National Honour at 16?...ECOWAS in combat preparations…WTO offering helping hands…Plus South East Digest…

Photos of the Week

Mechanical Engineering drop-out turned electric car manufacturer in Borno State.

It's all about Igbo Landing...

This matter of the economy requires touching base frequently.

ECOWAS suspends meeting

ECOWAS on Friday suspended a key military meeting on the crisis in Niger, a day after saying they would muster a “standby” force in their bid to reinstate the country’s deposed leader.

Chiefs of staff from West African ECOWAS bloc countries were set to attend a meeting on Saturday in Ghana’s capital Accra, regional military sources had said on Friday.

But they later said that it had been suspended indefinitely for “technical reasons”.

The sources said the meeting was originally set up to inform the organisation’s leaders about “the best options” for activating and deploying the standby force.

ECOWAS has yet to provide details on the force or a timetable for action, and the leaders have emphasised they still want a peaceful solution. 

Fears also mounted for elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted by members of his guard on July 26, with reports saying his detention conditions were deteriorating.

WTO to boost digital trade, empower women, says Okonjo-Iweala

The World Trade Organization (WTO) will support Nigeria’s digital trade growth, Director General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said last week.  She said women will also receive more support.

The former Minister of Finance spoke after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

Dr Okonjo-Iweala was accompanied by a minister-designate Dr Ali Pate. 

She said: “We all know that things are very difficult for Nigerians. Everyone is struggling. I’m here myself on a quiet visit, not really an official WTO mission. 

“We had a really good conversation on community and grassroots programmes that can be put in place to create jobs for young people and support women and children who are bearing the brunt of some of the suffering in the country.

“For the longer term, we spoke about investment opportunities that Nigeria can cease, including in the pharmaceutical industry.

“We also talked about what type of support the WTO can bring.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo to plant 1m palm trees in South East

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK and Northern Ireland said it has concluded plans to plant one million palm trees in the country as part of effort to assist businesses in the South-East.

Ohanaeze said this in a statement issued by its Media Consultant, Asa Blessing-Chijekwu, on Wednesday after the visit in London of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide.  Blessing-Chijekwu quoted the Ohanaeze President in UK, Lady Aqueen Ibeto, as saying that the planting of the palm trees would be concentrated in the South-East states.

“We plan to plant one million palm trees in Nigeria and we are working with our members who have vast land in the South-East, to commence that project,” Ibeto was quoted as saying.

Ibeto also said that Ohanaeze Ndigbo UK had already secured a place in Enugu where they would build a skill acquisition centre. 

She said that the skill acquisition centre would be replicated in other states in the South-East.

Anambra team wins 2023 international debate championship in Malaysia

Students of the Anambra State Debate Team have won the 2023 international debate championship held in Malaysia. 

The team, which represented Team Nigeria at the championship, defeated Team Malaysia 1, represented by Pin Hwa High School 3-0 by unanimous decision at the semi-finals before reaching the final.  The team thereafter defeated their counterparts from the Hin Hua High School Debate team in the finals, beating them 2-1 to emerge overall winners of the competition, which ended early on Thursday.

The Anambra State debate team which represented Team Nigeria at the competition, comprised of pupils who were drawn from various secondary schools across Anambra.

A student of St. Michael’s Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo in Njikoka LGA, Promise Mbachu, emerged as the Best Speaker of the Debate Round.

The State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, described the feat as a “thing of great joy, great happiness and a sense of wholesome achievements”.

Amaechina, 16, scores nine A1s in 2023 WASSCE

Miss Amaechina Chimbusonma Nwadiuto of Regina Pacis Girls’ Secondary School, Garki, Abuja, may be in contention for the National Merit Award as the overall best candidate in this year’s West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, WASSCE, conducted by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, as she got A1 in all the nine papers she sat for during the examination.

 

Miss Amaechina, 16, from Anambra State, got distinctions in Data Processing, Christian Religious Studies, Civic Education, English Language, Further Mathematics, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

The girl, who scored 313 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, applied to study Medicine at the University of Abuja. 

Speaking on the development, her mother, Mrs Ijeoma Amaechina, said the girl has consistently maintained top position in her class since her primary school days.

Nigerians Pay More for Transport, Food in June — NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, said the average fare paid by committees for bus, motorcycle, air and water journeys continue to increase in June when compared to the May figures.

Similarly, the prices of beef, tomatoes and local rice sold loose increased month-on-month (MoM) during the review period. 

