₦airaland Forum

HERE IS THE SPEECH DELIVERED BY BALARABE ABBAS LAWAL, MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND CHAIRMAN, STEERING COMMITTEE OF NEWMAP-EIB AT THE LAUNCH OF THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK (EIB) ASSISTED NIGERIA CLIMATE ADAPTATION – EROSION AND WATERSHED PROJECT (NEWMAP-EIB) HELD ON TUESDAY, 30TH SEPTEMBER 2025 AT THE CONGRESS HALL OF TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL, ABUJA

Protocols:

It is with great honour and privilege that I welcome you all to the launch of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB). I am delighted to inform you that the Federal Government of Nigeria has fulfilled all the outlined conditions precedent for the implementation of this project. Consequently, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB) is now disbursement-effective.2. In 2010, the Federal Government, with support from the World Bank, launched the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP-IDA) to address soil degradation, food insecurity, and land remediation under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. The multi-sectoral NEWMAP-IDA project stabilized gully erosion sites, improved livelihoods, and strengthened institutions. It commenced in 2013 with seven (7) states and later expanded to 23 states. The project closed in June 2022.3. In 2020, the Federal Government secured additional financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to expand the scope of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP). The EIB approved a facility of €175 million aimed at building upon and deepening the achievements recorded under NEWMAP-IDA, using the Strategic Watershed Management approach. The project became technically effective in 2023 and now disbursement-effective in 2025. It is to be implemented over a period of five (5) years across twenty-three (23) states, namely: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto.4. Like its predecessor, the NEWMAP-EIB is overseen by the Federal Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister of Environment and comprising members from various MDAs. At the Technical Committee level, it is chaired by the Permanent Secretary. The project is driven by a Federal Project Management Unit under the coordination of a National Project Coordinator. This institutional arrangement is beeing replicated at the state level. The NEWMAP-EIB has been restructured into two key components: Erosion and Watershed Management Infrastructure Investment and Project Management.5. Distinguished Guests, Nigeria, like many nations, faces worsening climate disasters. Gully erosion and annual flooding continue to cause havoc and loss of lives, destruction of property as well as severe environmental degradation, particularly across rural communities, urban centres, and farmlands. Today’s launch therefore, signifies a clear testimony to the power of collaboration and shared vision. The support of the European Investment Bank in climate finance has provided Nigeria with a vital lifeline for erosion control, flood management, and watershed restoration. We are deeply grateful for your trust and confidence in this shared vision. Partnerships such as this strengthen our resolve to take a firm stand against the devastating impacts of climate change.6. The Federal Government has released ₦750 million as the first tranche of counterpart funding to the Federal Project Management Unit. This enabled preparatory activities such as office setup, equipment, and other operations necessary for project’s take-off. At the same time, participating states have shown commitment by also providing counterpart funds to their State Project Implementing Units, further ensuring the initiative’s success and sustainability. The success of this project will largely depend on the commitments from state governments. I therefore urge State Governors to increase their counterpart fund contributions just as the Federal Government is also processing another tranche of disbursement. 7. At this juncture, I want to express my appreciation to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy for the tireless efforts of his ministry in making this project a reality. I also appeal for continued support and consideration in providing additional counterpart funding to the project in order to further strengthen the Federal Project Management Unit operations. Special gratitude goes to the European Investment Bank for deeming Nigeria worthy of this loan. It is hope that this partnership will continue to yield transformative results for our people and the environment at large.8. Distinguished guests, our profound gratitude goes to His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whose Renewed Hope Agenda prioritizes climate-smart resilient cities. Mr President’s commitments to sustainability has been key to this project’s success. I thank him for his steadfast leadership and reaffirm our dedication to advancing his administration’s environmental policies. 9. We thank the National Assembly for their consistent support in providing the enabling legislative framework and budgetary allocations that make this projects possible. Our Special appreciation goes to State Governments for their strong partnership in implementing this initiative. We are equally grateful to our Development Partners, Civil Society as well as the private sector for their expertise, funding, and advocacy. We also appreciate the traditional rulers, community leaders, and all stakeholders whose cooperation has fostered trust and grassroots participation. I urge the Project Coordinators and their team to ensure effective implementation, transparency, and sustainability of the project so that its benefits remain impactful.10. Thank you all for your presence, your dedication, and your unwavering support to this noble cause. I now launch this project to the glory of God and the benefit of humanity. May this project mark the beginning of a transformative journey towards a greener, safer, and more resilient Nigeria. Thank You and God bless.

Allegation: Professor Nwabachili Breaks Silence, Says Pettitioner Has No Evidence to Prove His Case

Read the full text here 👇👇👇👇

I am constrained to debunk the allegations against me by the prima facie committee that looked into the case of manipulation of the results of thirty law students of 2022/2023 academic year, which was maliciously published online without lawful justification and which under the law has no power to make recommendations.

I wish to state as follows: Firstly, the petitioner has no evidence to prove his case. Throughout the duration of the investigation, he failed to prove that there was any manipulation of the results of law students as alleged, or if there was any such manipulation, that I was party to it. Secondly, the said prima facie committee was not properly constituted.

The Head of Examination Unit Mrs.Ngozi Egbuna should not have been a member of the committee because the disputed results passed through the examination unit and the staff under review is under her and as such she is vicariously liable. She can not be a judge in her cause.

Thirdly, the purported report of the committee, which was yet to be deliberated upon by the management, was pre-emptively published in the social media, thereby showing evidence of bias and gang up against me. In view of the said publication, the purported report of the committee should be invalidated. Fourthly, the committee found out that there were some inconsistencies in the result but failed to establish that I was instrumental to the inconsistencies.

Fifth, the committee stated that the staff from the examination unit told them that I said that the mandate to compute the said results was an order from above. The committee upheld her statement without any evidence that I said so.

Sixth, the committee also allegedly reported that the staff from the examination unit told them that she copied the said result into the composite sheet in my office. I also wish to state that the committee erred in believing, such as no evidence was adduced. I wish to state that I gave the staff the result to go and reconcile the result in which she left and came back some days later to confirm the result to be in order.

Seven, the committee accused me of not allowing the examination officer to look into the result. At that time, the examination officer was handed over to my office, and a new examination officer had not taken over. Due to the urgency, as law school was demanding for the result of our students, it was within my privilege as Dean to send out the results.

Eight, the committee reported that I removed the then examination officer, Fr. Justin Ileka maliciously and appointed another officer, Dr. Chinwe Iloka. I wish to state that the senate ordered that an examination officer should serve for a period of only one year. The minutes of the senate in respect of this decision are available. Since Fr. Justin Ileka had completed his tenure of one year, and it was proper for me to remove him and appoint another examination officer.

Moreover, the removal and appointment [together with other appointments were done in the faculty board meeting together.Nine, the committee reported that I handed over already computed results to the staff from the examination unit.

I wish to state that the computed results were brought to me by my staff, whom I ordered to bring all the outstanding booklets in the faculty from the Faculty Officer’s Office, General office, and archives. When they brought the booklets I found out that some were computed already believing that it was the members of the computation committee that was constituted earlier that computed it and because of the pressure from Nigerian Law school and the urgency I did not involve the examination officer as the Dean, I had to call the staff from the Examination unit to verify the result.

Ten, based on the malicious report of the committee and series of gang up against me, I was asked to proceed on three months suspension starting from 23rd July 2024 to enable them to proceed on investigation.

For the 11 months that the investigation lasted, no evidence was adduced to find me culpable of the allegations. I was thus recalled via a letter dated 1st July 2025 by the Registrar Mr. Chris Obi. I wish to state that the purported suspension was illegal as the mandatory period of suspension under the law was exceeded.

Finally, I wish to use this medium to outline my numerous achievements as the Dean of the Faculty of Law Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (2021-2024).

1. Obtained full accreditation for the faculty of law. It was during my tenure as the Dean of Faculty of Law that full accreditation was obtained from the National Universities Commission (NUC). The previous accreditation a year earlier was unsuccessful, and we received only interim accreditation. The said accreditation for 2022 would have been a catastrophe for the Faculty of Law and the entire University if we did not make it but Thank God we successfully handled, breached all problems and obtained full NUC accreditation.

2. Council of Legal Education cleared the backlog of Law schoolDuring my tenure, we had the problem of the backlog of our students' admission to law school. During the covid 19 pandemic, the academic calendar was disrupted. Many of our students who graduated during that period were unable to attend the law school. I leveraged on my personal and our institutional goodwill to prevail on the Council of Legal Education to permit a minor excess over our annual quota in order to gradually clear the back log and it was successfully cleared consequently, all our law students are entitled to attend law school in the year of their graduation.

3. Administration of Faculty Post Graduate School The faculty succeeded tremendously in the postgraduate program during my administration as the Dean Faculty of Law. Admissions into the program increased, and the completion rate for the program improved. We graduated over sixty (60) students during my administration.

4. Conducting seminars, workshops, and attending conferences to promote staff Development During my administration as the Dean Faculty of Law, staff development was a priority We liaised with the University management and ensured that full sponsorship was provided for the benefit of our staff to attend the National Association of Law Teachers Conferences at Kano and Umuahia. In pursuit of our goal for Staff Development. We organized for both staff and students workshops on research methodology, and we resuscitated the then Moribund Faculty in house Seminar. Within my tenure three of our staff went for sabbatical leave thus promoting their academic capability and financial empowerment.

5. Staff welfare and promotion of staff were greatly motivated My administration ensured that administrative experience requirement for promotion to professorial cadre was possible for all to achieve and in effect promote job satisfaction with regards to promotions, to the extent that all staff who were due for promotion got promoted. I am happy to announce the increase in the number of both professorial and non-professorial cadre staff in the faculty. During my administration, we recorded up to four professors, three readers, three senior lecturers, four lecturers I, one lecturer II, and other administrative staff were promoted.

6. Improvement of academic quality and introduction of new courses.In the area of academic quality, my administration went all out to improve on what we had. We introduced three new courses viz Legal Drafting and Conveyancing, Advocacy and Research methodology. We introduced these new courses offered at the law school so as to give our students a comparative advantage at the law school. Our pro-activeness paid off. In the law school examination within my administration, three of our students made first class, while many made second-class upper division.

