₦airaland Forum

By Emeka Chiaghanam

A Call for Men to Become Partners in Women’s Leadership
Men have been urged to play a more active role in supporting women’s participation in politics and leadership at a HeForShe Activity Leadership Forum held in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The forum was organised by the Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) in collaboration with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

It brought together male spouses, community leaders, political actors, media practitioners and civil society organisations to explore ways of strengthening women’s representation in governance and building a more inclusive political environment.

The Organiser said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to encourage men to become allies in advancing gender equality, particularly in the political space where women continue to face multiple barriers.

Why Men Must Be Part of the Solution
Speaking at the forum, SIDEC’s Executive Director, Ugochi Agalaba Ehiahuruike, said the programme was designed to encourage men to actively support women seeking elective and appointive positions.

She explained that the forum specifically targeted male spouses and community influencers because of the important role they play in shaping public attitudes and social expectations.
“Today we are carrying out the HeForShe leadership workshop for male spouses to support women in elective and appointive positions and within the broader political ecosystem,” she said.

“The aim is to align men with women in promoting inclusive leadership.”

According to Mrs Ehiahuruike, men already occupy influential positions within families and communities as fathers, partners and leaders. Their support, she said, can help create an environment where women feel encouraged and supported to pursue leadership roles.

Challenging Deep-Rooted Cultural Stereotypes
A key focus of the forum was the need to confront cultural stereotypes and social attitudes that discourage women from entering politics.
Mrs Ehiahuruike noted that societal reactions to political ambition often differ sharply between men and women.
While men who declare political interests are usually praised or encouraged, women, especially younger candidates, may face criticism, stigma and derogatory labels.

“These kinds of reactions affect the mental health and well-being of women who are trying to achieve their political goals,” she said.
Despite these challenges, she noted that many women have demonstrated exceptional leadership across different sectors.
She cited Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as an example of how female leadership can make a significant impact at both national and global levels.
Mrs Ehiahuruike also pointed to the strong presence of women in managerial and financial roles within many public institutions, saying their performance in such positions shows their ability to manage resources and lead effectively.

Moving From Passive Support to Active Advocacy
At the heart of the HeForShe initiative is the belief that men must move beyond passive encouragement and become active advocates for women’s leadership.
Mrs Ehiahuruike urged participants to reject the notion that women are responsible for the obstacles they face in politics.
Instead, she encouraged men to stand firmly behind their wives, daughters, sisters and colleagues who aspire to public office.
“Change begins with each one of us,” she told the gathering.
“If the change starts with you today, tomorrow you will influence others around you.”

In another presentation titled Male Engagement in Advancing Gender Equality, she emphasised that gender-balanced political representation strengthens democracy and leads to better decision-making.
She added that inclusive governance ensures that the voices and needs of marginalised groups are reflected in policy-making while also inspiring younger generations of women to pursue leadership.
Men, she said, can play a powerful role by amplifying women’s voices, challenging discriminatory attitudes and supporting initiatives led by women.

Ensuring Inclusion for Women With Disabilities
The conversation also highlighted the unique challenges faced by women living with disabilities in the political space.
Speaking at the forum, the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Anambra State, Ugochukwu-Ernest Okeke, stressed that democracy cannot be considered complete if certain groups remain excluded from decision-making.

Presenting a paper titled Political Participation of Women with Disabilities: Rights, Challenges and the Need for Inclusive Politics, he said women with disabilities possess the same constitutional rights as every other Nigerian citizen.
These rights include voting in elections, joining political parties, contesting political offices and participating in governance processes.
He noted that Nigeria has made progress through legislation such as the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which seeks to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and promote equal opportunities.

Barriers That Still Limit Participation
Despite these legal protections, Mr Okeke said women with disabilities still face significant challenges in political participation.
He identified persistent societal stigma and misconceptions about the capabilities of persons with disabilities as major obstacles.
Structural barriers also remain a concern, as many public buildings, political party offices and campaign venues lack ramps and other accessibility features required for people with mobility challenges.
Financial constraints and limited support from political parties further discourage many aspiring politicians with disabilities.

Building a More Inclusive Democracy
To address these challenges, Mr Okeke called on government institutions, political parties and civil society organisations to take deliberate steps to promote inclusive politics.
These steps, he said, include enforcing disability rights laws, improving accessibility in public and electoral facilities and adopting party policies that encourage the participation of persons with disabilities in leadership roles.

He also advocated leadership training programmes, financial empowerment initiatives and public awareness campaigns aimed at dismantling stereotypes.
According to him, when women, including those with disabilities, are fully included in political leadership and governance, democracy becomes stronger, more representative and more responsive to the needs of all citizens.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

Women have been urged to take a more active role in community development and political participation as members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance gathered for the 2026 Anambra Women Summit.
The summit, themed “Empower Her, Elevate All,” was held at the APGA Regional Office, Agu-Awka and attracted women leaders, party members and prominent political figures from across the state.
Among the notable guests at the event were Nonye Soludo, Emmanuel N. Nwachukwu, businessman Ebuka Onunkwo, and Chukwudi Prince Oli, alongside other party stakeholders and community leaders.

Speaking with journalists at the summit, the State Women Leader of APGA, Esther Onyekesi, said empowering women remains one of the most effective ways to strengthen families and communities.
According to her, the message of the summit was simple but powerful: when women rise, society rises with them.
“When you empower a woman, you empower the whole community,” she said. “Whether it is a woman or a girl child, they are the root of everything in our community.”
Mrs Onyekesi explained that the goal of the summit was to encourage women to become more confident, productive and active in both social and political life.
She noted that women today are no longer limited to traditional professions, stressing that opportunities have expanded across many fields.
“In the past people used to say that a woman’s education ends in teaching,” she said. “That is not the case anymore. Women can contribute in many areas and also support their families and communities in different ways.”

She also spoke about the importance of cooperation within the home, encouraging women to support their husbands, especially during difficult economic times.
“A woman should be a helping hand to her husband,” she said. “Many men are facing hardship today. When a wife supports her husband, the burden becomes lighter and the family becomes stronger.”

According to her, strong families ultimately create stronger communities.
“When you train a woman, you train a nation,” she said, repeating a widely known African proverb that highlights the influence of women in shaping society.
On the issue of preference for male children in some families, Mrs Onyekesi advised parents not to discriminate between sons and daughters.
“Male children come from God,” she said. “People talk about chromosomes and science, but it still remains a mystery. Some families have only girls, others only boys.”
She stressed that every child should be valued equally.

“All children are children,” she added. “Anyone God gives you, value them.”
Turning to politics, the APGA women leader said women remain one of the most powerful forces in the electoral process.
“Politically, I don’t joke with women,” she said. “More than seventy per cent of voters are women. Women are the mobilisers. They organise people and encourage them to vote.”
Because of this influence, she said politicians should never underestimate the importance of women in politics.
“When a woman commits to working for a candidate, she works with dedication,” she noted.

Despite their strong presence during elections, Mrs Onyekesi acknowledged that women still face barriers when it comes to occupying leadership positions.
She said cultural attitudes in some communities remain a major challenge.
“In some places people still say they are not comfortable having a woman as the head of a local government,” she explained. “They ask how they will bow to a woman leader. That shows the cultural challenge we are facing.”

However, she expressed optimism that change will come gradually as more women participate in politics and leadership.
“We are working towards changing that mindset,” she said.
Mrs Onyekesi therefore encouraged more women, especially in Igbo communities, to step forward and take part in politics.
“Many women avoid politics because they see it as something controversial,” she said. “But if women begin to come out and participate, we will change the narrative.”

She also revealed that the empowerment initiative launched during the summit would be extended to other local government areas in the state.
“What we started here will happen in every local government,” she said. “We are moving higher, and women will continue to play their role in supporting development.”

The summit forms part of broader efforts by the All Progressives Grand Alliance to strengthen grassroots mobilisation and expand opportunities for women within the party and across Anambra State.
For many participants, the gathering reinforced a central message: empowering women is not only about equality, but about building stronger families, communities and a more inclusive political future.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

The Pentecostal Bishops’ Association of Anambra State (PBAAS) has called on political leaders to act with fairness and wisdom, in a statement following their 2026 Annual Convocation at Church in Power, Agu Awka.

In a communique signed by the association’s Executive President, Bishop Prince A. A. Nwodika, the bishops said the meeting had been “strong in power and in the Word,” and encouraged the Church to “remain a shining light in a dark world.”

“By their fruits you shall know them. It is only our faith in Christ that can overcome the challenges in this world,” the communique added, emphasising the need for spiritual resilience amid uncertainty.

The bishops also addressed pressing political matters in the South East. They advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use his office to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally and to “correct the imbalances in the polity, which has aggravated agitations from the South East,” citing a need for “equity, fairness and socio-economic balance in the system.”

Bishop Nwodika told journalists that these measures, if implemented, could “significantly improve the much-needed peace and security in the region.”

The PBAAS also congratulated Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo on his electoral victory for a second term, saying he “did well in his first term but should do much better in his next tenure,” in line with his “Solution mantra and transformational agenda for Ndi Anambra.”

The bishops concluded the communique with a blessing for the people of Anambra State and Nigeria. “We pray that our political leaders will receive the wisdom to lead and develop a passion for the populace,” the communique stated.

Other bishops in attendance included Bishop E. M. Ezenwafor, Bishop Charles Uchenna (secretary), Bishop Festus Ozioma Ozoemena (PRO), Bishop Dominic Chukwuemeka Onuigwe, Bishop Edith Elisha, Bishop Goddy Oka For, Bishop Patrick Osaji, Bishop Lious Morah, Bishop Matthew Akhigbe, and Bishop Macpeters Olofu.

Reflecting on the gathering, Bishop Nwodika said: “We declare Jesus Lord over Anambra State and Nigeria forever. Our prayers are not just words; they are a call to conscience for every leader and citizen alike.”

The convocation comes at a critical time for the South East, where political tension and social unrest have often challenged government initiatives. By issuing this communique, the PBAAS has positioned itself as both a spiritual and moral voice in the ongoing dialogue around governance and national cohesion.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has opened new party offices in Nawgu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, as it renewed its call for political change and inclusive governance in Nigeria.

The offices, covering Ward I and Ward II, were unveiled during a gathering of party leaders, supporters, and community stakeholders, marking a deliberate expansion of the ADC’s grassroots presence in Anambra State. Party officials described the move as both symbolic and strategic, aimed at repositioning Nawgu within the state’s evolving political landscape.

A call for change from the grassroots
Speaking at the event at Eziwegwu Junction, Nawgu, Mr John Nwosu said the opening of the offices reflected growing dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s political direction. “Nigeria is in dire need of a change of government for a better Nigeria,” he told supporters, adding that the ADC remained “the vehicle to bring about that desired change.” He said sustainable reform must begin at the community level, where citizens directly experience governance.

The Nawgu offices, he noted, were not merely physical structures but organising hubs for political education, mobilisation, and participation. For residents long accustomed to political marginalisation, the development carried added weight.

State leadership backs Nawgu initiative
The ADC State Chairman, Hon. Comrade Patrick Obianyo, commended the people of Nawgu for identifying with what he described as a forward-looking political platform. He said the decision to establish offices in the town demonstrated readiness to participate actively in shaping Nigeria’s future.

According to him, “mobilisation of new members is central to actualising the party’s vision of a better Nigeria.” Obianyo thanked Hon. Nnamdi Okeke for ensuring that the party took root in Nawgu, describing the development as a foundation for sustained political engagement. “The work of a better Nigeria has started well, and it will end well,” he said, stressing that changing the country’s narrative required consistency and commitment.

Dunukofia and the question of representation
The Dunukofia Local Government Party Chairman, Hon. Ikechukwu Akata, placed the event within a broader historical context. He said the political developments unfolding in Nawgu pointed to new possibilities for the area.