In its Transport fare watch for June, NBS said: “The average fare paid by commuters for bus journeys within the city per drop increased by 97.88 percent from N649.59 in May 2023 to N1,285.41 in June 2023.

“In another category, the average fare paid by commuters for bus journey intercity per drop rose to N5,686.49 in June 2023, indicating an increase of 42.09 percent on a MoM basis compared to N4,002.16 in May 2023.

 “In air travel, the average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes’ single journey increased by 4.93 percent from N74,948.78 in May 2023 to N78,640.54 in June 2023.

“The average transport fare paid on Okada transportation was N618.52 in June 2023 which was 33.14 percent higher than the rate recorded in May 2023 (N464.55).

 “For water transport (waterway passenger transportation), the average fare paid in June 2023 increased to N1,366.22 from N1,045.15 in May 2023.”

On food prices, NBS in its Selected Food Price Watch for June said : “Selected Food Price Watch for June 2023 shows that the average price of 1kg of Beef boneless stood at N2,653.02 in June 2023.

“This indicates a growth of 27.5 percent on a year-on-year basis from N2,079.93 recorded in June 2022 and a 5.26 percent rise on a MoM basis from N2,520.52 in the previous month.

” Also, the average price of 1kg of Tomato increased by 24.8 percent on a year-on-year basis from N438.33 in June 2022 to N547.28 in June 2023.

“On a MoM basis, the average price of the product increased by 9.8 percent . 

“The average price of 1kg of Rice local (sold loose) rose by 32 percent on a year-on-year basis from N460.17 in June 2022 to N608.20 in June 2023.

“On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 9.5 percent from N555.18 in May 2023.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos commits to promoting unity among Nigerians

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State chapter, has reiterated its commitment to promoting unity among Nigerians through sports, especially football. 

The President of the chapter, Sunday Ossai, stated this at a press conference to announce a football tournament with participating teams from the 20 local councils in the state.

According to him, the tournament, the first edition, which would be flagged off on August 20 at the Eagles Club, Surulere, is being organised in conjunction with St. Eve, a club funded by the organisation.

He said: “Our goal is to foster unity between the government and our people; bridge the gap between the people and the government. Our mission is clear, to rally our community to raise awareness and enlighten our people about the significance of their contributions. 

“The football league is not solely about sports; it symbolises a catalyst for reconciliation, a vehicle to extract the best potential from our youth. For those with prowess in football, we invite you to stand with us as we roll out this initiative and many more in the future,” Ossai added.

The president noted that the league is a manifestation of the chapter’s commitment under his leadership to promote community engagement and harmony.

“We extend an open invitation to all members of our community, urging them to partake in and support this venture. This noble aspiration guides the endeavours of the project led by Azubuike Eweremadu,” he stated.

 

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

ABIA STATE

INNOSON CEO salutes Otti for patronage, says Otti is number one marketer of INNOSON MOTORS

The Chairman and CEO INNOSON Group of Companies, Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma has saluted the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex  Otti for patronizing INNOSON MOTORS

Chief Innocent Chukwuma was speaking when he paid a visit to Dr. Alex Otti at his Nvosi, Isialangwa South country home. He appreciated the Governor for being the number one marketer of INNOSON MOTORS  and pledged to partner him in the industrial development of Abia State.

The CEO, who expressed displeasure over some disjointed and unwarranted social media posts against the Governor's procurement of security Hilux vans for the "Operation Crush" scheme informed that most vehicles in use by the Abia State government currently are from INNOSON. 

Chief Chukwuma further disclosed that Governor Otti had placed order for 20 Hilux security vans from his company which the government needed urgently but he was not able to supply them at that time because they had exhausted their stock, hence the Governor procured from another company. He wondered why people should raise eyebrows on what makes no meaning.

The business mogul said he was happy with what  Governor Alex Otti was doing in the State and assured that he would use Abia as a hub for converting normal vehicles to Liquified  Natural Gas (LNG) vehicles as well as run a vehicle service plant here in Abia.

Governor Alex Otti while receiving Chief Innocent Chukwuma and his management team to urged him consider the idea of setting up a vehicle service plant in Aba, Abia State. He said that Aba is a commercial and industrial hub that has what it takes to expand businesses, assuring that Aba would be what it never was under his administration.

Governor Otti, who pledged to continue to support INNOSON  disclosed that already, his government has placed order for about 40 vehicles from INNOCSON in the last three weeks and informed that arrangements were also on to procure more vehicles for the members of the State House of Assembly while his own official vehicle was being awaited, all from INNOSON.