7. Improvement in Research evaluation During my tenure, we implemented the undergraduate final year project grading methodology of 50/50 in a bid to ensure robust and full proof evaluation of student’s work quality

8. Zero tolerance for Examination MalpracticeWe conducted seminars, workshops, orientations, and lectures where emphasis was laid on nil tolerance for examination malpractice. During my administration as the Dean Faculty of Law, the examination misconduct committee looked into and completed the sittings on cases referred to it. Based on its recommendations, a total of sixteen students were suspended for misconduct. Without discipline, our life will be hopeless. Unpleasant though this might be, but discipline is an inevitable part of the Faculty Administration

9. Increase in staff strength During my tenure as the Dean, We facilitated the increase in our staff strength. Three staff members were employed, which helped in beefing our staff strength.

10. Inclusiveness of all staff in the Faculty of LawIn order to ensure that Faculty administration was not left out to the Dean and Heads of Departments and to create a sense of belonging to every member of staff, our administration tried to a great extent to ensure that every teaching staff had an administrative function and position. In some cases, this involved creating assistants and deputy positions. We succeeded to ensure adequate participation and involvement of our staff in faculty administration.In Conclusion, I also wish to use this medium to debunk all the allegations against me as a way of rejoinder to the earlier malicious petition, online publication and the purported recommendations of the prima facie committee as the petition, online publication and the purported recommendations of the prima facie committee was calculated to tarnish my reputation.

- Professor C. C Nwabachili

Theodore Okonkwo Has Not Contributed Half Kobo to APGA Oraukwu Let Alone Idemili North - Chief Obi Idemobi

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

Following a social media post where Mr. Theodore Okonkwo was reportedly to have decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and was equally addressed a major financier of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Idemili North, the former elected Council Boss and the Chairman APGA Idemili North Campaign Council Secretariat, Chief (Sir) Obi Idemobi (Chinechendo) says that Prof Okonkwo is not even a key sponsor in Oraukwu let alone Idemili North Local Government Area, describing the online post as lacking in merit, fallacious, baseless and laughable .

Speaking to newsmen at Idemili North headquarters, Ogidi, shortly after the inauguration of the APGA Campaign Council Secretariat Sub-Committees, the Mayor Emeritus noted that since 2025, Mr Okonkwo had only attended Oraukwu ward meeting once, saying that it was only in the month September that he attended one meeting and had not featured in any of their activities.

'Since 2024-2025, Mr. Theodore Okonkwo has not contributed half a kobo to our Oraukwu ward. He has no structure as far as I am concerned. He comes down during any election to see if there is any money to share. Somebody should ask him where he was in the last two past elections when we were making stakeholders donations. How much did he contribute? A big question, how many times did he attend stakeholders meeting in Idemili North, please? Forget him. He is not a threat to Oraukwu ward. Kindly ignore the sponsored social media post,' Chief Idemobi said.

The grassroots politician emphatically said Okonkwo had just made another costly political mistake by trying to claim what he is not and had, as usual, made another wrong move, even as he called all APGA faithful in Oraukwu to ignore Okonkwo and focus more on how to deliver all the polling units in Oraukwu to APGA.

NLC Anambra State Chairman, Sir Nwafor Congratulates Soludo On His Triple Awards, Says He Deserves All Accolades


By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu


The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the leader of organized Labour in Anambra State, Comrade (Sir) Humphery Emeka Nwafor, has congratulated the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo on his triple honours received in faraway New York City.

Governor Soludo recently received African Public Service Excellence Award, African Governor of the Year Award, and the Special Recognition/Commendation by the South Carolina House of Representatives during the 2025 Global Power Forum on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80).

Congratulating the state's number one citizen, Sir Nwafor stated that the Governor deserved all the accolades he is getting from all the reputable companies, organizations, and groups, even as he described him as an accomplished intellectual and renowned and widely respected public figure.

The Labour Leader, while congratulating the Governor, expressed his support for the Governor's visionary leadership, reaffirming his commitment to collaborating and working together for the betterment of the state.

'On behalf of my immediate family, the state's workforce, organized labour, I send my heartfelt congratulations to our esteemed Governor on this well-deserved recognition! Your leadership and dedication to our state's progress have not gone unnoticed. This award is a testament to your tireless efforts and commitment to excellence. We're proud to have you at the helm!

'I congratulate Mr. Governor on this well-deserved recognition. Your proactive leadership style has brought significant development to our state, and I'm honoured to support your visionary leadership. Congratulations once again, Mr. Governor,' he concluded.

The Kukah Centre/National Peace Committee (NPC) 3-Day Anambra State Stakeholders Engagement Ends In Awka

...Igwe Ben Emeka (Okebo II of Umueri), NLC, Boss, Sir Humphery Emeka Nwafor, ASTUC President General, Sir Vin Dike, IPAC Secretary, Hon. Ugo Eminent, ANCISRO MD, Sir Chuka Nnabuife, Others In Attendance

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu


The participants in the just concluded Anambra State Stakeholders Engagement organized by The Kukah Centre-National Peace Committee (NPC) in Awka have been charged to begin to master and implement the Early Warning Signs, Early Warning Response (EWER) as they go about their pre and post election activities in their various localities.

The charge was given during a 3-Day Training tagged Anambra State EWER Intervention. It had participants drawn from the twenty-one local government areas of the state as well as representatives from the Anambra State government, NLC, JDPC, NUJ, traditional Rulers, Presidents General, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), heads of security agencies, religious institutions, youth organisations, among others.

In her opening remarks during the first day, Barr. Asabe Ndahi talked about the objectives, expectations, and ground rules governing the project, even as she harped on commitment and accountability on the part of the trainees, adding that The Kukah Centre through the National Peace Committee (NPC) had contributed immensely towards the peace, unity and development of the country, noting that the role it played in the 2015 general elections helped a lot in calming the already flared nerves and the palpable tensions that was witnessed across Nigeria at the time, adding that the Centre was equally instrumental and behind the infamous phone call made by the then President Goodluck Jonathan to his Successor late President Muhammadu Buhari shortly after the result of the presidential election was announced.

'The Kukah Centre through the National Peace Committee (NPC) was able to bring the top presidential candidates together to sign an accord. That singular act saved the country unimaginable post anarchy and turmoil.

Addressing the gathering, one of the stakeholders and the traditional ruler of Umunri, Igwe Benneth Emeka (Okebo II), enjoined all the eligible voters to come out en masse on November 8 to exercise their franchise, stating the the security agencies had assured all that there would be adequate security before, during and after the election, recalling that the last governorship in the year 2021 came with a lot of noise and that the atmosphere was so intense and frightening but at the end there was no violence, acknowledging that the people of Anambra State are wiser and cannot possibly pick up arms against another, adding that this year's election would not be an exception.

The monarch stated that the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council had started making plans on how to get all the candidates in the election to sign a peace accord, which he said yielded a positive result the last time it was done, saying that all the parties involved were summoned and was asked to sign a gentleman agreement, adding that the role of the Royal fathers cannot be overemphasized.

The third and the final day saw participants discussed issues like the role of Early Warning in electoral processes -Why early detection matters; indicators of electoral risk-hate speech, misinformation, cult-related violence, intra/inter-party conflicts, youth mobilization.

Other discussions bordered on Community Conflict Mapping- Hotspots, triggers and actors (group mapping exercise), and participatory session : sharing local experiences of warning signs, simulation exercise 1- detecting and reporting Early Warning signals, closing remarks and reflection.

Group photographs, drilling from a consultant, Mr. Emeka Ozumba, group presentations formed the high points of the 3-Day training .

Borno Joins Other 22 States to Fulfill All NEWMAP-EIB Conditions for Disbursement

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

In a determined effort to ensure all 23 participating states meet the conditions precedent for the Nigeria Climate Adaptation–Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU), led by the National Project Coordinator, Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks, has visited Borno State to assess its readiness ahead of the project’s official launch.

This was contained in a press release signed by the Communication Specialist NEWMAP-EIB, Madina Gertrude and made available to newsmen.

According to the statement, To access NEWMAP-EIB funds, states are required to fulfill key operational prerequisites Conditions including the : provision of counterpart funding, establishment of project offices, recruitment of staff, acquisition of operational vehicles, development of Environmental and Social Management Frameworks (ESMF) and Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), adherence to the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) procurement guidelines, and verification of erosion sites as outlined in the criteria for site selection.

Borno State has successfully met all requirements and is now qualified to receive disbursement from the Bank. This was disclosed by Engr. Yalaks on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Borno State, H.E. Prof. Babagana Umar Zulum, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mallam Bukar Tijjani, in Maiduguri.

Engr. Yalaks highlighted the transformative benefits of the NEWMAP-EIB intervention in Borno, noting that it will not only address erosion challenges but also boost socio-economic development across the state.

“Interventions will include the construction of bridges to reconnect cut-off communities,along the project corridor, implementation of sub catchment management plans will enhance water resources conservation for agricultural activities, community empowerment and to strengthen agricultural value chain, and the provision of access roads to economic hubs such as the cattle market located in old Maiduguri and the shoe factory in Fariya village, old Maiduguri. These projects will also drive revenue generation, job creation, and promote climate-resilliant and climate smart agriculture in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” Yalaks said.

He commended Governor Zulum for demonstrating strong political will, particularly through the release of ₦500 million as state government counterpart funding to the Project, which he described as a clear sign of highest level of government commitment.

Speaking on behalf of the Governor, the SSG, Mallam Bukar Tijjani, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment and readiness to fully support the NEWMAP-EIB initiatives, stressing that the NEWMAP-EIB Project development objective aligns with Governor Zulum’s vision to improving the livelihoods of the good citizens of Borno.

His Excellency consistently emphasizes transparency and accountability in driving project implementation and management of the project funds. He advised on the judicious utilization of the project funds for effective impact on the affected communities.

He further added that the state is fully committed to making available all that is needed to making the project succeed in Borno state, Tijjani assured.

In his earlier submission, the SSG acknowledge the steadfast support of the European union and it's partners during Borno’s most challenging periods and urged the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) to take this very important assignment seriously, with utmost commitment, due diligence and transparency.

In attendance at the meeting were the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Mohammed Habib; the Permanent Secretary, Comrade Juliana Bitrus; the FPMU, team; and staff of the SPMU.

Umuoji Gets New Town Union Executive As Muoemenam Emerges President General

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu (National Publicity Secretary- elect)

The members of Umuoji Improvement Union of Nigeria (UIUN) on Saturday, 20th September 2025, trooped out en masse at the Civic Centre (White House) to elect a new set of Executive that will pilot their affairs of the town union for the next three years.