Akata painted a picture of a future in which a Nawgu indigene could represent the constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly, the House of Representatives, or even the Senate. “Great things are already happening in Nawgu’s political space,” he said, urging residents to align with the ADC in pursuit of a better Nigeria.

John Nwosu: ‘Change has begun’
Mr Nwosu, the ADC candidate in the last Anambra State governorship election, said he was encouraged by the level of enthusiasm in Nawgu. He described the opening of the party offices as evidence that political consciousness was rising. “What this signifies is that change has begun in Nawgu,” he said.

He praised Hon. Nnamdi Okeke for his performance as President-General of the Nawgu Development Union, saying his leadership record distinguished him in a political environment often marked by unfulfilled promises. According to Nwosu, such experience was urgently needed within the ADC to reposition both Nawgu and Anambra State. He argued that other political parties had governed Nigeria “with nothing to show for it,” insisting that “ADC is the answer to the Nigeria we yearn for.”

Nnamdi Okeke and a politics of trust
Hon. Nnamdi Okeke, party leader, former President-General of the Nawgu Development Union, and Federal House of Representatives aspirant, said his decision to join the ADC followed a careful evaluation of its manifesto. “I discovered that the ADC is the only political party that can deliver the true dividends of democracy Nigerians yearn for,” he said.

He identified trust as a defining factor in leadership, noting that public confidence was built on the ability to deliver. “ADC is not just a party for now; it is a party for now and for future generations,” he said, likening political parties to vehicles and describing the ADC as “sound and dependable.” He urged residents to join what he called “the moving train called ADC.”

Equity, fairness, and a historic appeal
Okeke also highlighted long-standing concerns about representation. He noted that within the Dunukofia/Anaocha/Njikoka Federal Constituency, Dunukofia had never produced a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate. Appealing to the ADC’s principles of equity, fairness, and compassion, he said the imbalance must be addressed.

He argued that Nawgu, which he said had the least government appointments and representation in Dunukofia, deserved the opportunity to serve. He offered himself for that responsibility, calling on party members to work diligently “for a better tomorrow and a great nation.”

Grassroots voices reinforce momentum
ADC Ward I Chairman, Hon. Amaechi Fabian Oraegbunam, said the party stood for “true transformation,” adding that grassroots membership drives were already under way. Ward II Chairman, Fabian Oguejiofor Okoye, said the ADC had come to stay in Nawgu, urging Ndi Nawgu to embrace what he described as a credible alternative to the country’s persistent challenges.

Ndiowu Community Protests Alleged Imposition Of Traditional Ruler, Demands Due Process

By Emeka Chiaghanam

Scores of residents of Ndiowu community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the Anambra State Government House in Awka over what they described as the unlawful and unconstitutional imposition of a traditional ruler on the community.

The protesters, comprising elderly men, women and youths, arrived in Awka in over ten commuter buses, carrying placards and chanting slogans to draw the attention of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to their grievances.

Placards displayed during the protest read: “The Stool of the Ezediohamma Ndiowu Is Not for Sale,” “Respect Our Right to Choose,” “No to Imposed Election,” “Women Must Vote,” and “Soludo Solution, Save Our Eze Stool.”


Protesters Accuse Commissioner of Undermining Constitution

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the chairman of Ndiowu’s four traditional quarters, Chief Uchenna Iloh, accused the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Collins Nwabunwanne, of allegedly undermining the community’s constitution and customs in the process that produced a disputed Eze-elect.

Iloh said the crisis followed a move to fill the vacant Igweship stool of Ndiowu, which has remained empty for about 11 years following the death of the last monarch, Ezedioramma.


Rotational System Governs Igweship in Ndiowu

According to Iloh, Ndiowu operates a rotational system in the selection of its traditional ruler to ensure equity, peace and unity among the town’s quarters.

“The late Igwe came from another quarter,” he said. “By our constitution, it is now the turn of Ufere quarter to produce the Ezediohamma of Ndiowu.”

He explained that this arrangement is clearly stated in the Ndiowu Town Union Constitution, amended in 2024 and approved by the Anambra State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Town Union Matters.


Constitution Provides for Option A4 and Women Participation

Iloh said the constitution also stipulates that the Igweship election must be conducted using the Option A4 open voting system and must include full participation of women.

“Our constitution is clear,” he said. “Voting must be open, and women must be allowed to vote.”


Stakeholders’ Meeting Allegedly Excluded Eligible Quarter

The protesters alleged that the constitutional provisions were ignored when the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, alongside the Chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area and ministry officials, convened a stakeholders’ meeting at the Ndiowu community hall on Saturday, January 10.

Iloh claimed that stakeholders from Ufere quarter, which is constitutionally entitled to present candidates, were excluded from the meeting, while individuals from other quarters were present.

Among those in attendance, he said, was Mr Chibuzor Okeke-Ifi, a United States–based businessman who has reportedly lived abroad for over 40 years.


Secret Ballot and Exclusion of Women Announced

According to the protesters, the commissioner announced at the meeting that the Igweship election would be held on Monday, January 14, using a secret ballot system and that women would not be allowed to vote.

Iloh said community leaders immediately objected, describing the plan as a violation of the Ndiowu constitution.

“We protested and asked for the election to be postponed to Easter when most of our people would be present,” he said. “That request was rejected.”


Alleged Election ‘Did Not Hold’ in Ndiowu

The protesters further alleged that on the day the election was said to have taken place, no voting occurred anywhere in Ndiowu.

“There was no election in Ndiowu,” Iloh said. “Security personnel were deployed, and people were chased away, including women who came out to vote.”

He claimed the heavy security presence created fear and prevented residents from participating in any electoral process.


Disputed Result Announced

According to the community leaders, they later heard that an election had been concluded and that Mr Okeke-Ifi had been declared the winner.

Iloh said Mr Okeke-Ifi was constitutionally disqualified because it was not his quarter’s turn to produce the Igwe.

He also questioned the reported outcome of the election.

“They claimed he got over 400 votes, while other contestants got zero votes,” he said.


Constitutionally Recognised Candidates Named

The protesters insisted that only four candidates are eligible under the Ndiowu constitution to contest for the Ezediohamma stool.

They named the candidates as Chief Nwankwo Godwin Ugochukwu, Dr Onyeka Kanu, Mazi Onyeka Ekwueme and Mr Obumneme Okeke, all from Ufere quarter.

They said the emergence of any other candidate was unacceptable to the community.


Call for Governor’s Intervention

The protesters appealed directly to Governor Soludo to intervene and order a fresh, free and fair Igweship election conducted strictly in line with the Ndiowu constitution.

“We are peaceful and law-abiding people,” Iloh said. “All we want is justice. The Igweship of Ndiowu is not for sale.”


Women Condemn Alleged Discrimination

Also speaking during the protest, the Vice Women Leader of Ndiowu community, Mrs Virginia Orji, rejected the process that produced the purported Eze-elect.

She said women in Ndiowu have always participated in the election of traditional rulers and community leaders.

“There is no valid election that produced the so-called Eze-elect,” she said. “Women must vote, as they have always done.”


State Government Promises Resolution

Receiving the protesters at the Government House, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solomon Chukwulobelu, commended them for their peaceful conduct.

He assured them that the state government would listen to all sides and resolve the matter amicably.

“This is one side of the story,” he said. “We will hear the other side before taking a decision.”

He added that the issue would be handled in a manner that would prevent a recurrence.

“The issue will be resolved, and Ndiowu will be better for it,” Chukwulobelu said.


Community Insists on Constitutional Process

The protesters maintained that any Igweship election in Ndiowu must strictly follow the provisions of the community’s constitution.

They warned that any process perceived as imposed or discriminatory would continue to be resisted peacefully until justice is done.

Ten years of oil, zero development, endless suffering


By Emeka Chiaghanam




Ogwu Ikpele is drowning in crude oil wealth yet gasping for the barest breath of development. This riverine community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, bound tightly to the River Niger and its wetlands, sits on vast oil resources yet lives like a forgotten outpost. For ten uninterrupted years, crude oil has flowed daily from its soil, but life has remained painfully static, no good roads, no electricity, no functional hospital, no clean water, and no jobs.

Seasonal flooding has long been part of existence here, but residents insist that nothing has battered Ogwu Ikpele more than a decade of oil exploration without development by Sterling Petroleum Energy Exploration Company (SPEECO). As the company marked ten years of operations, the people of Ogwu Ikpele took to the streets not to celebrate, but to mourn ten wasted years of broken promises, environmental damage, and systemic neglect while basic human needs remained painfully absent.

They lament the lack of a functional hospital. Electricity is absent. Pipe-borne water does not exist beyond a few boreholes recently provided by the Anambra State Government. In a place officially classified as an oil-producing community, daily life remains defined by deprivation.
That contradiction exploded into open protest on Friday, January 16, extending into Saturday, January 17, 2026. Hundreds of youths, women, children, and elderly residents poured into the streets to publicly mourn what they described as ten years of agony, rejection, humiliation, and degradation. Barricades were erected, drilling activities were halted, and electricity to oil facilities was cut off. Community leaders disclosed that the shutdown reportedly cost the company over ₦200 million in losses, a figure residents say pales beside the wealth taken from their land.

What unfolded went beyond anger, it was collective grief, a community mourning the decade they had lost, the promises that died, the futures stolen from their children. The protest was organized, determined, and peaceful, yet carried the unmistakable weight of desperation. These were not people looking to make trouble; they were people fighting to be seen, to be heard, to be treated as human beings deserving of basic dignity.

Ogwu Ikpele's people say they are not strangers to hardship. Living along the River Niger requires adaptation, patience, and resilience. Floodwaters rise and recede, farms are rebuilt, homes repaired. What they say they cannot rebuild is dignity lost to neglect. Despite hosting oil wells, pipelines, and daily tanker movements transporting crude to neighbouring states, the community has been excluded from the most basic dividends of its own resources.

The irony is crushing. While their land yields wealth that powers industries and enriches corporations, they cannot power a single bulb in their homes. While their resources are metered and monetized elsewhere, they cannot measure the depth of their own losses. The same river that once sustained them with fish now carries away their oil and their hope in equal measure.

The Traditional Prime Minister of Ogwu Ikpele Kingdom, Chief Akaka Damian Anigboso, the Odua Ukwu of Ogwu Ikpele, spoke with restrained fury about the plight of his people. According to him, the suffering is too vast to catalogue, yet the injustice is simple: oil has flowed for ten years without benefits flowing back.

“Our oil is being explored and transferred to the Niger Delta,” he said. “This is ten good years SPEECO has been operating in our land. All the agreements we signed with them have not been honoured.”

He disclosed that four fully loaded tanker ships carry crude oil out of Ogwu Ikpele daily to neighbouring states. While those ships move, the children of the community remain uneducated, unempowered, and unemployed. The daily departure of these vessels has become a ritual of humiliation, visible proof that their wealth exists but belongs to everyone except them.

“They promised scholarships from primary school to university and even Master’s degree level. None came. There is no hospital, no pipe-borne water, no electricity. We have written to governments, we have pleaded. We are called an oil community, yet we live without basic amenities,” he lamented.

The unfulfilled scholarship promises cut especially deep. Education represents the pathway out of poverty, the tool that could transform the next generation’s prospects. By denying these scholarships, SPEECO has not just broken a promise, it has closed doors to futures, sentenced children to repeat their parents’ cycle of deprivation, and ensured that even as oil flows from their land, knowledge and opportunity flow away from their lives.

Environmental damage has compounded the suffering. The constant movement of oil vessels has accelerated erosion along the riverbanks, submerging and destroying more than thirty houses. Families have been displaced, ancestral lands swallowed by the River Niger, and livelihoods shattered.

“Our women are rejected. There is no town hall. Houses have fallen into the river,” Odua Ukwu said. “We instructed our youths to block them until the right thing is done. If they want to continue, they should kill us first.”

