after a meeting with Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ben Kalu, and some Igbo market leaders in Lagos on Friday.
Recall that some individuals have accused the Lagos government of targeting a certain section of the country in the recent demolition of some structures at the Alaba International Market.
Debunking the accusation, Sanwo-Olu said that some of the misconceptions surrounding the actions of the government have been cleared in the meeting, adding that the committee will go around to verify things.
“We just finished a meeting between myself and the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, and the Deputy Speaker Honourable Kalu and other market leaders of our various Igbo markets in Lagos, some community leaders, and also some state government officials.
“The meeting had gone on successfully, we discussed issues around a common interest, especially issues bordering on the recent demolition around Alaba Market where there has been a lot of wrong information and communication.
“Our conversation here this afternoon has cleared the air. We have seen that indeed there is a need for us to further collaborate. Where wrongs have been expressed we have corrected all of the issues and the views and we have jointly set up a small working committee that will go around, verify, and see things for ourselves and be able to put all of the negative information and media review out correctly,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Sanwo-Olu also appealed to the people to go about their normal business without any fear, adding that the government will always listen to them and allow everybody to do well and run their businesses.
Speaking, Governor
Uzodimma thanked Sanwo-Olu for listening to the concerns they raised with him
and his proactive action in setting up a committee to immediately look at the
issues.
Ogun, Anambra, Kebbi - eight states get new police commissioners
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the deployment of eight commissioners of police to state commands. Ikechukwu Ani, the PSC spokesperson, announced the deployment in a statement released on Friday.
The States that have new commissioners of police are Borno, Kwara, Oyo, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Ogun, Anambra, and Imo.
The commission commended Kayode Egbetokun, the acting inspector-general of police (IGP), for being gender sensitive in his recommendation for the roles.
Solomon Arase, PSC chairman, asked the acting IGP to consider disadvantaged geo-political zones while forwarding subsequent proposals to the commission.
The new commissioners of police are;
Names States
1. Godwin Aghaulor — Borno
2. Adelesi E. Oluwarotimi — Kwara
3. Adebola Ayinde Hamzat — Oyo
4. Augustina Ogbodo — Ebonyi
5. Samuel Titus Musa — Kebbi
6. Aderemi Adeoye — Anambra
7. Stephen Olarewaju — Imo
8. Alamutu Abiodun — Ogun
Anambra students on winning streaks
Anambra School wins national entrepreneurship
competition
The students of Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Umuoji in Anambra State, have won the 2023 National Entrepreneurship Exhibition and Awards competition. This remarkable achievement came after fierce competition from 20 top secondary schools across the country.
The annual competition, organised by the Nigerian segment of the Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship, is aimed at equipping students in the areas of entrepreneurial and technical skills.
The event, held from June 25 to 28, 2023, at the Area Council Service Commission House in Garki, Abuja, showcased the innovative ideas and entrepreneurial skills of the participating teams.
Mater Amabilis Secondary School impressed the judges with their outstanding projects, securing the overall first position.
Their projects include a hydroelectric device that converts salt water into electricity and a multi-purpose agro machine capable of weeding, irrigating, seeding, fumigating, and monitoring soil moisture and nutrient levels.
These groundbreaking solutions demonstrated the students’ creativity, innovation, and commitment to addressing pressing societal challenges.
With this feat, Mater
Amabilis Secondary School has earned them the opportunity to represent Nigeria
at the upcoming SAGE World Cup in Italy later this year.
Moreover, the gold-winning students have been granted a 100 percent scholarship to study at Cyprus International University.
The team was led by Joshua Ekeh and Grace Amamudi. Ekeh was also recognised as the SAGE Best Mentor of the Year award.
The Manager of Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Rev. Fr. Francis Onwuchulum, in his reaction, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the students for their exceptional performance, considering it another milestone in the school’s history of success.
Onwuchulum urged the
award-winning students to “remain focused in their studies and view the triumph
as a stepping stone towards even greater accomplishments in life”.
He lauded the Proprietor of the School, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, the Archbishop of Onitsha, whom he described as the brain behind all the achievements the school has recorded in recent times.
Anambra Law Student Wins 2023 Princess Diana Award
A 24-year-old student at the Nigerian Law School from Anambra State, Onyinye Omenugha, has won the prestigious Diana Award, which annually honours outstanding young persons in the United Kingdom and around the globe.
Instituted in 1999 with erstwhile British Prime Minister Gordon as the board chairman, the award was set up in honour of Princess Diana famous for her solidarity with the marginalised.
It recognises people between 9 and 25 years who have done remarkable things which affect humanity positively, in the tradition of Prince Diana. The Diana Award Charity currently has former British Prime Minister David Cameron and ex-Scottish First Minister Jack McConnel as patrons.
Onyinye received the award on Friday in recognition of the nongovernmental organisation (NGO), Lawsanaid, which she founded to assist law students with disabilities in obtaining quality and inclusive education.