The election, which started with accreditation of voters, head count, and then voting, had 292 delegates drawn from branches, Villages, Women wing, Umuokpu Adaora, Umuoji Youth Wing, Clubs, that make up the affiliate members of the Town Union.

The election adjudged by observers as peaceful, free, fair, and credible produced Chief (Sir) Cyril Ifeanyichukwu Muoemenam (Ichie Chinechendo) as the President General.

Sir Muoemenam, who is the incumbent President General, polled 243 to defeat his opponent, Chief Cosmos Ikeme (Ochiagha, Ichie Ugwunze), who polled 38 votes.

Names of other elected officers are follows: Hon. Chudi Chukelu: First Vice President General, Chief Emeka Egbueh, -Second Vice President General, Engr. Peter Okafor - Secretary General; Comrade Ashinze Nweje - Asst Nat Secretary General; Dr. Uchenna Udegbe - Financial Secretary General; Nwosu Obinna - Asst Financial Secretary 1; Nnadi Oluchukwu- Asst Financial Secretary 2; Azubuike Obum - National Treasurer; Hon. Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu, KSJI, Anipr -
National Publicity Secretary/Public relations Officer; Engr Chuks Odina - Chief Provost ; Nze Vincent Okeke-Akwa -Asst Provost 1; Mike Tochukwu Onwuachu - Asst Provost 2 and Chuka Igwilo - Social Welfare

Addressing newsmen after the election, the newly elected President General expressed delight with the comportment of the delegates, before, during, and after the election, thanking them for finding him and the other newly elected officers worthy to serve, adding that he would not betray their trust or abuse the privilege.

Chief Muoemenam, popularly known as Buluegwu, stated that he would make peace, unity, and progress his watchwords, calling on Umuojians to join him in his onerous task of completing and commissioning all the existing developmental projects in Umuoji and as well commence new ones.

He thanked the members of the Electoral Committee headed by Chief Obinna Nwachukwu for living up to expectations, saying that he was impressed with the way and manner the election was conducted.

He commended the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, for creating an enabling environment for all the communities in the state

Earlier in a remark, the Regent of Umuoji High Chief Dr Christopher Nnedu (Ichie Eze Odezuluigbo) congratulated the newly elected officers and charged them to work for the greater good of the community.

The election was monitored by observers from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

November 8 Guber Election: No Individual Interest
Worth Blood of Anambra People – Rotary Club International Urges Politicians

Rotary Club International has reminded the politicians in Anambra to place interests in the state above their individual ambitions ahead of Nov. 8 governorship election.

The Coordinator, Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAFGP), Anambra state chapter, Rtn Chido Obiudu stated this while briefing journalists on the national community violence reduction programme to mark 2025 International Peace Day.

The event had the theme – “Act Now for a Peaceful World”, and was organised by Rotary Clubs in Anambra, in conjunction with RAFGP.

It also featured road walk and flag-off of Anambra state grassroots peace and security assessment (Revalidation of conflict baselines).

Obiudu, who is also the Past Assistant Governor, regretted a campaign of calumny among major candidates of political parties.

He said no individual interest is worth the blood of a citizen.

He, however, called on political actors to sheath their swords and give peace a chance.

'We condemn the act in its entirety because it doesn’t speak good of the state we represent.

'Such actions can ignite violence. We advise all actors to sheath their swords and adopt better way of resolving matters.

'Anambra must come first. Your personal interest can’t be above the general interest of the people of the state.

'We must always bear in mind we’re Anambrarians regardless of your political affiliations.

'Let’s save this state through our actions by living and speaking peace in all we do,' he said.

Obiudu urged the government and governed to wear the cloth of peace and cultivate the culture of peace.

'Lots of things have gone wrong. If you know those wrong things you’re doing, it’s time to stop.

'Those who like taking laws into their hands should have a rethink and follow due process, just for peace to reign.

'It’s time to embrace peace, love peace, and share peace. It’s no longer business as usual. Let’s be law abiding to ensure a peaceful election.

'Those who win should be magnanimous in victory while the losers should accept defeat in good faith. Anambra must be first,'he said.

President, Rotary Club of Obowo, Rtn Ngozi Onuoha described negative peace as time bomb waiting to explode.

'We have negative peace all around us, which is akin to having a cold war underneath.

'We must do everything within our powers to convert it to positive peace,' she added.

UNIZIK Rotary president Rtn Chukwu Melchizedek urged youths to embrace peace.

He urged INEC ad-hoc workers in the governorship election to coordinate themselves properly before, during, and after the poll.

Earlier, President, Rotary Club of Awka metropolis, Rtn. Michael Bishop urged members to cascade the peace message to their various domains.

'We’re the peace crusaders who must carry the 8 pillar peace message.

'They include equity and justice down to the grassroots, namely our clubs, families, and communities,'he added.

November 8: Lack of Issue-based Campaign Worries LP Guber Candidate, Muoghalu, Flays Those Who Engage In Mudslinging, Campaign of Calumny

The Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State, Chief Dr George Muoghalu (Ohamadike), has expressed deep worry over what he described as lack of issue-based campaigns in the current dispensation, even as he flayed those who engaged in mudslinging and campaign of calumny.

The Labour Party's candidate for the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 202, wondered why some of the candidates would be washing their dirty linens in the public, describing as shameful and disturbing.

Muoghalu, a seasoned politician and former Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) who said that he had over three decades of experience in politics and public service urged the candidates to eschew name-calling, character assassination and dishonourable acts.

When asked if he would latch onto the present situation to garner more support, he said that his campaign strengths lie in his grassroots connections, reputation for integrity, saying that his experience in governance had positioned him as a serious and most acceptable contender

On his vision, Chief Muoghalu noted his vision focuses on economic development, improved infrastructure, and transformative leadership, emphasizing that he has received and continue to receive strong backing from former Anambra State Governor and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, acknowledging that it had boosted his campaign.

Muoghalu, who faced stiff competition from other parties, particularly the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed the hope that he would emerge victorious come November 8 2025.

Uyawune Remains Only Recognised, Authentic Anambra State President - NULGE Boss, Urges Soludo to Caution Aides

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The National President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Aliyu Haruna Kankara says that Comrade (Mrs) Eucharia Uyawune remained the only recognized, authentic and confirmed President of NULGE in Anambra State, emphatically said that anyone caught parading himself as the Union's leader in the state should be treated as an impostor.

The NULGE National President represented by the National Trustee, Comrade Muo Victor .C JP made this known to newmen in Awka. Kankara cautioned against interference in the affairs of NULGE by those he described as non members of the Union.

'INEC -In-Session frown and condemn the attitude of some appointees of Anambra State Government in meddling into the internal affairs of NULGE at the level of Anambra State by recognizing group of people who are not members. NULGE therefore calls on Anambra State Governor ,Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo to caution all his appointees who are handling Local Government Affairs to desist from interfering in the Union matter. This is a precondition to guarantee industrial peace and harmony,' he pleaded.


He affirmed the following names as the members of Anambra state Administrative Council of the Union. The officers are as follows: Comrade Mrs. Uyawune Eucharistic- Acting State President, Comrade Atienyu Chimezie - Treasurer, Comrade Chine Nweseh - State Audit, Comrade Chukwudum Nwafor - State Auditor, Comrade Patrick Ononye - State Trustee, Comrade Peter Nwisu - State Trustee , Comrade Nnamdi Nweke - State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Uche Nworah - State Welfare Officer, Comrade Adaeze Adeniyi Uju - State Welfare Officer, Comrade Patrick Uzor - State Welfare Officer and Comrade Sylvester Ifediora - State Young Workers Rep.

Niger State Qualifies Among 23 NEWMAP-EIB Beneficiary States

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

Niger State has officially qualified as one of the 23 beneficiary states selected to participate in the Nigeria Climate Adaptation, Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB). The initiative, supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB), seeks to combat soil erosion, curb land degradation, and deliver interventions that will improve the livelihoods of vulnerable communities across the state.

This was contained in a release signed by the Communication Specialist
(NEWMAP-EIB), Madina Gertrude Kune

The project is designed to reduce vulnerability to soil erosion in targeted sub-watersheds, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance community well-being.

Announcing this development during a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency Alhaji Dr. Umaru Mohammed Bago (represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu), on Monday in Minna, the National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalak, represented by Natural Resource Specialist, Kingsley Nwawuba confirmed that Niger State had met all conditions for participation.

These include the availability of counterpart funding, office space, Staff, operational vehicles, amongst others, which now qualify the state to benefit from disbursement under the EIB-supported initiative.

While commending Niger State for its readiness, Nwawuba appealed to the state government to ensure the timely release of the full counterpart funds to the State Project Management Unit (SPMU), noting that this will strengthen the Project Management Unit efficiency.

As part of the Scoping Mission, the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) delegation conducted inspections of priority erosion sites at Keteren Gwari, M.I. Wushishi Estate, FUT–Hayin Gwari, and Keteren Gwari by Mechanic Village. These sites were listed due to their high-risk status.

“The erosion sites pose a serious threat to lives, homes, and critical infrastructure, requiring urgent intervention,” Nwawuba noted.

He further commended Governor Bago for demonstrating strong political will in prioritizing environmental resilience, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development for the benefit of the people of the State.

In his response, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu, reaffirmed Niger State’s commitment to the success of the NEWMAP-EIB project.

"Niger State, the largest in land mass, has long been impacted by water-related challenges. The NEWMAP-EIB project is therefore both timely and strategic. We are delighted that, through this visit, the state has qualified to participate and access funding from the Bank—for the benefit of our people and the country at large,” he stated.

He also assured the delegation that all pending concerns raised during the visit would be addressed promptly.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of Communications and Digital Economy, who also oversees the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Abubakar Sadiq Musa, pledged the ministry’s full support, stressing the project’s strategic importance in advancing the state’s environmental and developmental priorities.

The State Project Coordinator, Mallam Usman Garba Ibeto, described the FPMU visit as long-awaited and expressed gratitude to the Governor and authorizing environment for creating an enabling environment to make the milestone possible.

With the successful completion of the Scoping Mission Niger State is now well positioned to benefit from EIB environmental intervention funds, marking a critical milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to tackle ecological degradation.

Also in attendance were specialists from the FPMU as well as staff of the State Project Management Unit.

Anambra, Among 4 States to Waive Right-of-Way (RoW) Fees for Fibre Deployment, As CFA Hails Soludo

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The MD/CEO of Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA) says a recent TechCabal report underscored a key truth in Nigeria’s digital landscape, stating that many states pledged to waive Right-of-Way (RoW) fees for fibre deployment, but only four have truly delivered.