The mention of women being rejected speaks to a social crisis that extends beyond infrastructure. In Nigerian communities, a woman’s hometown status can affect marriage prospects, social standing, and community acceptance. When Ogwu Ikpele women are stigmatized because their oil-rich community offers nothing, the psychological and social toll becomes another hidden cost of SPEECO’s negligence.

Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Chuchu Onyema, described the protest as a peaceful but desperate demand for accountability after years of failed dialogue.

“What the people are doing is celebrating regret and degradation,” he said. “We have tried negotiation. This blockade is to force a roundtable discussion for the final time. I believe in conflict resolution, not violence.”

Onyema accused SPEECO of failing in its social corporate responsibilities. “We are supposed to receive three per cent of what is metered. There is nothing to show. The only streetlight in Ogwu Ikpele is the one I attracted while in the House of Representatives. Other projects here are from the state government, yet there is an oil company operating.”

He pointed to glaring contradictions that fuel community anger. Gas is flared continuously but not converted to electricity for residents. Telecommunications infrastructure exists but serves only company operations. Electricity runs twenty-four hours within oil facilities, while the community remains in darkness.

“To make a phone call, people go to the riverbank to connect to networks from Delta State,” he said. “No indigene of this community or Anambra State is employed there. Let them prove me wrong. We don’t even know what is metered. The state is losing revenue.”

Onyema disclosed that Governor Chukwuma Soludo has assured that the Uga–Ossomala–Ogwu Ikpele road linking Rivers State would be rehabilitated. He also revealed plans to build a hospital to replace the overstretched primary healthcare centre and commended the installation of public water facilities a few months ago, though he admitted they remain inadequate.

The President General of Ogwu Ikpele Community, Mr. Esumai Patrick Chukwudi, said the protest symbolised ten years of rejection and insult.

“No employment, no roads, no water, no hospital. We have begged since operations began,” he said. “The Petroleum Industry Act is nothing to talk about here because there is no transparent metering.”

According to him, pipelines laid beneath the River Niger transport oil into Delta State, making it impossible for Anambra State to determine production volumes or ensure fair revenue allocation.
“We have gas and crude, but the government cannot account for them. Gas flaring has damaged our palm trees. Pollution has killed fishing. Oil spills have destroyed farms for ten years,” he said.

Another community leader, Hon. Peter, accused the company of deliberate exclusion. “No single person from Anambra is employed. We agreed on a sixty–forty employment ratio. Nothing has happened.”

He detailed the scale of operations across multiple communities and alleged secretive pipeline projects. “We shut down all the wells and pipelines. They promised another meeting, the same promise we have heard for ten years,” he said.

Youth President of Ogwu Ikpele, His Youthfulness Aghauli Chimuanya Peter, said young people feel completely shut out of the oil economy operating on their land.

“We demand roads, water, electricity, solar-powered lights, and jobs,” he said. “As youth leader, I cannot even access their facility, not to talk of employment.”

Teacher and community leader, Mr. Aghauli Dominic Chukwudi, urged urgent intervention. “We were abandoned for years. Before SPEECO leaves, let there be something tangible; roads, a hospital, a market.”
Women described the human cost most starkly. Mrs. Onwuaghamadu Victoria, Women President General, said pregnant women travel long distances to give birth.

“Ten years and nothing. Our children are idle. Our women are forgotten. Life here is unbearable,” she said.

Another resident, Dominic Anumale from Umungashi, said poor road networks have driven up the cost of living. “Things cheap elsewhere are expensive here. We have oil but suffer. That is why we said no.”

Efforts to obtain comments from company representatives were unsuccessful, as they declined to speak, saying a media briefing would be arranged by the public relations unit.

As oil rigs fell silent and the River Niger continued its slow passage, Ogwu Ikpele made its position clear. This was not a protest for spectacle. It was a cry for survival, justice, and recognition from a community that has given oil for ten years and received neglect in return.

By Emeka Chiaghanam



In a bold and far-reaching move aimed at resetting the compass of grassroots football development, the Anambra State Football Association (ANSFA) on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, successfully conducted elections into its Local Football Councils (LFCs), ushering in a new generation of administrators across 18 local government areas of the state.

The elections, held at the East End Hotel, near Aroma Junction in Awka, marked a defining moment in Anambra football governance, reinforcing the association’s commitment to transparency, credibility and institutional renewal. Chairmen, vice-chairmen and council members emerged to take charge of football administration at the grassroots, the bedrock upon which sustainable football growth is built.

Administering the oath of office, Chairman of the ANSFA Electoral Committee, Hon. Barrister Prince Uche Darlington Okeke, PhD, charged the newly elected executives to embrace their mandate with a deep sense of responsibility. He reminded them that the authority conferred on them by the electorate was not symbolic but strategic, empowering them to drive development, unity and talent discovery through football within their respective councils.

Barr. Okeke emphasized that grassroots football remains the lifeline of the sport and urged the executives to align their programmes with the broader vision of the ANSFA Board under the leadership of Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi. According to him, functional Local Football Councils are indispensable to reviving competitions, nurturing young talents and restoring public confidence in football administration.

The elections produced executives across the 18 participating local government areas. Aguata LFC elected Hyginus Okolo as Chairman, with Chukwuebuka Dimude and Ndubuisi Ezeobi as Vice-Chairman and member. In Anambra East, Ifeatu Samuel Onyeachonam emerged Chairman, while Anambra West chose Emmanuel Azubuike as Chairman, assisted by Chukwudi Peter Anijah.

Anaocha LFC produced Emmanuel Ihekwoaba as Chairman, while Awka North elected Amaechi Nwakaeze, supported by Chinze Ezimmiri and Chizobam Ezenwinyi. Awka South LFC chose Hygenus Elo Nwosu as Chairman, with Chinedu Anaemene and Godswill Agumadu completing the executive. Darlington Chidubem will oversee football affairs in Ayamelum.

In Dunukofia, Jude Onwubbah emerged Chairman, assisted by Maduabuchi Ofili and Andrew Okonkwo, while Ernest Okoye was elected Chairman of Idemili North. Ihiala opted for continuity, returning Michael Mbaezue as Chairman, with Ngozi Obiejesi and Nzeribe Uzodimma as Vice-Chairman and member.

Njikoka LFC elected Chidumebi Onubiyi as Chairman, assisted by Uche Okafor. Nnewi North chose Okwuchukwu Emechebe as Chairman, with Johnpaul Nwabueze and Prosper Chukwuyama as Vice-Chairman and member, while Nnewi South produced Ugochukwu Nduaguba as Chairman and Onyebuchi Ojinkeonye as member.

Elsewhere, Tochukwu Odukwe emerged Chairman of Ogbaru LFC, supported by Charles Enebeli and Chibuike Okongwu. Onitsha North elected John Ubendu, Chukwuemeka Menyah and Augustine Ezebilie, while Onitsha South chose Larry Akanna as Chairman, with Raluchukwu Chukwuneke and Chidi Iroanusi. Orumba North elected Uche Nwosu, assisted by Nwafor Orji and Ifeanyi Onukaegbe, while Oyi LFC chose Chibuike Olieh, with Uche Celestine Obi and Nonso Machie.

Of the state’s 21 local government areas, only Idemili South, Ekwusigo and Orumba South did not participate, having reportedly failed to field candidates for the polls. Nonetheless, stakeholders hailed the process as peaceful, credible and inclusive.

The elections were monitored by a two-man Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) delegation led by former Nigeria junior international and immediate past General Manager of Heartland FC, Owerri, Promise Nwachukwu, lending national credibility to the exercise. Tight security ensured orderliness throughout the process.

Meanwhile, attention has shifted to Awka, where bye-elections into four vacant positions on the ANSFA Board are scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2026, effectively rounding off the reform-driven electoral process.

In an emotional congratulatory message personally signed, ANSFA Executive Chairman, Chief Chikelue Iloenyosi, hailed the winners and reminded them that their victories represent a call to service, not personal glorification. The former Nigeria defender stressed the importance of integrity, unity, adherence to NFF statutes and unwavering commitment to grassroots development.

“The future of football in Anambra State depends on what happens at the grassroots,” Iloenyosi declared. “Together, we must reposition Anambra football for greater achievements and national recognition.”

With new leaders now in place across the councils, expectations are high that Anambra’s storied football tradition will be rekindled, one community, one pitch and one young talent at a time.

By Emeka Chiaghanam


Kingship in Contention: Ndiowu Erupts as Community, Women and Aspirants Reject ‘Igwe Election’


Twelve years after the ancient stool of Ndiowu became vacant, the quiet agrarian town in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State has been thrust into the centre of a cultural storm.

What was expected to be a unifying exercise to enthrone a new traditional ruler has instead ignited protests, sharp divisions and deep questions about tradition, inclusion and the sanctity of community laws.

At the heart of the storm is the January 12, 2026, Igweship election, which a large segment of Ndiowu people now describe as an imposition rather than a mandate.

From the crack of dawn on Tuesday, angry voices filled the streets of Ndiowu as men, women and youths marched with placards, chanting slogans that spoke of betrayal, exclusion and constitutional abuse. Their message was blunt and unanimous: Ndiowu has not elected a new Igwe.

The protesters insist that the process which produced a United States–based businessman, Chief Chibuzor OkekeIfi, as Igwe-elect is alien to the town’s culture, flawed in execution and null in the eyes of the people. According to them, the election conducted on Monday at the Central School, Ndiowu, failed to meet both the letter and spirit of the Ndiowu Constitution.

Chief OkekeIfi was announced winner with 506 votes, while other contenders — Barrister Ugochukwu Nwankwo, Magistrate Onyeka Kanu, Mr Onyeka Ekwueme Okafor and Mr Obumneme Okeke — were allocated between zero and two votes each. But for the aggrieved community members, those figures only deepened suspicion rather than conferred legitimacy.

The exercise was observed by officials of the Anambra State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, the Mayor of Orumba North LGA, Hon. Casmir Nwafor, and a former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Afoka. At the end of the process, the chairman of the electoral committee, Hon. William Alex Omenukor, congratulated Chief Okeke-Ifi and appealed to other aspirants to accept the outcome in good faith. That appeal fell on deaf ears.

Women Rise, Tradition Invoked
Perhaps the most striking opposition came from the women of Ndiowu, whose voices echoed with uncommon resolve. Speaking during the protest, the leader of the women’s group, Mrs Ifeoma Omenukor, declared that Ndiowu women would not recognise Chief OkekeIfi as their traditional ruler, even if he is eventually issued a certificate of recognition by the Anambra State Government.

Her grievance, she said, went beyond personalities to the very soul of Ndiowu tradition.

“They told us that women of this community will not participate in electing a traditional ruler,” she said. “This is something we have always done over the years. We told them clearly that it is unacceptable, but they ignored us.”

According to her, the women had earlier appealed for the election to be shifted to April 2026 to allow for proper sensitisation, wider consultation and the resolution of grey areas. That plea, she said, was flatly rejected.

More contentious, however, was the allegation that Chief Okeke-Ifi had spent most of his life abroad and was only recently brought back to be imposed on the community.

“They just brought him back last week to impose him on us,” Mrs Omenukor said. “As women, we have resolved that we will not recognise him as our traditional ruler.”
‘A Knighthood, Not an Igweship’
The men of Ndiowu were equally unsparing in their condemnation. Their spokesperson, Mazi Uchenna Iloh, described the entire exercise as a mockery of Ndiowu customs and an affront to due process.

“What they did inside a church premises was a knighthood initiation, not an Igweship election of Ndiowu community,” he said pointedly.

Mazi Iloh explained that Ndiowu had been preparing for an Igweship election but was hampered by unresolved constitutional issues, which some individuals allegedly ignored for personal gain. Central to the dispute, he noted, was the disenfranchisement of women and the abandonment of established electoral procedures.