Moved by the experience of a relative, Onyinye established Lawsanaid, whose activity is consistent with the work of other Diana Award recipients that “demonstrate their ability to inspire and mobilise new generations to serve their communities and create long-lasting change on the global scene”, according to Diana Award Charity chief executive Tessy Ojo.
“Onyinye’s work has inspired others, and she has become a role model for young people in the legal industry.
“She is also involved in
mentoring, creativity promotion, and advocating youth-led initiatives”.
Onyinye, who hails from Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area, is the last child of Dr Mike Omenugha, a medical practitioner, and Dr Kate Azuka Omenugha, Nigeria’s second female mass communication full professor who served as the Anambra State Commissioner for Education for eight years from 2014.
Though yet to be called to
the Nigerian Bar, Onyinye is a certified arbitrator with the Chartered
Institute of Arbitration (UK) and a member of the Institute of Chartered
Mediation and Conciliation.
(A digest of latest reports on the Economy, Industry, Politics, Sports, and developments around the South East of Nigeria)
ABIA STATE
Otti submits list of Commissioners to Abia Assembly
The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti has forwarded a 19-man list to the Abia State House of Assembly for Screening and Confirmation as Commissioners and members of the State Executive Committee. In a letter addressed to the speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Otti requested the house to screen the Nominees and revert to him for further necessary action.
The Nominees are:
1. Prof. Monica Ironwe
2 Mr. Kingsley Anoube
3 Prof. Eme Uche Eme
4. Mr. Philemon Axony
Ogbonna
5. Mr. Mike Alpara
6. Dr. Ngozi Olaoronin
7. Mr. Oney Kanu
8. Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna
9. Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije
10. Mr. Uro Nwachukwu
11 Prof. Joel Friday
Ogbonna
12. Mr. Chima Oriaku
13. Mr. Nuabbler Nwodimma
Ananaba
14. Dr. Chimezie hoor
koegbu
15 Ngozi Blessing Felic
16 Eng. Don Otumchere Oti
17. Comrade Sunny
Oleburguu Onwuma
18 Engr. Ihechukwu Monday
19. Mr. Matthew Chikodi Elibes
Anambra installs clock-in device to curb absenteeism
among health workers
The Anambra State Government says it has commenced the installation of clock-in devices in public health facilities to curb absenteeism and ensure that health workers take their duties seriously. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, disclosed this in Awka while speaking at a meeting with administrators of public hospitals in the state.
Obidike observed that during some of his unannounced visits to hospitals, many health workers were absent while some health facilities did not open for services. According to him, such an attitude has contributed to mortalities recorded in the state and hindered progress in the health sector.
The commissioner said the device would end absenteeism and indolence among health workers.
He said Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration takes healthcare seriously and wants residents to have access to quality health services at the primary health centres, general hospitals and tertiary health facilities.
“This is part of the reasons for the installation of the clock-in device in all government hospitals; it is to ensure that healthcare workers are at their duty posts to attend to the health needs of the people.
ENUGU STATE
Enugu Govt To Attract $2bn In Additional Investmen - Gov Mbah
Enugu State Governor, Barr. Peter Mbah has revealed that his administration is set to attract at least Two Billon United States Dollars ($2bn) in additional investment through the Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum (ES-DIF) which will be held in April, 2024. The Governor revealed this during a press briefing at Lion Building, Enugu, last week.
Barr. Mbah said the ES-DIF will be herald by the hosting of an Investment and Economic Growth Stakeholder Roundtable in September, 2023.
According to the Governor; “The Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum will be a multi-stakeholder, fully transactional platform championed by the Enugu State Government to match project sponsors, domestic and international financial institutions, private investors including the diaspora investing community, and development partners to viable investment opportunities in the state that can deliver optimal risk-adjusted returns for the global investing community whilst also increasing Enugu State’s global competitiveness and driving suitable development outcomes in the state.”
The Governor further noted that his administration “has made a concerted effort to identify commercially viable investment and business opportunities that cut across multiple sectors including energy, agribusiness, tourism, and transport, as well as the data centre economy. We intend to pursue new investment partnerships with financiers, project sponsors and developers, and technical assistance providers to structure, implement and unlock these value transactions.
“To achieve this, I will host an Investment and Economic Growth Stakeholder Roundtable in September 2023 to engage bilateral and multilateral development partners, as well as senior-level executives from commercial banks, public and corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, private equity funds, infrastructure funds, and other domestic financial institutions for a systematic discussion on advancing viable investment opportunities in the state as my administration steers Enugu State on a path to private sector-led economic transformation.”
He added that that roundtable will be like a roadshow to showcase the investment potentials of Enugu State and the areas the investors can close deal on.
“We’re going to be marketing Enugu State across the different productivity sectors. We will showcase to them, the areas they can invest in in Enugu.
Conclusively, the Governor
stated that Enugu is now open for business and extended invitations to “public
and private project sponsors, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, private
equity funds infrastructure funds, private investors, the African diaspora, and
bilateral and multilateral development financial institutions to co-invest in
Enugu State.”
You can reach us on 0803 245 9817 or
obimeze@gmail.com
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