According to the MD/CEO, Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), Anambra State, is proud to be one of them.

'Under the visionary leadership of Governor Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, Anambra has upheld its zero RoW policy and is already witnessing the rewards: fresh investments, accelerated broadband access, and growing confidence from stakeholders.

'This success is no accident. It reflects the clear focus and hard work of the Anambra State Physical Planning Board and the Anambra State ICT Agency, the two MDAs driving this policy with dedication and consistency.

'Today, Anambra stands as a model for the rest of the country: proof that when policy promises are matched with real execution, the benefits to citizens, businesses, and investors are undeniable.

'Together, we are building a stronger, more connected, and inclusive digital future,' he concluded.

Mayor Salutes APGA Idemili North Campaign Council Members, Charges Them to Justify Inclusion, Assures On Landslide Victory Come November 8


By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The soft-spoken but action-packed Mayor of the most populous and densely populated Council Area, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka (Ochendo Idemili) has congratulated the newly inaugurated APGA Idemili North Campaign Council members.

Congratulating the members, the Council Boss charged them to work assiduously towards ensuring that the party emerged victorious in the fast approaching gubernatorial election, stating that anything short of landslide victory would be unacceptable, adding that the council had shown readiness and capacity by emerging first in the just concluded voter's cards registration.

The inimitable Mayor enjoined them to justify their inclusion by giving their best before, during, and after the election.

Some of the Campaign Council Members include, the former Mayor of Idemili North, Chief Obi Idemobi (Chinechendo)– Chairman, Idemili North Campaign Council, the Mayor of Idemili North, Chief Stanley Nkwoka (Ochendo Idemili) -Co-Chairman, Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, PhD, Hon. Clem Chukwuka (Omenife Ogidi) – MD, ASBA, Hon. Phina Onwuachu ( Deputy Mayor Idemili North), Hon. Bob-Manuel Udokwu – Special Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment, Hon. Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Ibezi (Ochiagha Idemili), Hon. Chief Lemmy Ekwo -APGA LGA Chairman, Idemili North, Chief A.A. Anagu (Ichie), Hon. Veraqueen Okonkwo – Former SPAD to the Governor, Chief ChuksBrown Igbonua (Ezeoba) – Former TC Chairman, Idemili North, Hon. Barr. Titus N. Akpudo (Ichaka – Egbe Eji Gbu Agu) – State Marshal General, ASSMAL, among others.

Ekwunife's Outburst: I am Preoccupied With School Resumption - Nonye Soludo, Says She Never Replied Her, Denies Meeting Mbadinuju



By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

Following the recent Outburst of Senator Uche Ekwunife, the wife of the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nonye Soludo (Mmiliguruegu) says she too preoccupied with school resumption and can not dignify her with a response.

The Governor’s wife who made this disclosure through her official Facebook handle described the Ekwunife's Utterances as fabrications

Her words, 'My attention has just been drawn to a post going round that Mrs Soludo replied Ekwunife. Not at all! I am too busy with my children as schools resume. Besides, I can’t condescend to replying inanities and fabrications. An Igbo adage says that you don’t exchange words with a madman, otherwise the passersby will not know the difference.

'For the records, I never met Dr Mbadinuju of blessed memory. NEVER! As for the other fabrications—-PITIABLE and LAUGHABLE,' he concluded

State Administrative Council Celebrates NLC Boss, Nwafor On His Birthday, Hails Leadership Qualities


By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu


The State Administrative Council of the organized labour in Anambra State recently at the office celebrated the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Anambra State Council, Comrade (Sir) Humphrey Emeka Nwafor on his birthday anniversary celebration.

The SAC members came out in their numbers to organize a mini party for their leader and showered him with encomuims and prayers, describing him as Leader's leader and a man imbued with enormous wisdom and understanding.

Speaking during the event, the Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Chris Ogbonna described Comrade (Sir) Nwafor as an experienced leader and mobilizer par excellence, saying that he would continue to identify with him, even as he prayed God to keep protecting and sustaining him.

Also speaking, the former NLC and NUT Chairman, Comrade Chief Anthony Ugozor, JP, shared some memorable moments with the celebrant, stating that Sir Nwafor had endeared himself to the people's hearts with his all-inclusive and proactive leadership.

Earlier in his prayers, the Parish Priest of St. Jude's Catholic Church, Awka Reverend Father Francis Michael Enyosiobi, PhD, asked God to bless Comrade (Sir) Nwafor and his family, describing him as a committed and selfless parishioner.

Responding to all the eulogies and words of prayers, the NLC supremo flanked by his wife, Lady Angela Nwafor, PhD, who is a lecturer at With the Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Management Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, thanked all those who attended the celebration, saying that he was overwhelmed with joy seeing a whole lot of Comrades, Priests, friends and well-wishers commending and appreciating him, noting that their goodwill messages would spur him on to do further exploits as the Leader of organized labour in Anambra State.

Idemili-North Presidents-General Celebrate , Honour Immediate Past Leaders, Mayor Attends As Special Guest

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

Idemili-North Presidents-General, led by Chief Peter Onyejegbu, President-General of Uke Development Union, recently bid farewell to their immediate past Presidents-General in a grand ceremony.

The event was attended by serving Presidents-General from various communities, including:
- Barr. Chiemezie Obi (Obosi)
- Chief Dr. Julian Obiora (Eziowelle)
- Chief Ejike Okafor (Abacha)
- Chief Hon. Ikwuka Okoye (Ogidi)
- Sir Olikaeze Rodney (Oraukwu)
- Engr. Okoye Paul Chidubem (Ideani)
Representative of Nkpor PG

Former Presidents-General honoured include:
- Barr. Titus Akpudo-Eziowelle (former National President of ASATU)
- Chief Sir Emeka Mbagha-Nkpor,
- High Chief Sir Lawrence Okoye (Abatete)
- High Chief. Chuka Onubuogu (Ogidi)
- High Chief Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke (Abacha)
Arch. Sir Shedrach Onwuasoanya (Oraukwu)

During the ceremony, the past Presidents-General shared their experiences and offered valuable advice to the current leaders, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace with traditional rulers.

A moment of silence was observed to honour the memories of two former Presidents-General from Obosi and Umuoji, who tragically lost their lives during their tenure.

The ceremony featured a sumptuous feast and presentation of gift items to the past Presidents-General. Unfortunately, Mayor of Idemili North, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka, who was invited as the special guest, was unavoidably absent due to an emergency appointment. However, Engr. Chidubem Paul Okoye, the current secretary to Idemili North Local Government Area and President-General of Ideani, presented the gifts on his behalf.

The event showcased the strong bonds and camaraderie among the Presidents-General of Idemili-North, celebrating their collective commitment to the progress and well-being of their communities.

Onitsha Incident: We Did Not Approve Operation - MD OCHA Brigade

...Says Those Involved Are Now Into Custody, Will Be Handed Over to Police, DSS for Thorough Investigation.



By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The Managing Director and the Chief Supritendent Officer of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra State (OCHA Brigade), Mr Celestine Anere, says his Agency did not approve the Onitsha incident operation, noting that the unapproved act negates the principles and standards they were known for, even as he sympathezied with the victims of the ugly incident.

Comrade Anere made this known to the public in Onitsha while paying a visit to all the victims of the ugly and the avoidable incident, emphasizing that the actions of the personnel were a direct opposite of the standards guiding the operations of the Brigade, adding that those involved have been taken into custody and would be handed over to the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) for thorough investigation.

Mr Anere reiterated that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration remained on top gear in its efforts to entrench discipline, restore sanity, and ensure a clean, green, and livable Anambra

He assured that any staff found culpable will face decisive sanctions while reaffirming that all enforcement activities of the OCHA Brigade must strictly align with the law establishing the agency

Guber: Release of Total Number of New Registrants By INEC: Idemili North Mayor Hails Residents for Scoring Highest, Emerging First With Wide Margin

....Pleased With Performance, Wants Numbers Translate to Votes


By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu


Following the release of the final register of voters for the Anambra State governorship election on Thursday, 4th September 2025, the Mayor of Idemili North Local Government Area, Chief Stanley Nkwoka (Ochendo), has showered encomuims on the residents of Idemili North for heeding to his calls and actions, which he said, culminated in the local government emerging first in the just concluded exercise and as well maintaining its pole position as the only L.G.A with highest number of registered voters in the state.

Speaking immediately after the release was made public by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the results- Oriented Mayor expressed delight with the performance of the people of Idemili North, saying that constant and robust sensitization and mobilization across all polling units and wards paid.

The visibly happy Mayor urged Ndi Idemili North to turn the unprecedented numerical strength into massive votes for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) come November 8th gubernatorial election in Anambra State, saying that he would be more that happy to see the number of registered voters vote on election day.

'We are working together to ensure that we equally record the highest number of votes on election day,' Hon. Stanley Chigbo Nkwoka, also known as Idi Akusinachi, concluded

INEC had through the
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun mni on Thursday, 4th September 2025, released the final register of voters for the 2025 Anambra State Governorship Election.

'The distribution of the new figures by Local Government Area shows that Idemili North with 246,318 (8.79%) has the highest number of voters, followed by Awka South with 216,611 (7.73%) and Ogbaru with 188,016 (6.71%). On the other hand, Dunokofia and Anambra West have 83,580 (2.98%) and 71,332 (2.55%) registered voters, respectively.

'In continuation of preparations for the forthcoming Anambra State Governorship Election, the Commission carried out voter registration in the 326 Wards across the State from 8th to 20th July 2025. During that period, *168,187* citizens registered as new voters.

'At the end of the registration exercise, the Commission earmarked a period of one week (26th July to 1st August) to display the list of new registrants in all the Wards for claims and objections by citizens in the spirit of Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

'Furthermore, the Commission scrutinised the list using the *Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS)* to detect invalid registrations. At the end of the process, *27,817* records were found to be double or multiple registrations and removed from the list.

'Consequently, the figure for new registrants now stands at *140,370* while valid applications for transfer into the State is *5,983*, making a total of 146,353 new voters

Prior to the recent voter registration, Anambra State had 2,656,437 registered voters. With the new registrants, the voters roll for the state now stands at 2,802,790.

'The distribution of new voters by Local Government Area is uploaded to our website and other official platforms for public information.

'We wish to assure new voters in Anambra State as well as those who applied for transfer or replacement of their lost or damaged Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) that their cards will be ready for collection well ahead of the Governorship Election holding in the next 63 days on Satruday 8th November 2025.