“We demanded that the election be shifted to April 2026 so we could iron out these issues,” he said. “While we were gathered at the town hall discussing these matters with all aspirants present, Chief Okeke-Ifi and some visitors went to a primary school within St. Lawrence Anglican Church and declared that they had conducted the election.”

For Ndiowu elders and stakeholders, that singular act rendered the process void.

“Our constitution is clear,” Mazi Iloh stressed. “When the Anambra State Government is ready to conduct an Igwe election for Ndiowu, it must communicate through our President-General. The election must hold in our town hall. Anything else is unacceptable.”

Aspirants Stand Their Ground
Adding weight to the rejection were some of the co-contestants themselves. Magistrate Onyeka Kanu and Mr Onyeka Ekwueme Okafor, who joined the protest, said they were not desperate for the throne but could not stand by while the constitution of Ndiowu was trampled upon.

They argued that the exclusion of women and the adoption of secret ballot instead of the constitutionally recognised Option A4 system were fundamental breaches.

“Why would anyone want to rule a people against their will?” one of them asked. “Any election not conducted in line with our constitution cannot stand.”

Their stance reinforced the protesters’ claim that opposition to the election was not driven by rivalry, but by principle.

Igwe-Elect Calls for Unity
Amid the rising tension, Chief Chibuzor OkekeIfi struck a conciliatory tone. In an interview, he thanked Ndiowu people for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to focus on unity and development if eventually confirmed as Igwe.

According to him, education would be at the centre of his development agenda, particularly for the sons and daughters of Ndiowu. He also expressed gratitude to the Anambra State Government for ensuring that the election held peacefully.

Yet, even his assurances have done little to calm the storm, as protesters insist that peace cannot be built on a foundation they consider illegitimate.

A Community at a Crossroads
Beyond Ndiowu, the unfolding crisis has reignited broader conversations in Anambra about tradition, diaspora influence, women’s participation and the role of government in chieftaincy affairs. For many observers, the Ndiowu saga is a reminder that Igweship is not merely an administrative position but a sacred trust rooted in history, culture and collective consent.

As the dust settles, Ndiowu stands at a delicate crossroads. Whether through dialogue, legal redress or state intervention, the path chosen will not only determine who wears the crown, but also how faithfully Ndiowu preserves its identity in a rapidly changing world.
For now, one thing is clear: in Ndiowu, the crown remains fiercely contested, and the voice of the people is refusing to be silenced.

By Emeka Chiaghanam


Tension In Ndiowu As Community Cries Out Over Alleged Move To Force Kingship Election, Warn Of Looming Crisis


Ndiowu community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State is standing at a dangerous crossroads. What ought to be a solemn, culturally guided and consensual process to fill a vacant traditional stool has instead snowballed into a tense political confrontation that community leaders warn could plunge the peaceful town into avoidable crisis.

At the centre of the storm is an alleged attempt to impose a traditional ruler on Ndiowu against the provisions of its constitution, long-standing customs and the clearly expressed will of its people. Voices from every strata of the community, elders, village chairmen, women leaders, youths, former town union executives and age grades, have risen in rare unity to sound the alarm and plead for urgent intervention by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo.

PG Mazi Sunday Enemuo Calls Consultation and Respect for Community Process
The President-General of Ndiowu Town Union, Mazi Sunday Enemuo, said the emergency General Assembly was convened to enable Ndiowu people to be properly informed and consulted on recent developments surrounding the proposed kingship election.

Speaking at the town hall, Enemuo explained that the meeting followed engagements between the town union and officials of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, after which the union felt it necessary to brief the wider community and hear directly from Ndiowu citizens.

“This matter goes beyond individuals. It concerns our constitution, our traditions and the collective right of Ndiowu people to participate fully in decisions that affect the community,” he said.

According to him, the purpose of the assembly was not confrontation, but transparency and inclusion, noting that Ndiowu has enjoyed relative peace in recent years because major decisions were taken through open consultation and adherence to established processes.

Enemuo disclosed that concerns were raised within the community over the proposed date of Monday, 12 January 2026, particularly given the short notice and the absence of many Ndiowu citizens who had already returned to their places of residence after the festive period.

“The consensus at the meeting was that more time is required to allow wider participation. Many suggested Easter 2026 as a more suitable period when Ndiowu sons and daughters, both at home and in the diaspora, can be present,” he said.

He added that the town union believes that the General Assembly remains the appropriate forum for gauging the position of the people and ensuring that whatever decision is taken reflects the collective will of Ndiowu.

“Our appeal is simple: that the process should be inclusive, transparent and in line with our constitution and customs. When everyone is carried along, peace is sustained,” Enemuo stated.

The President-General also expressed confidence in the Anambra State Government, particularly Governor Chukwuma Soludo, whom he described as a leader who values dialogue and community consensus, and urged that all stakeholders work together to prevent tension and preserve Ndiowu’s long-standing harmony.

Engr. Chike Emenike: ‘This Is Illegal, Dangerous and Unacceptable’
Former President-General of Ndiowu Improvement Union Engr. Chike Emenike, speaking at the town hall described the situation as an “impending crisis that can still be averted if urgent action is taken.”

Emenike recalled Ndiowu’s troubled past and credited Governor Soludo with restoring peace in 2022 after nearly eight years of town union leadership crisis.

“When Governor Soludo came in, Ndiowu was in turmoil. He insisted that we should be allowed to conduct our town union elections. That decision brought peace. Since then, Ndiowu has been calm, until now.”

He explained that Ndiowu’s amended constitution, which guides town union administration and the selection of a traditional ruler, was lawfully amended during his tenure with the written approval of the Commissioner himself, duly gazetted by the state government and already used to conduct town union elections without dispute.

“This constitution is valid. It has not been vacated by any court. Only a court of law can do that, not a commissioner acting unilaterally.”

Emenike revealed that some individuals who opposed the amendment are already in court but currently have no injunction restraining the use of the constitution.

“In fact, the court struck out the injunction matter. Yet suddenly, the commissioner says the constitution should be suspended. That is strange, illegal and unacceptable.”

According to him, the crisis escalated when a Ndiowu indigene based in the United States, who allegedly does not meet constitutional requirements and was disqualified during screening, began pushing to be imposed as king “by hook or crook.”

“Five persons were screened. Two were disqualified, including the U.S-based aspirant. From that moment, all hell broke loose.”

He accused the authorities of introducing arbitrary guidelines, including disenfranchising women, imposing secret ballot against Ndiowu’s long-standing Option A4 open voting system, and allowing a disqualified aspirant to allegedly handpick electoral officials.

“How can a disqualified candidate choose the umpires? What kind of election is that? That is a time bomb.”
Emenike warned that forcing such an election could ignite violence whose consequences may spiral beyond Ndiowu.
“If this crisis starts, nobody knows where it will end. We are calling on Governor Soludo to intervene immediately. We believe strongly that he is not aware of these arrangements.”

Village Chairmen: ‘Do Not Burn Ndiowu’
Speaking on behalf of the nine village chairmen of Ndiowu, Mazi Uchena Ilo, Chairman of Umidiabo Village, issued an emotional plea to the governor.
“We are begging. We are pleading. Let tomorrow not hold. We met and agreed the election should be in April, during Easter.”
He stressed that Ndiowu’s kingship rotates among its four traditional quarters and that it is currently the turn of Ufere Quarter.
“The disqualified aspirant is not even from Ufere. Anyone who wants to be king must be qualified and must allow Ndiowu to give him that honour. Kingship is not something you impose.”
Ilo also condemned the exclusion of women and the proposed secret ballot system as alien to Ndiowu’s tradition.
“We want peace to continue. Please help us avert this looming crisis.”

Youth Leader: ‘If It Breaks, It May Spread’
The Youth Leader of Ndiowu, Onyeka Okeke, warned that instability in Ndiowu could have ripple effects across Orumba North.
“The youths are the lifewire of any community. We have enjoyed peace for three years because we elected our leaders collectively.”
He cautioned that an imposed election could push youths into unpredictable reactions.
“If they go ahead, we can’t tell what the crisis will lead to. That is what we want to avoid.”

Women Rise: ‘Why Now?’
For the women of Ndiowu, the controversy cuts deeper. Lady Ifeayinwa Nwafor, Women Leader, described the attempt to disenfranchise women as shocking and unacceptable.
“Women have always participated in Ndiowu elections. Our constitution recognises it. Why now?”
She warned that excluding women under the guise of tradition is a dangerous distortion.
“You cannot impose illegality and expect peace. We want a free, fair and transparent election, not a crisis.”

Age Grades Speak, Silence Questioned
Voices from Ndiowu’s age grades have also joined the outcry. In a widely circulated letter, Hon. Uzoma Ugochukwu Oji from Abuja questioned the silence of his age grade, Udokanma, over what he described as injustice and discrimination.
“Why should a democratically elected government disenfranchise Ndiowu women? Why the sudden date? Who were the stakeholders consulted?”
His message underscored the widening concern that silence may be interpreted as complicity.

A Direct Appeal to Soludo
In a strongly worded letter to Governor Soludo, Ndiowu stakeholders appealed for immediate intervention to halt the 12 January election, citing constitutional breaches, public safety risks and the clear will of the people.
They urged the governor to direct a postponement to Easter 2026 and ensure a process that is inclusive, lawful and community-driven.

A Community at a Crossroads
What is striking in the Ndiowu situation is the rare unanimity across leadership lines. From the President-General to former executives, from village heads to youths and women, the message is consistent: do not impose a king on Ndiowu.
As Engr. Emenike poignantly noted, even while acknowledging personal respect for the aspirant at the centre of the controversy:
“If you want to be king, allow the town to give you that honour. Hijacking it will not help you or Ndiowu.”
All eyes are now on Government House, Awka. Ndiowu’s leaders insist that timely intervention by Governor Soludo could once again save the community from descending into chaos, and reaffirm the principle that in Anambra, the voice of the people still matters.

By Emeka Chiaghanam



Nze Vincent Nwankwo Gifts House to Widow, Empowers Less Privileged Through Ezeakunne Foundation



Onneh community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State was once again the focus of humanitarian attention as Nze Vincent Nwankwo, philanthropist and founder of the Ezeakunne Foundation, hosted the 2025 edition of the foundation’s annual empowerment programme for the less privileged. The event, held at his country home in Umuezemasi Village, reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to grassroots development, social justice and human dignity.

Over the years, the Ezeakunne Foundation empowerment programme has grown into a major community event, touching the lives of widows, youths and vulnerable persons in Onneh and beyond. This year’s edition followed the same clear, people-focused pattern—direct intervention aimed at restoring hope and creating sustainable means of livelihood.

One of the central highlights of the programme was the presentation of a newly completed and fully furnished bungalow to Mrs. Nkechinyere Nwafor, a 60-year-old widow from the community. For many in attendance, the moment symbolized more than charity; it represented dignity restored to a woman who had endured years of hardship after the loss of her husband.

Speaking during the handover, Nze Vincent Nwankwo described the gesture as an expression of gratitude to God rather than a public display. “What you see here today is not charity for show, but gratitude that must flow,” he said. “When God lifts a man, He expects that man to lift others, not in noise but in purpose. This house is more than blocks and paint; it is dignity restored, hope reinstalled, and tomorrow reassured.”

He stressed that wealth finds its true meaning only when it impacts lives positively, especially at the grassroots. According to him, society becomes safer and more stable when the privileged deliberately remember the less privileged. “If those whom God has blessed remember the less blessed, society will be less stressed. When compassion becomes culture, crime loses its structure,” he noted.

For Mrs. Nwafor, the house marked the end of a painful chapter. Speaking with tears of joy, the widow recounted years of insecurity and silent suffering. “For years, rain and worry shared my roof, and fear shared my bed,” she said. “Today, shelter has replaced sorrow, and peace has replaced panic. This house is not just a building; it is a healing, a new beginning after long nights of silent prayers.”