ANAMBRA STATE

Anambra joins the Sports economy

Anambra State yesterday celebrated the 2023 International Youth Day.  To mark the day, Governor Soludo, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Nonye Soludo and members of the state Executive Council, combined a run and walk session, spanning 6.2 kilometres at the Awka Township Stadium to celebrate the occasion

Governor Soludo who also used the occasion to launch the sports economy in the state, revealed that sports is health, wealth and the future.

 

Obiano at 68

Immediate-past Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, turned 68 last week.  Encomiums came from all around the globe, including that from Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

 

We are still keeping our promise to celebrate Governor Obiano at 70.

ENUGU STATE

Navy to Establish Operational Base in Enugu

The Nigerian Navy is set to establish an operational base in Enugu State to improve the security of lives and property by securing the state’s coastal areas.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, disclosed this during a courtesy call on the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, at the Government House, Enugu, on Thursday.

This is even as the Government of Enugu State has pledged a continued partnership with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies for continued improvement of security and peace in the state, which it said was critical to the current administration’s blueprint of exponential economic growth.

Ogalla commended Governor Mbah for his bold actions in tackling the security challenges in the state immediately upon his inauguration, saying he was impressed with the successes recorded in the very short period he had been in office.

Continuing, he said: “The Nigerian Navy has three primary roles, which are first, the military duties, being the protection of this country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty from the maritime domain. We have policing role as well as the diplomatic roles.

“We have noticed that within this role of policing duties, we have not really extended our functions to Enugu State, and we want to do that with your support.

“To this end, we plan to extend our operations to encompass and cover the broader spectrum of Enugu State, knowing that the state has a navigable river around Uzo Uwani. That river used to be a seaport during the colonial era, and it has been abandoned. We believe that if we are able to police that area, it will give assurances to investors, who will now invest in the development of that seaway for the benefit of the people of Enugu State. 

“So, I want to seek your support as we make this bold initiative towards showing presence within that important seaway.

“Our operations there will be aimed at providing internal security operations both through area surveillance and patrol in such a manner that economic activities can thrive without hindrance”. 

Welcoming the Chief of the Naval Staff to his home state, Mbah, who was full of appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing an Enugu son to head an arm of the security agencies in this country, described it as something of “immense value and significance, not just to the people of Enugu State, but to the entire South East region”. 

Mbah reiterated the state’s commitment to making Enugu the prime destination for investment, living, and tourism, of which he said security and peace remained a core ingredient.

Governor Peter Mbah to boost Enugu economy through coastal transport

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has reiterated the government’s resolve to harness the opportunities presented by the Ogurugu waterway and jetty to boost the state’s economy, ease transportation, and create employment.

This is just as the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has assured of an expedited work on the proposed naval base in the coastal community to strengthen security and shore up investors’ confidence in the state.

The governor stated this at the weekend during an inspection tour of facilities at Ogurugu jetty with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla. 

Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr Ifeanyi Ossai, further gave the government’s total support to the proposed naval base by the Navy.

Governor Mbah assigns portfolio to new Commissioners

Enugu state Governor, Peter Mbah has assigned portfolios to his 22 Commissioners following their inauguration.

Briefing newsmen shortly after their inaugural exco meeting on Friday, the secretary to the state government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia gave their portfolios as follows:

1.Professor Ndubueze Mbah— Education

2. Mrs. Ngozi Eni— Gender affairs and Social Development

3. Prince Lawrence Eze (Prince of Mburumbu)— Lands and Urban Development

4. Professor Sam Ugwu— Environment and Climate

5. Pharmacist Chika Ugwoke— Labour and Employment

6. Dr. Kingsley Ude— Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice

7. Professor Emmanuel I. Obi— Health

8. Deacon Okey Ogbodo— Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs

9. Ben Ugochi Madueke— Tourism and Culture

10. Barr. Lord I. Ekweremadu— Youths and Sports

11. Engr. Gerald Otiji— Works and Infrastructure

12. Nathaniel Urama— Finance and Economic Development

13. Dr. Malachy Agbo— Human Development and Poverty Eradication

14. Mr. Aka Eze Aka— Information

15. Adaora Chukwu— Trade Investment and industry

16.Dr. Martin Chinweike— Housing

17. Obi Ozor— Transport

18. Ajogwu Sunday Emeka— Special Duties

19. Dr. Felix Nnamani— Water Resources

20. Patrick Nwabueze Uburu— Agriculture and Agro-industrialization

 

 

 

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