Umunze Progressives Union Awka Branch Visits Idemili North Mayor, Describes Him As Worthy In-law, Presents Protrait

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The inimitable Mayor of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Stanley Nkwoka, KSJI (Ochendo) recently received the executive members of Umunze Progressives Union (UPU) ,Awka Branch who called on him in his office at the Council's Headquarters, Ogidi.

Speaking on the essence of the visit, the President of Umunze Progressive Union (UPU), Awka Branch, Mr. Ikechukwu Aniebo noted that they came to felicitate with their in-law for emerging as the number one citizen of the most populous and densely populated Council Area in Southeastern Nigeria and also to commend and appreciate him for making them proud as well as for bringing about government closer to the people of Idemili North.

Mr. Aniebo, who was accompanied by other executive members of the branch, said that from what they have gathered from the residents of Idemili North, the Mayor is doing marvellously well, even as they urged him to sustain the tempo.

'We are here to identify with our In-law and also to encourage him to continue with his good works and not to relent at all. We are proud of him. He is a worthy in-law. Our sister and ndi Idemili North are in the safe hands. We are happy to have him as our son-in-law,' Aniebo concluded.

The group, while extolling the Mayor, thanked him for the warm reception given to them and also presented a portrait to him as a mark of honour and appreciation.

Receiving his In-laws, the People's Mayor expressed delight with their visit, saying that the visit and honour done him would motivate and encourage him to continue to render undiluted service to the residents of Idemili North.

UIUN NEC Immortalizes Late PG, Chief Sly Onyima, Names Umuoji Township Stadium After Him

....Gesture Greeted With Massive Commendations


By Hon. Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Umuoji Improvement Union of Nigeria (UIUN) on Saturday, 30th August 2025, during the Special Assembly meeting of the Union named the popular Umuoji Township Stadium after the late President General, Chief (Sir) Sly Onyima (Ichie Ogidi).

Making the pronouncement at the floor of the Civic Centre, the President General of Umuoji, Chief (Sir) Ifeanyi Muoemenam (Ichie Chinechendo) said the hitherto known as Umuoji Township Stadium would now be called Chief Sly Onyima Memorial Stadium, Umuoji, stating that the gesture was to preserve his legacy.

According to Chief Muoemenam, 'It has been over eighteen months since our devoted President General, Chief Sly Onyima (Ichie Ogidi), was brutally murdered on February 23, 2024. His passing remains a deep wound in our hearts. Chief Onyima was a man of vision and service. His mission was to honour God and uplift the community. Passionate, courageous, and focused, he pursued development with unshakeable determination. Elected in 2020, he achieved in one year what had not been done since 1926. He built the Civic Centre in just ten months, added a whole lot to the already developed OkoduUltra Modern Market, rebuilt the burnt post office, and initiated the Umuoji Township project.

'To preserve his legacy, the NEC has resolved to name the Stadium Chief Sly Onyima Memorial Stadium, Umuoji. We seek this Assembly's affirmation of that honour,' the President General concluded.

Affirming the NEC's decision, which was greeted with a thunderous applause from all those present at the meeting, the Regent of Umuoji, High Chief Dr. C. O. Nnedu (Ichie Eze Odezuluigbo) described it as thoughtful, laudable, and befitting.

Presidents and representatives of the branches, as well as other well-meaning Umuojians, took turns to eulogized the UIUN leadership, describing the move as apt and timely.

Responding on behalf of Onyima's family, the former President General of Umuoji, High Chief Festus Onyima (Ikemba Umuoji) thanked UIUN NEC for taking what he described as a bold and courageous step towards immortalizing the late icon, saying that the act served as a soothing relief to their souls

On Igweship Tussle, the President General, Chief (Sir) Ifeanyi Muoemenam (Ichie Chinechendo) explained that on the 25, 2025, Hon. Justice Chudi Nwankwo of Ogidi High Court (I) ruled that the town union must conduct a fresh run-off election for a new Igwe within 28 days and that they (UIUN leadership) promptly notified the authorities and paid the required 100,000 Naira levy to secure a date.

He, however, said that on the 8th of August 2025, the UIUN leadership received a notice of appeal and motion for stay of execution, saying that given the short time frame, they sought legal advice from the Attorney General and the Commissioner for Local Government, Town Union and Chieftaincy Matters and they both advised them in writing to suspend the process until the motion is heard, emphasizing that the process had been halted until further notice.

On the issue of branch and village elections, the President General stated that the NEC received what he described as troubling reports of some branches and villages conducting elections without notifying the NEC , as required by Article 21(L) of the Constitution, describing their actions as unconstitutional and invalid.

'The NEC will not permit any group to undermine our guilding documents. Those concerned should take immediate steps to rectify this by contacting the Secretariat. The purported elections stand null and void until properly regularized,' Chief Muoemenam, popularly known as Buluegwu, admonished.

SWM Coordinator, Akunna Mobilizes Umuoji Women for Soludo’s Re-election

... Preaches Solution Message, Plans Mega Rally


By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

As the November 8th governorship election in Anambra State draws nearer, the State Coordinator of Soludo Women Movement (SWM), Dr. Mrs Ngozi Ezeanya Akunna has taken it upon herself to mobilize and preach the Solution's message to all the women from the twenty-three villages that made up Umuoji who own voter's cards and ready to cast their votes on election day.

Dr. Ezeanya Akunna who recently at Umuazu Village Hall, hosted over 160 women representing the 23 villages in Umuoji to an interactive meeting stated that the Governor had done well in all facets of the state’s economy, especially on infrastructure, road construction, refurbishing and building of brand new Government house, Governor’s Lodge, general hospitals, bridges, modern motor parks, employment of teachers, health workers, youths empowerment, among others.

Interfacing with the representatives of the villages during the meeting, the State Coordinator of Soludo Women Movement (SWM) noted that they were out to strategize on how best to capture and deliver the entire community for Governor Chukwuma Soludo (Olu atu egwu) whom she described as a selfless and strong-willed leader, saying that she is here to contribute her quota towards ensuring that all the women in Umuoji vote massively for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) come November 8th 2025, emphasizing that Governor Soludo deserved to be returned for the second tenure in office.

According to her, she had before now embarked on door to door mobilization movement where she canvassed support for the Governor and also to ensure that no woman in Umuoji would be left out or found missing on election day, adding that her aim was to have everyone preach the Solution's message and be ready to vote for continuity.

Dr. Ngozi Ezeanya Akunna, while addressing the women's representatives, announced that she had met with virtually all the APGA Umuoji Ward stakeholders and informed them of her plans to organize a town hall meeting with all the women in Umuoji who are eligible voters who owned voter's cards and ready to cast their votes on the 8th of November 2025.

'I am preparing to have a mega rally with over 1000 eligible women voters in Umuoji before the Nov 8 election. We will use it to lap up the campaign for Soludo’s second tenure in the office. We want all the voters in Umuoji to vote for Soludo. We have been meeting, and we even met again on Monday, 1st September 2025,' she concluded.

The State Coordinator of Soludo Women Movement (SWM) was accompanied to the meeting by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Women's leader, Lady Chigozie Adibe.

RoW Waiver: The Hidden Backbone of Anambra's Digital Revolution - Anambra State ICT Agency MD/CEO - Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA

By Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA

Across Nigeria, one of the biggest hurdles to broadband expansion has been the prohibitive cost of Right of Way charges: the fees telecom operators must pay to lay fibre-optic cables across state-owned land, which drastically slows down digital infrastructure rollout.

In 2022, one of the earliest and boldest steps taken by Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, was the removal of the Right of Way (RoW) charges for laying broadband fibre across Anambra State.

At the time, it may have seemed like a quiet policy move, but in reality, it laid the foundation for the state’s ongoing digital transformation journey.

The logic behind this move is simple but powerful. By waiving RoW charges, the administration sent a clear message to telecom operators, broadband providers, and investors: Anambra is open for digital business.

This single decision has paved the way for fibre-to-home deployment, the expansion of 5G infrastructure, and faster, more reliable internet across communities, ultimately boosting the ease of doing business.

Perhaps one of the most visible testaments to this visionary policy is the ongoing roll-out of the “Solution Free Wi-Fi” initiative, which is democratizing internet access for students, traders, civil servants, and everyday citizens, alongside the digitization of government processes that are making service delivery faster and more transparent.

Anambra is reaping the dividends of a forward-thinking approach.

What seemed impossible a few years ago is now a lived reality: Teachers are being equipped with digital tools, enhancing lesson delivery and preparing students for a technology-driven future.

Civil servants now work with smarter systems, making the civil service more efficient, transparent, and responsive to citizens, while young innovators are finding an enabling environment to create solutions and businesses that improve lives and shape the future.

What began as a policy shift has cascaded into practical, people-centred benefits that are redefining how Anambra learns, works, and governs.

This backbone is also unlocking new opportunities in telemedicine, e-learning, smart agriculture, and more. In short, the Soludo-led administration’s decision aligns perfectly with the governor’s vision of building a liveable and prosperous megacity, anchored on technology.

More notably, Anambra’s forward-thinking move aligns it with both national and global best practices. In Nigeria, states like Lagos, Ekiti and Kaduna that reduced or eliminated RoW fees saw significant surges in broadband penetration and digital services. Internationally, countries like Kenya and Rwanda demonstrate how lowering barriers for telecom operators fuels widespread connectivity, attracts investment, and spurs innovation.

Anambra’s decision places it firmly within this league of forward-looking regions, positioning the state as not just a beneficiary of technology but a driver of digital growth in Nigeria.

This is not just about cables in the ground, it’s about creating an ecosystem where technology thrives and opportunities multiply.

Anambra is proving that the future truly belongs to states that embrace technology not as a slogan, but as a strategy.

The state’s journey toward becoming a digital hub in Nigeria is still unfolding, but the foundation has been laid, strong and unshakable, by a single, daring choice.

COPRECEON Honours NOCEN Provost With Best Provost (State), South East Colleges of Education Award


Dedicates It To Governor Soludo, Governing Council, Management, Staff, Students of NOCEN

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The Provost of Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, Dr. Justina Anyadiegwu has been honoured with the prestigious Best Provost (State), South East Colleges of Education Award by the Association of Public Relations Officers.

According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NOCEN, Benny Egbunonu mnipr, the award presentation took place on Monday, 1st of September 2025, at the Ukeje Hall NCCE, Abuja during the COPRECEON 28th Anniversary.