She described the intervention as divine help delivered through human hands. “I had no voice, but God spoke through Nze Nwankwo. I had no strength, but help came with keys,” she added, praying for continued blessings on her benefactor and his family. Her emotional testimony drew sympathy and applause from the crowd, reinforcing the foundation’s focus on widows as a particularly vulnerable group in society.

In addition to the housing intervention, the foundation also empowered youths through the distribution of shuttle buses to selected beneficiaries to support economic self-reliance. One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Elozonachukwu Martin Ezulike, expressed gratitude and a strong sense of responsibility. “Today, my story has changed from waiting to working, from dreaming to doing,” he said. “This bus is not just a vehicle; it is a turning point on four tyres, a second chance powered by trust.”

Ezulike assured that he would use the opportunity wisely, describing the bus as a tool for progress rather than leisure. “I promise that this bus will move not just passengers but my future forward. I will drive with discipline, hustle with honesty, and remember always that someone believed in me when I was still becoming,” he stated.

The empowerment programme also featured the distribution of bags of rice and other relief materials to indigent members of the community, adding a festive touch to the outreach as beneficiaries prepared for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Beyond material support, Nze Nwankwo’s contributions to Onneh and other communities extend to education and human capital development. Through scholarships and support for indigent students, he has helped many young people remain in school, reinforcing his belief that long-term development begins with education.

The event attracted friends, associates and faith-based groups, including a delegation from the Catholic Men’s Organization (CMO), Cathedral Parish, Port Harcourt. Speaking at the programme, the CMO Chairman, Brother Christian Okpala Ojiego, described Nze Nwankwo as a man whose compassion transcends location. “Though based in Port Harcourt, his heart beats loudly for Onneh, for Anambra, and for humanity at large,” he said.

Ojiego praised the philanthropist for giving with sincerity and principle rather than for recognition. “In a time when many build fences, he builds bridges. In a season when some count wealth, he counts impact,” he remarked, praying for continued divine support for Nze Nwankwo and his family.

As the 2025 empowerment programme concluded, it was evident that the Ezeakunne Foundation had once again reinforced hope within the Onneh community. For widows like Mrs. Nkechinyere Nwafor, youths seeking economic stability, and families struggling to make ends meet, the intervention served as a reminder that compassionate leadership can still make a meaningful difference. Through consistent service and a clear sense of purpose, Nze Vincent Nwankwo continues to redefine philanthropy as responsibility, not privilege.

By Emeka Chiaghanam


Onneh community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State will once again witness a powerful demonstration of compassion, leadership and community service as Nze Vincent Nwankwo, a renowned business mogul, philanthropist and community builder, hosts the 2025 edition of the Ezeakunne Foundation Empowerment of the Less Privileged.

Scheduled to hold on 30 December 2025 at Ezeakunne’s country home, Umuezemasi Village, Onneh, the annual programme has become a major humanitarian event dedicated to improving the living standards of the people of Onneh, particularly the Less privileged, widows, youths and vulnerable members of the community.

Through the Ezeakunne Foundation, Nze Vincent Nwankwo has consistently demonstrated his deep commitment to grassroots development. One of the major highlights of this year’s event is the handover of a fully completed three-bedroom bungalow to a widow in Onneh, reaffirming the foundation’s focus on dignity, shelter and social justice.

Other empowerment initiatives lined up for the programme include the distribution of shuttle buses to support transportation needs and the distribution of bags of rice and other relief materials to numerous beneficiaries, especially during the festive season.

Beyond material empowerment, Nze Nwankwo’s impact on the community extends to education and human capital development. Over the years, he has awarded scholarships to indigent students, supported good works within and outside Onneh, and invested in initiatives that promote unity, peace and progress.

Speaking on the vision behind the annual outreach, associates of the foundation describe Nze Nwankwo as a leader driven by gratitude and service. “This programme is his way of giving back to the land that made him. For him, success is incomplete if the people around you are not uplifted,” a foundation official noted.

The event will attract notable dignitaries, including the Spiritual Father of the Day, His Lordship, Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese. Also expected are political leaders and community stakeholders such as Hon. Azubuike Shedrack, Mayor of Orumba South, and Prince Neville Uchendu, Mayor Extraordinaire, immediate Past Mayor of Orumba South. .

Hosts of the event include Engr. Chinedu Nwafor, President-General of Onneh Patriotic Union, and Ogbuefi Ebere Nwankwo, Chairman of Umuezemasi Village, underscoring the strong community backing the initiative enjoys.

As the Chief Host and CEO of Ezeakunne Foundation, Nze Vincent Nwankwo continues to set a remarkable example of purposeful wealth, proving that true leadership lies in service, empathy and long-term community impact.

With each edition, the Ezeakunne Foundation empowerment programme not only changes lives but also strengthens the social fabric of Onneh, reinforcing hope, unity and a shared vision for a better future.

By Emeka Chiaghanam


Baywood Ibe Brings Christmas Cheer to the Less Privileged Through Palliative Distribution

The Christmas season became brighter for many families following a humanitarian gesture by Emporor Baywood Ibe, a man widely described by beneficiaries as nice and generous. Through the distribution of Christmas palliatives, Mr Ibe sought to ensure that people with little or nothing to celebrate the yuletide season were not left out of the joy associated with the period.

The initiative, which focused on reaching the less privileged, enabled many families to return home with food items to prepare meals and celebrate Christmas with dignity. For the beneficiaries, the gesture was more than an act of charity; it was a clear expression of love, compassion, and genuine concern for the wellbeing of others, particularly during a season that often highlights social and economic gaps.

Those who benefited from the exercise expressed deep gratitude, offering prayers for God’s protection and abundant blessings upon Mr Ibe for his kindness and generosity.

Speaking on the impact of the gesture, Ifeanyi Okonta, a beneficiary from Mgbidi Awgu, described the support as timely and meaningful. He noted that the palliatives meant a lot to people who would otherwise have had little or nothing to mark Christmas. According to him, the act clearly showed that Mr Ibe has a heart that truly cares for the plight of others, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Another beneficiary, Christiana Onwualia, also expressed joy over the initiative. She described the remembrance of the downtrodden through the distribution of palliatives as a huge and kind act. For her, the gesture went beyond the provision of food items, as it restored hope and reminded beneficiaries that they are not forgotten. She prayed that God would open doors of greater opportunities for Mr Ibe and reward him abundantly for his kindness.

Similarly, Leticia Ike, who also benefited from the palliatives, thanked Mr Ibe for making Christmas memorable for her and others through his generosity. She noted that the support brought happiness and relief to many households during the festive season. She prayed that God would continually bless him for remembering people during such a special time of the year.

Adding his voice, Mr Lukas Udeagbara, former Executive Assistant to the Enugu State Governor, commended Mr Ibe for extending love to the poor and needy. He expressed gratitude for the gesture, describing it as a reflection of a compassionate heart committed to uplifting others. Mr Udeagbara prayed that God would replenish Mr Ibe’s store and reward him richly for giving to those in need.

Observers say the palliative distribution highlights the importance of individual efforts in addressing social challenges, especially during festive periods when many struggle to meet basic needs. Acts such as this, they note, help to strengthen community bonds and promote a culture of empathy, sharing, and mutual support.

For many of the beneficiaries, the gesture restored a sense of dignity and belonging, allowing them to participate in the joy of Christmas despite economic challenges. It also served as a reminder that sincere acts of kindness, no matter the scale, can have a lasting impact on lives and communities.

As the Christmas season draws to a close, the palliative distribution by Baywood Ibe stands as a strong reminder that love shared sincerely can bring joy, dignity, and hope to many hearts, while inspiring others to extend a helping hand to those in need.

By Emeka Chiaghanam


The Anambra chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) gathered in Amawbia on Friday for its Annual End-Of-Year Thanksgiving, using the moment to reflect, celebrate, and push for deeper inclusion across the state.

Members from different clusters converged on the podium of St Matthew’s Catholic Church for a Praise Day that also aligned with global activities marking the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). The atmosphere was vibrant, songs, prayers, and warm reunions, but beneath the celebration lay a determined call for more responsive systems that support the daily realities of persons with disabilities.

State Chairman, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, set the tone from the outset. He explained that the gathering was not just a spiritual observance, but a reminder of the strength and shared identity within the disability community. The theme, “Let’s Praise God,” he said, symbolised gratitude for survival and progress in a world that still presents many obstacles.

He noted that the global IDPD commemoration remains a crucial medium for raising awareness and encouraging governments to build societies where no group is sidelined. Persons with disabilities, according to him, continue to make significant contributions across academics, entertainment, sports, entrepreneurship, governance, and faith communities. Yet their skills are often undervalued, and their needs overlooked.

This year’s international theme;“Fostering Disability-Inclusive Society for Advancing Social Progress”, was, for Okeke, a direct challenge to policymakers. He stressed that meaningful development cannot take root where disability rights are treated as an afterthought. A progressive state, he argued, must ensure equitable access to education, healthcare, employment, and public infrastructure, while also fostering participation in leadership and civic processes.

Okeke congratulated Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo on his re-election, describing the victory as a renewed mandate that offers the disability community another opportunity to press for stronger action. He commended both the governor and the First Lady, Dr Nonye Soludo, for initiating several empowerment and welfare programmes that have benefitted persons with disabilities.

However, he made it clear that major gaps still exist. Despite the Anambra Disability Rights Law already in force, many of the challenges identified years ago persist. He listed inaccessible office buildings, poorly planned roads and walkways, public transport that does not accommodate wheelchairs or mobility aids, limited job openings, inadequate assistive devices, and weak enforcement of disability-related regulations as issues that continue to frustrate daily life for many members.

He called for a more active Disability Commission, improved accessibility standards on public projects, and wider livelihood programmes that enable persons with disabilities to earn independently. He also appealed to churches and religious bodies to embrace inclusive worship practices, ensuring that people with different impairments feel welcome and valued.

Schools, he added, must adjust their learning systems to support learners with disabilities rather than isolating them. Hospitals and clinics, he said, must prioritise rehabilitation services and early screening for children, as early intervention can change lives.

A moment of gratitude followed as Okeke acknowledged the support extended by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Through a national empowerment initiative delivered in Anambra by Dr Nonye Soludo, 250 persons with disabilities received financial support. He urged beneficiaries to invest the funds wisely and assured others that the programme, being continuous, will reach more members in future.

The association also recognised contributions from corporate and institutional supporters including Naira Rice Limited, EmeNet International Ltd., the Ministry of Health, several private donors, and many individuals within the community.

One after another, members shared their thoughts during an interactive session. Mr Chide Emma Chukwuebuka, who chairs the Onitsha North chapter, reaffirmed the group’s dedication to pushing for real inclusion, urging government bodies to open up more opportunities.

Patrick Ezeobinwa suggested that more activities be organised at the local government level to increase participation and strengthen unity. He also called for greater involvement in sports, noting its ability to promote teamwork and well-being.

Another member, Mr Chika Okafor, expressed concern that certain groups within the association sometimes feel overlooked during empowerment exercises. He appealed for greater transparency and fairness to ensure that all members benefit.
Responding to the contributions, Comrade Okeke promised that none of the concerns raised would be ignored. He encouraged unity, patience, and continuous collaboration, assuring members that their voices would guide the association’s next steps.

The event closed with lively praise sessions, a health awareness talk, a practical engagement with officials of the Nigerian Red Cross, and a financial literacy session by Access Bank on saving and investment.

The day ended on a hopeful note; a mix of gratitude, reflection, and a renewed resolve to advocate for a state where persons with disabilities have the tools, access, and respect they need to live with dignity.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

The push to strengthen how Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is reported in Anambra State gained fresh momentum this week, as a coalition of rights groups trained dozens of journalists on more ethical and survivor-focused storytelling.