The organisers said the recognition celebrated Dr. Anyadiegwu’s visionary leadership, her commitment to educational innovation, and her role in driving the ongoing digital, administrative, and structural transformation at NOCEN.

In her acceptance speech, the Provost dedicated the award to the Executive Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, whom she said his bold and transformative policies, visionary thinking, deep passion, and commitment to education had continued to shape reforms in the College.

She further dedicated the award to the Governing Council, Management, staff, and students of NOCEN, describing them as the true backbone of the College’s successes.

“This award is not about me, but about us all,” Dr. Anyadiegwu remarked. “From the Governor’s vision to the management’s support, from the staff’s dedication to the resilience of our students, this recognition belongs to the NOCEN family.”

The award underscores NOCEN’s growing reputation as a center of excellence in teacher education, innovation, and digital transformation in the South East.

Other recepients are the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof Paulinus Okwelle ( Excellent Leadership Award); Prof Josephine Anene Okeakwa (Best Provost, South South); Dr Sule Mandi, Provost, College of Education, Zuba ( Best Provost, North Central) among others.

Anambra 2025: Ukachukwu Vows to Take Ndi Anambra to Long Expected Promise land

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The Anambra State Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the fast approaching November 8, 2025 election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, (Ikukuoma) has vowed to take the state and her citizens to the long expected promise land

This was contained in a release signed by Chuks Collins and made available to Newsmen in Awka

Addressing journalists at an enlarged interactive session at the weekend in Awka, Ukachukwu disclosed that his main desire was to lift the State from the present atmosphere of uncertainty and despair to a surefooted secure, peaceful and prosperous environment.

He noted with sadness that despite all the high hopes and great expectations what the people had lived with in the last four years was a brutish life of barefaced insecurity, leadership/governmental insincerity, disappointment and failure.

More so, multiple layers of armed brigands under various guises christened ASTA, Aka-odo, tax masters, etc have continued to plague the people's sanity and peace.

That it has been such that no one is sure to return home with his or her limbs, cash and life any day in today's Anambra State.

The APC flagbearer therefore promised to save the situation , save the people and restore the lost glory of the state by tackling insecurity, revitalizing all sectors of the economy, and accelerate the development of all communities especially along the lines of their comparative advantages.

Ukachukwu, the man popularly called Ikukuoma (Wind of Glory) pointed out that currently Anambra is not working, hence urgently needs a transformative leadership with agenda premised on all-inclusive security network, infrastructural development and general/massive sectoral economic growth.

Anchoring hopes on the belief that no society makes any progress in the face of insecurity, Ukachukwu declared, "when elected, I will restore security and the confidence that Anambra was once known for within the first ninety days.
"I will attract our youths back home through industrial development and sustainable job creation and provision. I will fight criminalities, social vices, restiveness and insecurity with jobs provision"

“As insecurity has become the greatest threat to our State's development and progress, such that our people are no longer returning home, and investors are scared to do business here, Companies are not springing up because of fear and fear kills enterprise", we are coming very prepared", Ukachukwu stated.

He further outlined his key priorities, including reliable electricity, agricultural transformation, and infrastructure renewal.

Ukachukwu revealed plans to harness the state’s natural gas deposits so as to drive power generation, describing electricity as the “engineroom of economic development.”

“Electricity is central to any meaningful economic transformation, will tap into our gas reserves to generate power, but with a people-first approach.

"The energy infrastructure will be owned by the people, not by government monopolies. We want the people to take ownership , economically and psychologically,” he added.

Ukachukwu equally promised a comprehensive upgrade of the health system, pledging to establish a health centre in every community and a general hospital in each local government are where highly qualified medical personnel would be engaged to ensure effective healthcare delivery across the state.

Speaking further, Ikukuoma noted that “Healthcare is not a luxury; it’s a right. We must stop treating it like a privilege for the few. Under my administration, every citizen will have access to basic and specialized healthcare,” he said.

He promised not to disappoint the people of when entrusted with the mandate, vowing to restore the dignity of the state as the “Light of the Nation.”

“I have invested heavily in Anambra because I believe in this state. I plan to retire in my village. My commitment is personal. Investors are staying away because things are not working ,but when we fix the system, companies will come, and our youths will be employed again.”he stated.

Idemili North Mayor's Wife Congratulates Governor Soludo’s Wife On Her First Lady of the Year Award


By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu


The wife of the Mayor of Idemili North local government area, Lady Ebere Nkwoka (Ugosimba), has celebrated the wife of the Governor of the state, Dr. Nonye Soludo (Mmiliguruegu), on her recent First Lady of the Year Award recognition.

Lady Nkwoka, who spoke to journalists at the Council's Headquarters Ogidi over the weekend, described Mrs. Soludo as an epitome of greatness, humility, simplicity, and a beacon of hope, whose contributions to the development of the state are unquantifiable.

While extolling the qualities of Dr. Nonye Soludo for her pet project tagged, ‘HealthyLivingWithNonye Soludo, Lady Nkwoka said the dream and vision of the pet project are channelled towards ndi Anambra, especially the women across the 21 local government areas of the state, pointing out that it is worth emulating.

According to her, 'I, on behalf of my husband, family, the government, and the good people of Idemili North local government, hereby congratulate our dear mother, Dr. Nonye Soludo. We wish you a hearty congratulations on your well-deserved award.

“It is our prayer that as you celebrate your uncommon award may the good Lord in His infinite mercy continue to bless, protect and keep you for us with sound health and grant you more wisdom to handle the enormous tasks towards the people of Anambra State as a mother for all.

“Dr. Nonye Soludo has, for the three years and half shown to the people of Anambra State, her immense support given to our daddy and leader, Governor Chukwuma Soludo, in his desire to make Anambra a great state for all. We are solidly behind the Anambra State number one family,' Lady Nkwoka assured.

Vice-Chancellorship Appointment at COOU: Osegbue, Odinkalu Dare Gov. Soludo, Head to Industrial Court

~ University Progressives extol Soludo’s decision for refusing to appoint a Professor without a "Curriculum Vitae" as Vice Chancellor of COOU

A contention has arisen surrounding the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU). Professor Chike Osegbue and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu are questioning the discretionary authority of Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, in confirming the appointment of Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha as the institution's Substantive Vice-Chancellor.

The Visitor of the University, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, had in a personal letter to the Pro-Chancellor dated 4th August, 2025 and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, provided a justification for his choice of Prof. Omenugha. While exercising that powers, the Governor noted that the laws of the University provided sufficient grounds for his choice to be respected.

The letter which was published by "Pen of the gods" blogs on 5th August, 2025, reads in part;

"... The Visitor commends the Council for the elaborate and rigorous process (as documented in the Report of the Joint Committee) pursuant to Ordinance II of the University Law 2014. The Visitor is satisfied that the process has been transparent and credible..."

"... In particular, the Visitor notes that nine out of 18 candidates that applied for the position were shortlisted and interviewed by the Council. The Visitor appreciates that the Report of the Joint Committee Includes Annex VI (Scoring Sheet-Master Sheet) for all the nine candidates. The Visitor is Impressed by the fact that 6 out of the 9 candidates scored over 70% (which is "A" Grade according to the University scoring system) and this attests to the high quality of the candidates..."

"... The Visitor notes that the three names in the "recommendation" by the Council, pursuant to Ordinance II(4) (d) simply follows the order of the scores. Paragraph 1 of the Statute VI in the First Schedule to the Law provides that the Vice-Chancellor shall be a Professor appointed by the Visitor "after considering" (but not limited to) the recommendation in that behalf from a Joint Committee of the Council and the Senate..."

"... Given the discretionary powers of the Visitor, he is satisfied that anyone of the 6 candidates with "A" Grade as scored by the Council and Senate Committee has the competence and qualification to do the job..."

"... In making a decision, the Visitor has been guided by the Score Sheet of the Council, the state of the University and need for fundamental reforms as well as its prospects. Coincidentally, among the 6 candidates scored "A" by the Council and Senate Committee is the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha, who has been the Acting Vice Chancellor since 4th December 2023. Over the period of her stewardship, she has earned the Visitor's trust and reports from the University indicate that she is doing well. By scoring her an "A" Grade, the Governing Council and Senate Committee has confirmed the Visitor's impression..."

"... Consequently, the Visitor has decided that rather than appointing a new Vice-Chancellor, that the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha be confirmed as the substantive Vice-Chancellor to serve out the remainder of the term of five years with effect from December 4, 2023. In effect, she is confirmed as the Vice-Chancellor with a non-renewable five year term, with effect from 4th December 2023..."

"... Please accept the assurances of my highest regards and consideration at all times..." Soludo said.

Prof. Osegbue who allegedly working hand-in- hand with the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu have initiated legal action against the Governor's decision. They argue that the Governor's decision contradicts university regulations, particularly since Omenugha was not among the top three candidates recommended by the university selection committee, which was also chaired by Prof. Odinkalu.

The lawsuit is at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja seeking to nullify Prof. Omenugha's appointment and asserting that he was the leading candidate in the selection process. He demands judicial acknowledgment of his rightful place as Vice-Chancellor based on his ranking in the recommendations submitted by the university’s Council.

Professor Omenugha's confirmation was official on the 3rd of August 2025 after serving as the Acting Vice-Chancellor for approximately Seventeen months. Notably, she is recognized as Nigeria's second female professor of mass communications and has contributed significantly to the university’s growth, attracting various funding and projects during her tenure.

Interestingly, the Chairman of the University Council, Professor Odinkalu, who was appointed by Governor Soludo, through his actions and inactions, had preferred Osegbue for the role, expressing disappointment with the Governor's final decision. However, in terms of academic visibiliy and social standing, Prof. Omenugha towers above her competitors, underscoring her capability to drive positive change within the university.

In the forgoing, the COOU Progressives - collections of Academics in the University has endorsed Governor Soludo’s decision in what they called, fair, meritorious, and transparent. They questioned Prof. Odinkalu's disappointing politics in the University.

In a detailed publication signed by Prof. Innocent Nganga and Prof. Onyema Iloh, the group, wrote below;

"...First and foremost, we, the COOU Progressives (a recognised group of broad-minded academics at COOU with many years of service) wish, on behalf of the staff, students, and stakeholders of COOU, to thank Mr. Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo CFR, for rightly appointing Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha as the 5th substantive Vice-Chancellor. While we would ordinarily have resumed our duties with renewed zeal and commitment, it is important that we issue this communication to enable the public to appreciate Mr Governor for forestalling what would have been a power grab that could have collapsed this institution..."

"... The noise coming from a faceless group calling themselves the “COOU Collectives” and other desperate power-mongers is nothing but an act of desperation. Nobody in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University knows who they are, nobody can put a face to their name, and nobody has ever seen them in any meeting, lecture hall, or university function. They are simply an anonymous gang of frustrated individuals trying to mislead the public and drag our university back into the darkness of mediocrity. Their statement is full of falsehoods and outright lies, designed to attack the Governor for doing the right thing and to defend a process that was rotten from the very start. This is why we have chosen to come out and put the record straight..."

"... Let us be very clear. The so-called Vice-Chancellor selection process they are crying about was flawed from the moment it began. The vacancy advert itself (See 2nd January 2025 with a job advert in the Vanguard Newspaper) was issued without the approval of the University Council, which is a direct breach of the COOU Law. More importantly, the advert deliberately removed the nationally recognised requirement that any candidate must have been a professor for at least ten years. They could not even consider 5 years out of desperation. That clause was not omitted by mistake. Rather, it was removed on purpose to smuggle in certain favoured candidates who had not reached that level of academic and administrative maturity. Even when concerned staff raised the alarm and petitioned the Council Chairman (Prof. Chidi Odinkalu) to correct the illegality, he ignored them completely. This is how a process meant to be fair and open began with deception and illegality..."

"... From there, the so-called “search” for candidates was equally a sham. The Search/Nomination Committee, instead of casting the net wide to bring in the best academic minds from across Nigeria and beyond, was packed with loyal friends of the Council Chairman (Prof. Chidi Odikalu), including two of the eventual and favoured “top three” (Professors Chike Osegbue and Chukwudi Okani) who were already aware of the vacancy before anyone else. No serious academic outside COOU was contacted. No professional body was informed. Not even the courtesy of an advert in respected academic journals was extended. It was a closed shop, designed to keep out formidable competition and push forward a small inner circle..."

"... The Senate election that followed was equally disgraceful. In line with the law, Senate conducted its own election to choose three representatives for the Joint Selection Committee, and the results were clear. But suddenly, on the basis of a flimsy and baseless petition from only ten shameless people, the Council Chairman (Prof. Chidi Odinkalu) and the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, illegally intervened to cancel the lawful election. Unsurprisingly, they ignored the counter-petition signed by fifty-four Senators supporting the valid result. Instead, they forced the Senate to repeat the election under a strange, illegal formula, with Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh forcefully involving herself as “an observers” but eventually presiding over Professors and other senators as if they were schoolchildren. This was the first time in the history of COOU that outside political influence physically took control of Senate business, masterminded by the Council Chairman (Prof. Chidi Odinkalu) and the Commissioner for Education, Professor Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, who does not hide her envy and jealousy for Prof. Kate Omenugha given her marvellous performance as her immediate predecessor as Anambra Commissioner for Education for 8 consecutive years..."

"... When the Joint Selection Committee was finally arranged in line with the wishes of the Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, it was again done without the full University Council’s approval, which the university law demands. The membership was largely hand-picked by the Council Chairman, filled with people who could be relied upon to follow instructions. Moreover, when it came to setting the rules for the interviews, all objective and measurable criteria such as research output, international recognition, grants attracted, and tangible contributions to the university were quietly and strangely removed. Why? Because the favoured candidates of both Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh had almost none of these achievements. In their place, very vague and easily manipulated categories like “integrity” and “courage” were inserted, allowing Prof. Chidi Odinkalu and his loyalists in the committee to inflate or deflate scores at will. They even smuggled back into the race a candidate who had already been disqualified for failing to provide the required referee reports..."

"... It is important to look closely at the so-called “top three” names the COOU Collectives are defending who are not even “top three” in their respective departments, let alone the University. Professor Chike Osegbue, their “so-called number one”, has only thirty-one citations on Google Scholar, no publications in Scopus, and has not produced any research in the last seven years. He has never attracted a single research grant or delivered any project to COOU, and even the authenticity of his Doctorate degree and Professorship has been questioned respectively. Professor Chukwudi Okani has only one hundred and fifty-four Google Scholar citations, last published in 2021, and has also brought no grant or project to the university. Professor Leonard Onuba, with four hundred and eighty citations, has no grants, no projects, and little to show in terms of institutional development. These individuals will not even make senior lecturership in some Nigerian Universities at the moment but are masquerading as Professors instead of bowing their heads in shame and get to work to build their shallow career. We encourage you to personally go online and check their research and academic footprint as well as their professional profile to know why Mr. Governor deserves special appreciation..."

"... Now compare them with Professor Kate Omenugha, the person Mr Governor has rightly appointed. She has over seven hundred and fifty Google Scholar citations, multiple publications in respected outlets including Scopus, PhD Scholarship in the UK, international research grants worth over four hundred thousand euros, and at least ten tangible projects delivered to COOU during her time in office as Acting-Vice-Chancellor. Her work is current, her international standing is proven, and her contributions to the university are visible for all to see. In truth, there is no comparison!..."

"... Sadly and unfortunately, the scoring pattern of the interview itself further exposes the fraud stage-managed to favour the so-called “top three”. Professor Omenugha’s marks ranged wildly from sixty to ninety-one percent, a statistical spread so wide it can only mean deliberate downgrading by the hostile majority committee members. Meanwhile, the favoured candidates had conveniently narrow and consistent scores, proving coordinated inflation of marks. The entire exercise was an orchestrated charade to deliver a pre-selected outcome, not a genuine competition based on merit..."

"... Under the COOU Law, the Governor, as Visitor, is the final appointing authority. Faced with a contentious process riddled with illegality, bias, and manipulation, he had a duty to act. He could have rubber-stamped the sham selection committee and handed the future of COOU to men with no vision, creativity, no substance and empty CVs. Alternatively, he could choose to protect the integrity and future of the university by discarding the tainted report and appointing someone with a proven track record. Thankfully, he chose the latter, invoking Part VII, 38 (1) of COOU 2014 Law which empowers the Visitor to have the final decision on matters relating to Disputes, Appointments and Election in the university, and it was the right choice. We, therefore, entirely and wholeheartedly stand with Mr. Governor, disassociating ourselves from any mischievous and malicious individual or group trying to challenge the lawful action of the Visitor..."

"... The shameless and faceless COOU Collectives as well as other mischief-makers, hiding behind anonymity, have no moral right to lecture anyone on integrity or fairness. They have kept silent on the glaring breaches of the law committed by the Council Chairman and his allies, yet they pretend to care about rules when it suits their narrow and destructive interest. If the Prof. Chidi Odinkalu is not happy with the action of Mr. Governor, he should openly say so and follow the path of resignation from his position, instead of conniving with Prof. Chike Osegbue and his Cohorts to spread propaganda against Mr. Governor and dragging the name of the university in the mud. This truth is simple and already playing out. However, the university community has expectedly moved on since the confirmation announcement, while they sore losers are busy defending their cronies and their failed plot to smuggle unqualified candidates into the leadership of our university. God forbid!..."

"... We, the COOU Progressives and other genuine stakeholders of COOU comprising of staff, students, alumni, and all who care about the progress of the university, stand firmly with Mr Governor. In fact, we cannot thank Mr. Governor enough for his continued display of love and commitment for COOU and assure him of our support to the Solution Agenda for the benefit of Ndi Anambra. His decision was not only lawful but timely to save our university from academic mediocrity and hostile takeover. The future of COOU cannot and will not be shaped by anonymous schemers or manipulated processes. It is already being built by capable leaders with real achievements, and in Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha, we finally have one who is delivering transformative results with the 3Vs agenda of Values, Viability and Visibility. We hail and praise our great COOU, the Now University and of the Future!..." They concluded.

As this legal challenge unfolds, it remains to be seen how Governor Soludo will respond to the assertions made by Professor Chike Osegbue.

Impending Strike: FG Should Sign, Implement Renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, Pay Withheld 3+ Months Salaries, Promotion Arrears -ASUU Owerri Zone

-Makes Case for COOU, IMSU, Beckons On Stakeholders to Intervene, Says They Are Running of Patience

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Owerri Zone has pleaded with all well meaning stakeholders to assist in urging the Federal Government of Nigeria to do the needful by signing the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement, pay the withheld three and half months salaries, promotion arrears, remit 3rd party deductions, release the revitalization fund and significantly improve the education budget.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, August 2025, at the ASUU-NAU Secretariat domiciled inside UNIZIK, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Owerri Zone, Professor Dennis Aribodor urged the Nigerian Government both federal and states to as matter of urgency pay maximum attention to education by allocating 30 percent of the country's budget to education sector, announcing that no University in Nigeria made it into the 1000 universities world rankings, attributing the poor performance to underfunding, low patronage, neglect, lack of incentive, poor remunerations, and uninspiring welfare package, adding that their demands if met would guarantee industrial harmony in the universities.

The Zonal Coordinator argued that the 30% percentage, if implemented, would go a long way in addressing some of the challenges confronting public universities in the country, particularly issues relating to welfare and remuneration.

According to Prof. Aribodor, 'The press conference is also meant to inform the public of the possibility of an imminent industrial crisis in the public universities across the country because of the insincerity of government (both federal and states) in addressing the lingering issues in the Nigerian university system (NUS).

'As you may be aware, our Union has been drawing the attention of the federal government to and informing the public about the litany of problems bedevilling the NUS that require urgent attention.

'These problems include: Conclusion of the Re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement, Payment of withheld three and half months salary, Payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears, Payment of over four years promotion arrears, Payment of third party deductions (Union, Cooperative Societies & Loans), Release of Revitalization Fund for universities, Sustainable funding of public universities, Exit of Imo State University from Treasury Single Account among others. Regrettably, all these issues have not been addressed, and our members are disappointed and deeply worried. Re-negotiating the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

'The Renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement was due since 2012. Unfortunately, the renegotiation could not commence until 2017, which resulted in the Nimi Brigs Report of 2022.

'Following the new administration of the Federal Government in 2023, the Alh. Yayale Ahmend Committee was inaugurated, and the report of the Renegotiation was submitted in February 2025. Since the submission of the report in February 2025, the government has not processed the agreement for signing after six months.

'This ugly situation is quite troubling for our members as the agreement was meant to address major issues of welfare, including salary and important governance issues in our universities. From all indications, it appears that the government wants to jettison the principle of collective bargaining. Nigeria, as a signatory to the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention, can not disregard one of the core principles of the organization, which is the Collective Bargaining Agreement “CBA”.