The one-day session, organised by the Gender Perspective and Social Development Centre (GPSDC) in collaboration with WomenAid Collective (WACOL), drew over 30 media practitioners from newspaper houses, radio stations, TV platforms, and digital outlets. The gathering, held in Nibo, Awka South, formed part of an ongoing national initiative aimed at helping communities tackle the rising tide of violence against women and girls.

The wider programme seeks to empower Christian women and custodians of culture across Nigeria by giving grassroots groups the tools to prevent and respond to GBV. For organisers, strengthening the media’s role within this effort is essential, as journalists shape public perception and influence how communities react to cases of abuse.

Opening the training, Christian Madubueze warned that GBV had grown into a disturbing menace affecting mostly women, girls, and vulnerable groups. He urged journalists to take up a more active role in shifting public conversation. According to him, the media is central to exposing patterns of abuse and placing continuous pressure on institutions to act. He reminded participants that their work is not merely to inform, but also to safeguard the dignity of those affected.

One of the key facilitators, Dr Emeka Odogwu, who leads the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Anambra, challenged reporters to view their craft as a tool for social protection. Speaking on “Media as an Advocate,” he said journalists hold the power to influence justice, spark reform, and give hope to survivors. He encouraged them to approach GBV reporting with intention and empathy, noting that insensitive coverage can silence victims, while ethical storytelling can restore dignity.

Dr Odogwu urged reporters to dig deeper when covering GBV cases, telling stories that highlight systemic failures, inspire action, and push communities towards compassion rather than judgement. He praised GPSDC and WACOL for involving both cultural leaders and Christian women, saying the approach strengthens the state’s overall response to GBV.

He later delivered another session on content development, stressing the importance of careful narrative framing. While digital spaces now offer massive reach, he warned that online reporting carries serious risks, including exposing victims to backlash. He advised journalists to protect identities, use social media responsibly, and avoid fuelling harmful conversations. For him, a journalist’s tools; pen, camera,

By Emeka Chiaghanam

The Anambra State Government has stepped up its push to reposition the mining sector, signalling a renewed determination to properly harness the state’s vast mineral deposits for economic growth and industrial expansion. This renewed commitment was highlighted in Awka during a media engagement with Professor Charles Ofoegbu, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State Solid Mineral Development Company Limited as well as Anambra Petroleum and Energy Resources Limited.

Speaking with journalists, Professor Ofoegbu explained that Anambra is richly blessed with numerous mineral resources that, if well-managed, could significantly strengthen the state’s revenue base, boost agriculture, enhance infrastructure and catalyse industrial development. He revealed that the state’s ongoing mineral sector reforms are designed to tackle long-standing issues that have stunted the industry’s growth, most notably, widespread illegal mining.

According to him, unlawful mining activities have thrived due to the uncoordinated activities of various groups who impose levies and enforce revenue collection outside legal frameworks. Many of these operators, he added, are not certified or professionally qualified, thereby exposing the state to environmental risks, safety concerns and massive revenue losses.
Professor Ofoegbu noted that the new reform framework is targeted at bringing order to the sector by defining clearer procedures for obtaining mining licences, integrating environmental protection measures, strengthening community-development plans and ensuring that mining companies meet their corporate social responsibilities.

He lamented that despite the abundance of mineral deposits, ranging from kaolin in Ukpor and Ozubulu to ironstone across Uga, Nkwelle, Nsugbe and Abagana, the state earns far less than it should because most extraction is carried out without proper regulation. Other mineral-rich zones, he noted, include areas endowed with laterite, gravel, sharp sand, lignite, clay, iron ore and plaster sand.

Highlighting the state’s geological richness, Ofoegbu pointed out that Anambra sits on formations spanning several geological ages, making it one of the most naturally endowed regions in the Southeast. However, he emphasised that unlocking this mineral wealth requires deliberate investment in infrastructure, such as access roads, processing facilities, and environmental safeguards.

He explained that although mining has often been viewed as a destructive industry, modern technologies are steadily replacing outdated methods, offering safer, more efficient extraction and reducing environmental damage. This shift, he said, is driven by scientific innovations that are rewriting the possibilities in the mining landscape.

Yet, despite its promise, the sector continues to grapple with ethical, environmental and social challenges. Professor Ofoegbu stressed that mining still raises concerns around community disruption, pollution, land degradation and occupational hazards. Many artisanal miners, he said, still rely on crude methods that expose them to health risks and life-threatening accidents.

He argued that the future of mining in Anambra must align with global best practices and the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting job creation, economic resilience, responsible extraction methods and climate-conscious operations. Strengthening regulatory frameworks and ensuring transparent compliance mechanisms, he added, were essential for a sustainable and profitable sector.

Professor Ofoegbu maintained that Anambra’s mineral renaissance is possible only through coordinated reform, investment, and strict enforcement of environmental and safety standards. With these measures, he expressed confidence that the mining sector could emerge as a major driver of the state’s economic transformation.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

In a ceremony marked by admiration, gratitude, and renewed faith in Nigeria’s electoral system, the Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC) Youth Wing has honoured the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, with the Transparent and Exemplary Leadership Service Award. The event, held in Awka, celebrated her unwavering commitment to credible elections and her transformative leadership since assuming office in November 2022.

Presenting the award, the President-General of the ASTUC Youth Wing, Comrade Ken Okoli, said the honour was a recognition of Dr. Agwu’s integrity, professionalism, and impact on the electoral landscape of Anambra State. He praised her for steering multiple elections with remarkable transparency and orderliness, describing the just-concluded gubernatorial election as a historic milestone in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

“We are here to appreciate you for the three years you have been in Anambra State serving Nigeria as the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner,” Okoli stated. “We have witnessed elections under your watch, including the 2023 polls, which were peaceful and well-coordinated. The most recent gubernatorial election was adjudged the freest, fairest, most transparent, and credible election in Nigeria’s history. This is a story we will continue to tell because it gives hope that elections can be conducted without violence or irregularities.”

He added that the youth constituency, both in Anambra and in the diaspora, had regained confidence in the electoral system largely due to Dr. Agwu’s leadership. For them, he said, no account of electoral transformation in Anambra State would be complete without her name.

The award, approved unanimously by the ASTUC Youth Wing executive council, was presented as a permanent token of appreciation. “It would not be enough to express our gratitude in words alone,” Okoli said. “We wanted something that would remind her of the years she served Anambra with distinction. This award symbolises our sincere appreciation.”

Receiving the honour, an emotional Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu expressed her surprise and deep gratitude. She noted that the award was particularly meaningful because it came unexpectedly from young people who had been silently observing her work.

“This award is huge because it came from people I never knew were watching me,” she said. “In this era of social media, people are quick to highlight faults, but hardly commend when you do the right thing. When I heard of this honour, I asked myself, ‘Does it mean these people are watching me?’”

Dr. Agwu reflected on her journey since assuming office on 9th November 2022. She narrated how, upon entering Anambra State for the first time, she prayed earnestly not to fail in her responsibility as REC in a state she described as the ancestral heart of eastern Nigeria. She made a solemn vow in church to uphold fairness, credibility, and freedom in every election conducted under her watch.

The REC shared insights into the rigorous process of rebuilding public trust in the electoral system. Her team embarked on widespread sensitization across radio and television stations, as well as markets and public spaces, an effort she said paid off as voters’ confidence steadily improved.

She also acknowledged the consistent support of both former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and the current National Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan. “At no time was I ever asked to compromise,” she stressed. “Prof. Amupitan told me before the gubernatorial election, ‘No compromise, don’t allow anyone to coax you.’ It was a test of time, but God helped us.”

Dr. Agwu emphasized that the success recorded in Anambra was a collective effort, crediting INEC staff in the state and at the national level. She highlighted one of their proudest achievements, announcing the full results of the recent gubernatorial election before 9 a.m. on Sunday, less than 24 hours after voting ended, a first in Nigeria’s electoral history.

“Today, if anybody comes out to vote in Anambra State, their vote will count,” she declared. “INEC was determined to get it right, and we got it right. Nobody takes the glory but God.”


She dedicated the award to the Almighty, expressing heartfelt appreciation to the INEC Chairman, National Commissioners, management, and staff for their support. “For the youths to give me this recognition, it means I am getting it right,” she said. “I promise to continue to do the right thing.”

Among the ASTUC delegation were its Secretary-General, Comrade Oscar Chiwuba; and Hon. Anthony Ezeigwe, Special Adviser to the ASTUC President-General on Support.

By Emeka Chiaghanam



In a significant move to stabilize electricity distribution and strengthen local oversight, the Anambra State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ASERC) has granted an interim licence to First Power Electricity Company Limited. The one-year licence marks the first formal approval under the state’s newly established electricity regulatory framework and is part of broader efforts by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration to improve power supply for residents and businesses.

The ceremony, held in Awka, the state capital, was attended by top government officials, representatives of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), strategic partners, and members of the media. The event signals a pivotal step in Anambra’s quest to manage its energy sector independently, under a state-driven regulatory system rather than relying solely on federal oversight.

Prof. Frank Okafor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ASERC, described the licensing of First Power as a “landmark event” for the state. He said the commission aims to ensure electricity is treated not as a luxury but as a basic service that supports industrial growth, commerce, and social development.

“This licence is more than a regulatory formality; it is the beginning of a transformative journey,” Prof. Okafor said. “We are committed to transparent oversight, rigorous monitoring of operators, and customer-focused service. Our goal is to change public perception and demonstrate that regulatory agencies can operate effectively and accountably.”

The commission has also announced a mass metering programme, set to commence within two weeks. Prof. Okafor explained that the initiative will expand access to electricity meters across the state, addressing long-standing complaints about estimated billing and enhancing accountability. He projected that by 2027, Anambra would achieve significant improvements in metering coverage and reliability of supply.

The path to independent regulation began on October 9, 2025, when Governor Soludo inaugurated five commissioners to lead ASERC. Shortly afterward, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) issued an Order of Transfer, ceding oversight of electricity operations in Anambra to the state agency. ASERC subsequently resolved to issue interim licences to companies previously operating under NERC, including First Power.

Representing EEDC’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Ernest Mupwaya described the licence as a milestone in the state’s power sector reform. “First Power is structured to align with Anambra’s development priorities, including industrial expansion, urban growth, agricultural development, and support for small and medium enterprises,” he said. “We are ready to operate fully under the state’s regulatory framework while maintaining standards of safety, environmental responsibility, and customer service.”

First Power’s Managing Director, Okechukwu Okafor, emphasized that the licence formalizes the company’s status as the primary distributor of electricity in Anambra. He noted that the company is transitioning from operating under EEDC’s NERC licence to functioning as an independent state-regulated entity. “We are committed to partnering with industrialists, the government, and communities to improve electricity supply,” he said. “Our target is to ensure all customers are metered by 2027.”

The event also featured remarks from Dr. Law Mefor, Anambra State Commissioner for Information, who praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for moving electricity to the concurrent legislative list, which empowered states to establish their own regulatory frameworks. Dr. Mefor described the licence issuance as a landmark achievement for the Soludo administration and assured continued government support to strengthen the state electricity market.

Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Mr. Julius Chukwuemeka, described the move as timely and strategic, while Dr. Charles Ofoegbu, MD/CEO of the Anambra State Solids Minerals Development Company Limited and Anambra Petroleum and Energy Resources Limited, welcomed First Power to the state, pledging support for a smooth operational start until the company establishes dedicated offices.

The interim licence to First Power represents the first step in Anambra State’s ambitious plan to create a reliable, accountable, and locally managed electricity distribution system, signaling a new era in the state’s energy sector and its broader economic development.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

The Cooperative Federation of Anambra State Limited (COFAS) has launched a renewed campaign to strengthen cooperative societies across the state, unveiling an action plan aimed at repositioning cooperatives as key drivers of social transformation and grassroots development. The initiative was announced at the 2025 Strategic Cooperative Summit held on Wednesday at King David Hotel, Awka.

The summit, themed “Cooperative Societies as Agents of Social Transformation and Sustainable Grassroots Development,” brought together cooperative leaders, government representatives, academics, financial facilitators, and development practitioners to examine the challenges confronting cooperatives and outline a framework for rebuilding public trust and operational discipline within the sector.

Delivering the keynote address, COFAS President Professor Ogochukwu Soludo said the federation was moving to correct years of decline that had weakened cooperative culture in the state. He noted that many groups had drifted from the original principles of cooperation, resulting in unrealistic expectations, poor management practices, and a loss of confidence among members.

According to him, the first phase of COFAS’ renewal strategy focuses on creating widespread awareness and educating members on the fundamentals of cooperative enterprise. “People cannot operate what they do not understand,” he said, stressing that cooperative growth depends on collective responsibility, disciplined contributions, and the prudent use of resources.

He said cooperatives in the state had long suffered from the perception that membership provided automatic access to free government money or grants. Such mindsets, he warned, had derailed the movement. “Life does not work on freebies. Cooperatives are built on contribution, investment and shared benefits—not on waiting for unearned support,” he said.

Professor Soludo explained that the federation aimed to rebuild the system by redirecting members’ focus to the principles of pooling resources, engaging in productive ventures, and investing wisely to achieve collective prosperity. He said the long-term target is to transform cooperatives into a broad social movement capable of supporting the state’s development agenda.

He also urged the government to support credible cooperatives with proven leadership and transparent systems. “When government identifies cooperatives that are genuinely functional and accountable, encouragement should follow,” he added.

A major presentation at the event came from Dr. Nma Okechukwu Okoroji, Director of the Centre for Agripreneurship and Cooperative Research Practice at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and a leading figure in several national agricultural associations. She described COFAS as a critical pathway to unlocking the economic potential that Anambra’s cooperative communities have long awaited.

Dr. Okoroji said cooperation remains central to human progress and noted that the Igbo cultural expression “Igbo Kwenu” itself symbolizes unity and collective action. She encouraged participants to embrace cooperatives as legitimate business ventures rather than welfare platforms. “Cooperatives are not designed for sharing government money,” she said. “They are business enterprises built on contribution, investment and management discipline.”

She urged communities to form or strengthen cooperative societies, stressing that such structures have the capacity to reduce poverty and expand economic opportunities when properly managed. According to her, even the concept of partnership in religious doctrine is rooted in collaboration and shared effort.

Another dimension of support was highlighted by Mr. Sam Eze, President of the Susumi platform, who briefed journalists at the event. He said Susumi was ready to collaborate with cooperatives in the state by providing financial structures that allow members to benefit as they contribute. He said this would give cooperatives access to a wider pool of funds and strengthen their capacity to execute business ventures that require significant capital.

Participants also received practical guidance from Mr. Nwike Phillips, a retired Senior Cooperative Officer in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and a consultant with the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation. His presentation focused on operational weaknesses that hinder the growth of many cooperatives.

Phillips criticised the widespread avoidance of joint ventures among cooperatives, describing it as a major cultural barrier that undermines group success. He also expressed concern over fund mismanagement, lack of vision, failure to hold regular meetings, and poor financial accountability. “Many cooperatives do not keep proper records or produce annual accounts,” he said, urging leaders to adopt best practices, attend training programmes, and prioritize transparency.

He stressed that cooperative structures must operate as collective entities and not as personal establishments of leaders who act without consultation or documentation.

In her remarks, Mrs. Agbili Chiamaka, Senior Registrar of Cooperatives in the Ministry of Industry, called for improved leadership capacity within cooperative societies. She identified poor record-keeping and weak financial management as major setbacks. She encouraged members to pay their contributions diligently, adhere to required levies, and strengthen capital formation to improve access to business opportunities.

Mrs. Agbili emphasized that accountability, leadership training, and consistent meetings remain essential in building cooperatives capable of competing and thriving in modern economic environments.

The 2025 Strategic Cooperative Summit ended with a collective commitment to reposition cooperatives as functional tools for economic empowerment, financial discipline, and sustainable development across Anambra State. Organizers said follow-up programmes and capacity-building sessions would continue throughout the year to ensure that the resolutions adopted at the summit translate into measurable improvements at the grassroots.

Among the attendees were the presidents and secretaries of all registered cooperative societies in Anambra State, directors and staff of the Department of Cooperatives, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, strategic partners, representatives from ASTUC, ASBA, SMEDAN, BIO, COFAS-MSME Forum, as well as selected patrons and key stakeholders.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

The Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC) Youth Wing has honoured three distinguished personalities as its Role Models for 2025, celebrating their values, character, and impact on young people across the state. The ceremony, held on Saturday, 22 November 2025, at the ASTUC Secretariat in the Old Government House, Awka, drew traditional rulers, community leaders and youth delegates from all 179 towns. Governor Charles Soludo, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, presided over the event.

ASTUC Youth President-General, Comrade Ken Okoli, explained that the Mega Star Role Models initiative aims to promote excellence, rebuild moral standards and inspire responsible leadership across Anambra. He noted that the selection process began in 2024 as part of efforts to spotlight individuals who embody principles such as honesty, patriotism, hard work, justice, tolerance, community service and reverence for God and humanity.

He said each of the 179 communities was asked to nominate one person whose lifestyle reflects these values. This list was later reduced to one representative per local government area, before youth delegates from the three senatorial districts elected one representative for each zone. Those finally selected were: High Chief (Dr) Chinedu Umeadi for Anambra Central, Very Rev Fr Dr Basil Ekwunife for Anambra North, and Dr Ebuka Onunkwo for Anambra South.

Comrade Okoli praised the three honourees as individuals whose records of service, humility and discipline stand out. He urged young people to draw lessons from their examples of hard work, generosity and integrity.

Governor Soludo, through Dr Mefor, commended the youth wing for choosing people who built their success through diligence rather than through criminal shortcuts. He stressed that at a time when some youths embrace fraud, ritual practices and other harmful paths, it is crucial to highlight those who have achieved progress through honourable means.

Prof. Soludo encouraged the recipients to stay true to the values that earned them the recognition, and urged young people across the state to emulate the admirable qualities that set Umeadi, Ekwunife and Onunkwo apart. He added that their conduct reflects the fourth pillar of his Solution Agenda, which seeks to strengthen values and promote good governance.

Dr Ebuka Onunkwo, businessman, philanthropist and APGA frontline aspirant for the 2025 Anambra South senatorial by-election, thanked the youths for the honour. He said the recognition motivates him to continue supporting young people through employment opportunities, scholarships, widows’ assistance and other charitable interventions. He encouraged the public to treat every opportunity as a platform to uplift others.

Fr Ekwunife, widely regarded as a model of integrity, discipline and innovation, reiterated the need for youths to avoid get-rich-quick temptations. He maintained that hard work is the only reliable route to success, adding that many vices—such as kidnapping and ritual activities, would reduce if young people embraced honest effort and made good use of available opportunities. He noted that investing in youths is investing in the state’s future.

In his remarks, Dr Chinedu Umeadi, represented by his brother, expressed gratitude to the youths for recognising his contributions, particularly in education. He noted that many people work quietly without seeking attention, and said the award serves as a reminder that meaningful efforts do not go unnoticed. He encouraged citizens to become the change they desire, emphasising that true progress begins with personal responsibility.

By Ejike Anyaduba

St John Vianney Science College, Ukwulu, Anambra State, has won another national award. This makes it three in just three years of the College’s existence, averaging an award a year. It does seem, from available records, that no school its age has achieved this feat. If any has done so, which is not public knowledge, it must be in the distant past because as far as quality education and moral formation are concerned, the College has proved relatively formidable. It has won almost all the competitions it entered for, local and international.

Sometime in September 2022, when the director of the school Reverend Father Emmanuel Obimma (Ebube Muonso) of the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke, Anambra State, opened the co-educational Catholic international school, parents who know the priest’s disposition to sound scholarship nurtured in morality did not hesitate to enroll their children. It was believed, and nothing has changed since to suggest it is no longer the case, that if any school was going to compete and possibly surpass the very best in academics and moral formation anywhere in Nigeria it was going to be St John Vianney Science College. And it came to pass because not long after, the school began to emit sparks of brilliance that has continued to confound competitors from across the 36 states of the federation and beyond.

In April 2024, barely two years into being, the College tore through the veneer of limitation to dominate schools around it.

The news of its outstanding performance within Anambra, the Southeast zone and the whole of Nigeria may have yet to dominate the public space, but it is there nonetheless. Every competition entered for, and every win recorded, showed that St John Vianney Science College is determined to work its way up the ladder of excellence in the Nigerian school system. It has since stepped up its game to take in international competitors with equal flair.

So far, the College has entered for three competitions and won all. The competitions were National ICT Competition, organized by the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, the other was First United Kingdom–Nigeria Debate, put together by Bring It On Africa and Debate Mate UK and finally National Head Girls Competition, arranged by Women in Leadership Advanced Network (WILAN). The performance of the College in taking the first position in all three competitions has set it apart as a school with a great promise.

The competitions were designed to nurture, equip, and sharpen the critical thinking as well as the reasoning skill of the students in preparation for leadership role in the future. The ICT which was the first of the three competitions to be conducted in April 2024, was for all girls in secondary schools across Nigeria. It put the technology innovation skill of the girls to test and in the end St John Vianney Science College came tops. Called M-Tag VR, the project allows users to “explore icons, landmarks like Zuma Rocks and learn about the fascinating cultural aspects of Nigerian tribes.”

The second was a cross border virtual competition that pitted the College against six secondary schools from Nigeria and the United Kingdom. Held June 2025, and tagged Nigeria-UK Schools Debate Competitions to test the logical acuity and public speaking finesses of the contending schools. After a keenly contested debate by the competitors from both sides of the Atlantic, St. Vianney Science College trumped the rest. With the win, the College earned the inaugural UK-Nigeria Debate Champion and will be representing Nigeria at the extended debate rounds scheduled to take place in December 2025, in London.

The last of the contests won by the College was the competition by Women in Leadership Advanced Network (WILAN). It was a National Girls Competition which saw well over 200 head girls across secondary schools in Nigeria locked in bold contest. The aim was to provide visible platform where girls will showcase their leadership skill by developing innovative solutions to social issues. As was wont when the competition was brought to a close, St. John Vianney Science College in a manner of a takedown compelled others to submission.

The achievements of the College in its repeated wins over and above the best of Nigerian secondary schools and top-ranking UK schools speak to the diligence of both the students, the teachers and the management of the College. It is well to remember that the success of the College as clearly evident derives more from its peculiar moral as well as educational foundation.

St John Vianney Science College may share a lot of things in common with other secondary schools of its time, but it is significantly different in formation and nurture. In addition to scholarship, it pays special attention to the moral formation of the students. The effort of its director Reverend Father Emmanuel Obimma (Ebube Muonso) in this regard – his commitment to the spiritual upbringing of the students has impacted much in the overall performance of the College.

This does not in any way detract from the effort of the hard-working staff and the dutiful compliance of the students. Speaking on part of what helps the young College in its winning streak, Fr. Obimma said after the National Head Girls Competition: “The victory is a validation of the quality of education and moral foundation that St. John Vianney Science College stands for.”

This is a fairly good assessment given the quality of education and discipline, evident in the school. But more than that, the reward for excellence in the College hardly compares to any. For example, just last year the Chemistry teacher who handled the students for the year's WAEC was rewarded with a Million Naira for excellent performance? In fact, there is a yearly performance evaluation for teachers which is rewarded with unstinting gratitude from the management.

St. John Vianney Science College has done well for itself, Anambra state and Nigeria. Representing Nigeria in the UK-Nigeria Debate in London barely two months from now is another way of projecting the image of the state and Nigeria on the global stage. Already the travel expenses of the champions have been underwritten by the director as a way of motivating the champions and encouraging others to work harder. It tells a lot about the collaborative effort in building the education sector in Anambra state.