'We call on stakeholders implore the government to sign the draft agreement. Payment of three and half months Withheld Salaries, Promotion Arrears, and Third Party Deductions.

'Gentlemen of the press, the labourer deserves his/her wages. And you cannot beat a child and ask him or her not to cry.The government felt that the best way to punish our member was to cease our salary during the 2022 ASUU nationwide strike. But the question is:What led to the strike? The strike was caused by the failure of the government to honour various agreements reached with ASUU as evidence in many Memoranda of Understanding and Memoranda of Action.

'If the government had implemented these agreements, would there be a strike? The answer is no. So, the government has no moral authority to continue to withhold our three and half month salaries.

The value of the money has grossly depreciated. We in ASUU Owerri Zone demand the immediate payment of all withheld salaries. We equally call on the government to immediately pay all arrears of third-party deductions. Salary payment is not complete without remittance of 3rd party deductions, and this is a criminal offence.

'Release of Revitalization Fund and Sustainable Funding for Our Universities in 2012, government set up a Needs Assessment Committee to determine the state of our public universities and what will be required to revitalize them for national response and global competitiveness.

'The report as of then (2012) stated that Nigeria public universities require about N1.3 trillion over a space of 6 years for revitalization. Apart from the N200 billion released to all public universities in 2014, virtually nothing has been released since then to address the rot.

'To tell you how bad it is, no Nigeria public university makes the first 1000 universities in the world in global ranking, whereas our counterparts in some African countries made the list. Is this not a shame for the giant of Africa, who should provide leadership in the education sector.

Similar to this is the very poor budgetary allocation to education by government, which hovers around 8% as against 15% stated in the APC Manifesto and 26% recommended by UNESCO.

'It is high time Nigeria government took adequate measures to fund education to accelerate all round development of the country. Nothing less than 26% is acceptable. Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF)ASUU Owerri Zone joins the National leadership of the Union in decisively rejecting TISSF. For us, TISSF is a poisoned chalice that should not be taken by our members.

'Our members are already deep in debt from loans and should not be burdened further. What is expected of government is to pay all our outstanding arrears, including the arrears of 25-35% wage award, and sign the Renegotiated Agreement.
This not loan will improve the lot of our members. Let us not forget that he who goes borrowing goes sorrowing. Government should not be the one pushing our members into sorrow.

'The pain of our members in State Universities in ASUU Owerri Zone. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University and Imo State University are the state universities in ASUU Owerri Zone, owned by the Anambra State Government and Imo State Government, respectively.

'Among the comity of state owned universities, these two universities are among the worst in terms of issues of welfare among our members when compared with state universities in other regions of the country. As an illustration, there is no implementation of 25-35% wage award, which commenced in 2022, and payment of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) in any of these two universities.

'The operation of Treasury Single Account in IMSU hampers academic activities and stifles progress in the university. Imo State University should be exited from Treasury Single Account in line with University Autonomy. These ugly situations, including the withholding of salaries of some of our members in COOU, are unacceptable to ASUU Owerri Zone.

'We therefore call on the visitors (who are the state Governors) and govern councils of these universities to urgently address welfare issues in these universities.

'In view of the above issues of great concern to our members and the university system, ASUU Owerri Zone hereby invites the general public to note that ASUU has patiently tried in several ways to get government to resolve the issues in contention. Regrettably, the government has not done the needful in addressing the issues, and our patience is exhausted.

The ASUU Owerri Zone comprises Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Awka, Anambra State.

Strike Looms As ASUU UNIZIK Chapter Protests Over Poor Salary, Welfare Package, Victimization


By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Chapter, last Tuesday protested what they described as a poor salary structure, victimization as well as poor welfare package.

The peaceful protest march was led by ASUU-NAU Chairperson, Innocent C. Nnubia, and Zonal Coordinator of the Union (ASUU Owerri Zone), Prof Dennis Aribodor, and a host of lecturers, marched through major roads in the university brandishing placards with various inscriptions.

The protesters marched from the ASUU Secretariat through to the Enugu-Onitsha highway and ended at the administrative blocks of the university, where they demanded audience with the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Carol Arinze-Umobi.

Addressing the acting Vice Chancellor of NAU at the Administrative Block of Awka Campus of the institution, 'ASUU is not a strike monger and doesn’t go on strike for the sake of strike, but any time it embarks on strike, there must be a critical issue.'

He stated that the ASUU members are tired of waiting for the settlement of their overdue entitlements, lamenting that the lecturers had been relegated to the background.

The ASUU-NAU Chairperson said ‘Three months ago at the National Secretariat, ASUU held a press conference and specifically raised the following issues: Conclusion of the Re-negotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN Agreement; immediate payment of three and half months withheld salaries; sustainable funding of our universities.

‘Others are revitalization of public universities; victimization of our colleges in LASU, KSU (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and FUTO; payment of outstanding 25-35% salary arrears; promotion arrears for over 4-year third party deductions.

‘The government made promises to address these issues, but regrettably, we are here to inform the general public, through our dear compatriots in the press, that these issues are still lingering.

He condemned the victimisation of ASUU members at Kogi State University, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University (COOU) and Federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, calling for peaceful resolution of their cases.

Responding, the Acting Vice Chancellor of UniZik, Arinze-Umobi, represented by a member of the Governing Council, Prof. Pius Okoye appreciated the patience and orderly manner of the protest.

Arinze-Umobi, however, promised that the institution would do everything humanly possible to liaise with the appropriate authorities on the need to address their demands and condemn the delay tactics being employed by the Federal Government.

Anambra ICT Agency MD/CEO, CFA, Reaffirms Soludo’s Digital Promise for Anambra

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The MD/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency and Convener of the Geeks and Founders Alliance for Soludo (GEFAS), Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, CFA, has reaffirmed the commitment to Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR’s pledge in the People’s Manifesto to transform Anambra into Nigeria’s digital and creative capital.

Speaking to newsmen at the Agency, CFA referenced Mr. Governor’s blueprint on page 19 of the manifesto, noting that the digital agenda is anchored on deliberate investments in infrastructure, digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, social development, and economic transformation through technology and the creative economy.

According to him, bold decisions such as the waiver of Right of Way fees have already unlocked broadband expansion, boosted digital capacity, and laid the foundation for a vibrant digital economy.

“With another four years, these gains will not only be deepened but will firmly position Anambra as Nigeria’s hub for digital innovation and the creative economy,” CFA stated.

He further emphasized that as Convener of GEFAS, the group remains committed to the 4 + 4 mandate, consistently taking the message to the people and reinforcing belief in the state’s digital future.

“With Mr. Governor, the digital promise is real. Solution continues, and Anambra is rising,” CFA affirmed.

Disbanding Agunechemba Outfit Without Providing Workable Alternative Will Spell Doom for Towns ,Villages - Okoli As ASTUC Youth Wing Holds Solidarity Rally


...Urges Govt to Rescind Decision


By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The National Youth Leader of Anambra State Town Unions Council (ASTUC), Youth Wing, Comrade Ken Okoli, says disbandment of Anambra State Vigilante Group otherwise known as Agunechemba outfit without providing a workable alternative will spell doom for towns and villages, even as he described it as ill-conceived and insensitive.

Comrade Okoli who made the call on Saturday, 23rd August 2025 during a peaceful solidarity rally in Awka organized in honour of Agunechemba Vigilante Group expressed strong opposition to the recent call for the disbandment Agunechemba. The solidarity rally had youths across the 21 Local Government Areas of the State in attendance.


The ASTUC Youth Wing Boss said the purpose of the march was to register the concerns of the youths regarding security in the state and to call for the protection of community-based vigilante structures that have been instrumental in grassroots security.

Receiving the youths at the Government House, the Chief of Staff to the Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Chief Ernest Ezeajuaghi commended the youths for conducting themselves peacefully while exercising their democratic rights, assuring them that their grievances and demands would be duly communicated to the Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, for consideration.

Earlier, Comrade Ken Okoli reiterated the critical role played by the Agunechemba Vigilante Group in safeguarding lives and property at the community level, stressing that disbanding the outfit without providing a workable alternative could expose towns and villages to security threats.

'The Agunechemba structure is not just about security; it is about community trust, cultural identity, and grassroots vigilance. We are here to urge government to reconsider the decision and sustain a system that has kept our communities safer,' Comrade Okoli said.

The rally commenced with a procession across major streets of Awka and culminated at the Anambra State Government House, also referred to as the Light House.

First Lady Of The Year Award: Soludo Congratulates Wife, Says
Her Passion, Dedication, Consistency Have Paid Off


By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

Following the First Lady of the Year Award given to the wife last night in faraway Abuja Nigeria, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has congratulated his wife, Dr. Nonye Soludo, even as he described her as a special being.

Governor who took to his social media handle to felicitate with his wife said he was proud and happy.

His words, 'Massive congratulations to my beautiful wife, Dr. Nonye Soludo, on winning the 'First Lady of the Year' award for Healthcare and Child Support last night in Abuja.

'Your passion, dedication, and consistency have paid off. I am so proud of you and the impact Healthy Living has made on countless lives.

'This award is a testament to your hard work and commitment to making Anambra and Nigeria a better place. I love you, my Queen,' he concluded.

Governor Soludo Moves To End Housing Deficit in Anambra, Inspects Golf Residency Estate

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu


In his bid to end the perennial housing deficit in Anambra State, Governor Chukwuma Soludo recently conducted a scheduled inspection visit to Golf Residency Estate in Awka.

Speaking during the visit, the Governor stated that the initiative was borne out of his administration's commitment to partner with the private sector to provide affordable and sustainable housing solutions for ndị Anambra.

Governor Soludo, during his visit to the expansive estate, which he said was part of the Awka 2.0 brand new city of the present administration, engaged with key stakeholders, including developers, government officials, and potential homeowners, to observe the ongoing developments and future projects aimed at improving housing accessibility in the region.

Earlier, the location Director of Rainbow Heritage Group, Developers of the Golf Residency Estate, Awka, Mr. Emeka Onwuocha explained that the estate featured a blend of modern architecture and green spaces, noting that it was envisioned as a model for future housing projects in the state.

The Golf Residency Estate, according to him, was expected to provide hundreds of housing units, ranging from affordable apartments to upscale villas, catering to diverse income brackets, and providing a broad spectrum of housing options as part of Governor Soludo’s strategy to ensure that no one was left behind in the quest for better living conditions.