Ejike Anyaduba
Abatete

As The Ezekwelu Family Donates Two Branded Sienna Vehicles In Support Of The Ukachukwu–Ekwunife Campaign Efforts



By Emeka Chiaghanam


The quest to redefine Anambra’s political and developmental story gained renewed momentum on Sunday as Prince Dr. Nicholas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the forthcoming November 8, 2025 election, received overwhelming endorsement from the people of Ojoto in Idemili South Local Government Area.

Addressing a cheerful crowd at Chief Ezeudenna Ezekwelu's country home, Enugo Village, Ojoto, Idemili South LGA, Prince Ukachukwu expressed deep gratitude to the people for their steadfast support and unwavering faith in his governorship journey. He described Ojoto as a second home, noting that his long-standing bond with the Ezekwelu family had made him “one of their own.”

“I have been part of the Ezekwelu family even before now,” he said warmly. “And I will continue to relate with them as a true family member. The love and trust I share with Ojoto people go beyond politics; it is a brotherhood built on faith and vision.”

The governorship hopeful, fondly called Ikukuoma, used the occasion to urge the people of Ojoto and the entire Idemili South to “follow the right person” in the forthcoming election. According to him, the destiny of Anambra State depends on the collective decision of its people to choose wisely.

“If we truly desire a change that will tackle insecurity, reduce excessive taxation, and restore dignity to governance, then November 8, 2025, is our chance to bring APC into office,” he declared. “This is your moment to show solidarity. Supporting me means standing for progress, peace, and prosperity. I have come for one purpose, to make Anambra better and greater.”

Prince Ukachukwu called on citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and get ready to vote out bad governance. He promised that his administration would reward the people’s trust with transparent leadership, people-oriented policies, and lasting development.

Reaffirming their commitment to Ukachukwu’s candidacy, the Ezekwelu family, led by Hon. Engr. Tony Uche Ezekwelu, the Ochiagha Obododike II of Ojoto, pledged their total loyalty and support. They expressed strong confidence that Prince Ukachukwu’s emergence would herald a new dawn for the state.

“Prince Ukachukwu’s sincerity, track record, and passion for people’s welfare stand him out,” Hon. Ezekwelu remarked. “We are solidly behind him, and we believe victory is certain come November 8.”

The Chief of Staff to Prince Ukachukwu, Barr. Kingsley Ezekwelu, (Okaka Ojoto) described him as a man with an uncommon heart for service and compassion. “I have known Prince Ukachukwu for over two decades. He is not just a leader but a mentor and father figure to me and many others, which won’t be taken for granted. His achievements in both capital and human development speak for themselves. He is exactly the kind of leader Anambra needs now,” he said.

Adding his voice, the APC Campaign Chairman for Idemili South, Rev. Uche Abuchi, reaffirmed the local government’s total commitment to Ukachukwu’s ambition. “Idemili South belongs to APC, and our choice is clear, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu is the right man for the job. His leadership vision aligns with the aspirations of our people,” he stated confidently.

The highlight of the visit was the donation of two branded Sienna vehicles by the Ezekwelu family to support Ukachukwu/Ekwunife’s campaign efforts, an act widely seen as a demonstration of genuine solidarity and faith in his leadership.

Prince Ukachukwu was accompanied by prominent figures, including Hon. Johnbosco Onukwo, Chairman of the APC National Reconciliation Committee and Deputy Director-General of the Ikukuoma/Iyom Campaign Council for Anambra South; Hon. Paul Obu, the member representing Orumba North in the Anambra State House of Assembly; Hon. Charles Ezennia, a former legislator; and Chief Augustine Muomaife, among several other dignitaries.

Prays For Family’s Strength And Eternal Rest For Late Chinyelugo


By Emeka Chiaghanam


In a deeply emotional moment filled with reflection, faith, and empathy, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the November 8, 2025 Anambra State governorship election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Osita Kenneth Agbata (Chinyelugo) at Umuonaga Village, Awka.

The visit, which drew emphaty and prayers, was more than a gesture of sympathy, it was a profound reminder of the transience of life. Prince Ukachukwu, speaking softly but with conviction, described life as “a journey that every man must travel, one whose end leads to a place called eternity.”

“Life is not about how long we live but how well we live,” Ukachukwu said. “Chinyelugo lived a meaningful life, one of impact, friendship, and faith. He touched lives and left behind memories that will forever inspire those who knew him. That, indeed, is what matters most.”

The APC candidate, known for his compassion and deep Christian values, encouraged the bereaved family to find solace in the hope of eternal life, reminding them that true comfort comes from God alone. He prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased’s soul and for divine strength upon the family, particularly Mrs. Ngozi Agbata, wife of the late Osita Kenneth Agbata and a prominent member of the Sustenance of Faith in Governance (SOFIG), one of the apex support groups advancing his candidacy.

“We are all travellers on life’s journey,” he continued. “What defines us is not how far we go but how faithfully we walk. Chinyelugo walked faithfully, with purpose and devotion. My prayer is that God will grant this family peace and courage to carry on.”

Receiving Prince Ukachukwu and his entourage, Hon. Alex Chinwuko, who spoke on behalf of the Agbata family, expressed profound gratitude for the visit, describing it as a mark of true friendship and leadership.

“Your visit at this time of our grief speaks volumes about your heart,” Chinwuko said. “We are comforted by your presence and your words of hope. May God grant your heart’s desire to serve the people of Anambra as governor, and may He continue to bless you with wisdom and strength.”

Adding his voice, Chief Peter Chinwuko, the oldest member of the family at 82 years, offered heartfelt prayers for Ukachukwu’s success and long life.

“You have shown love today,” the elder said with emotion. “May the Almighty grant you long life, health, and success in your mission to bring peace and development to our dear Anambra State.”

Promises Transformation Through Security And Growth


By Emeka Chiaghanam


Anambra State is long overdue for a positive change, one that translates into enduring peace, sustainable growth, and true development. This was the passionate declaration of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate for the upcoming November 8, 2025 governorship election, during his address at the 2025 Aguata Diocesan Christian Men Conference, held at St. Lawrence Anglican Church, Ndiowu, Orumba North Local Government Area.

“I have a vision and a burden to transform Anambra State,” Ukachukwu began, his voice steady with conviction. “This is not the Anambra of our dream. We need to change the narrative for things to begin to work again.”


Change Begins with You — and Your Voter’s Card
Prince Ukachukwu lamented that while many people talk about change and desire transformation that touches lives and drives development, few are willing to take the necessary steps to make it happen.

“People in Anambra want change,” he said. “But many of those who want change are not registered in their wards. Without registering in your ward, how will that change take place? Every politician fears a man with a voter’s card, because that is the only weapon of change to make your choice.”

He emphasised that political transformation begins at the grassroots, where citizens must actively participate in the electoral process to make their voices count.

Restoring Anambra’s Economic Glory
“My major aim is to transform Anambra,” Ukachukwu declared. “Anambra is known for its manufacturing and entrepreneurial spirit. If you are not manufacturing, you are trading. Whichever one you are into, goods or services, you are meant to profit from it.”

He, however, decried the current state of the economy, noting that insecurity has crippled enterprise and driven away investors and industrialists.

“These things are no longer there because Anambra is no longer a safe haven for them to thrive,” he said. “The question is, what are we going to do to bring these economic builders back to drive growth and development? We must build an economy that will create jobs our children will be proud of after leaving school. With all the economic enablers available, insecurity poses a huge threat.”


Security First, Security Second, Security Third
The APC hopeful described insecurity as the greatest challenge confronting Anambra State, asserting that no meaningful development can occur in an unsafe environment.

“Insecurity is a menace in Anambra State. The first thing that will drive life and business in Anambra is security; the second is security; and the third is security. When the environment is secure, everyone will live a life that is befitting and thrive in whatever they do,” he said.

Ukachukwu noted that as a member of the ruling party at the centre, his administration would have the necessary federal backing to tackle insecurity head-on. “Once the issue of security is addressed, every other factor that will enable and grow the economy will fall into place,” he affirmed.

Electricity and Industrial Growth
Prince Ukachukwu outlined his economic blueprint, identifying electricity as a key driver of development. He disclosed that Anambra is naturally endowed with vast gas reserves in Omasi, Ayamelum Local Government Area, ranking among the top five in Nigeria.

“As Governor, the first thing I will do is build a power plant in that area using our gas resources,” he explained. “This initiative will give us 24-hour electricity supply and even allow us to sell to neighbouring states. With constant power, we will build industrial clusters that will drive manufacturing and economic expansion.”

He added that stable electricity would reduce labour costs, increase productivity, and create jobs. “Where there is constant electricity, more people will be employed. Our children will have jobs to cater for themselves, and as employment rises, the economy will grow,” he said.

Agricultural Revolution and Rural Empowerment
Beyond industrialisation, Ukachukwu promised an agricultural revolution that would empower farmers and rural communities through an agric chain system, ensuring that every participant benefits at each stage of production and distribution.

“We will ensure our farmers pay less than one percent interest on agricultural loans and farm inputs to encourage production and growth,” he said. “Insurance will be part of the agric chain, to protect farmers and encourage sustainable agriculture.”

He also revealed plans to invest in health, water, and environmental infrastructure, all aimed at improving the quality of life for Anambra residents.

Faith, Partnership, and Purpose
Prince Ukachukwu reiterated his commitment to the Church, describing it as a vital partner in building a morally sound and prosperous society.

“As a partner in advancing God’s work, I will continue to support the Church,” he pledged. “We are coming to fix Anambra and make her greater. We will help many people cross the poverty line and live fulfilled lives.”

During the event, the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Rt. Rev’d Samuel Ezeofor, alongside other ministers, prayed for Prince Ukachukwu, asking God to grant him divine favour, blessings, and protection as he pursues his vision for the state.


The Ikukuoma Mandate: Be the Change
Accompanied by Hon. Chukwumeka Nsofor, former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, and Hon. Paul Obu, Member representing Orumba North, among others, Ukachukwu urged Ndi Anambra to take ownership of the change they desire.

“When you are part of the system, you have a way of addressing issues of need,” he said. “To make change happen in Anambra, in every polling unit, ward, and council area, be the Ikukuoma of that place.”

Building And Transforming Anambra’s Economy: Ukachukwu–Ekwunife Lead The Way



By Emeka Chiaghanam


In every generation, there comes a leadership team whose vision transcends politics and speaks directly to the economic destiny of a people. For Anambra State, the joint candidacy of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife, under the All Progressives Congress (APC), represents such a turning point. Beyond the campaign rallies and political rhetoric, this ticket carries the promise of economic transformation rooted in business acumen, foresight, and developmental vision.

Anambra has long been celebrated as Nigeria’s economic and commercial nerve centre of the South-East. From the bustling markets of Onitsha to the industrial hubs of Nnewi and the entrepreneurial vibrancy of Awka, Anambra’s people are known for their resilience and ingenuity. Yet, for decades, the state’s economic potential has remained largely untapped, hampered by infrastructural deficits, policy inconsistencies, and the absence of coordinated industrial strategy.

The Ukachukwu–Ekwunife ticket arrives not merely to govern but to architect an economy that reflects the industrious spirit of Ndi Anambra.


Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu: The Business Builder
Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, popularly known as Ikukuoma, embodies the mindset of an economic strategist. A successful businessman, he built his wealth not through shortcuts but through years of calculated investments across real estate, construction, and finance. His ventures have created jobs, attracted investors, and demonstrated the potential of turning vision into enterprise.

What sets Prince Ukachukwu apart is not only his success but also his foresight. He understands that for Anambra to prosper, the government must not act as a mere regulator but as a catalyst for enterprise. His economic philosophy is clear: create the enabling environment, provide infrastructure, and watch Anambra’s entrepreneurs unlock unimaginable wealth.

His business acumen, combined with a deep commitment to social responsibility, places him in a unique position to lead an economic renaissance in the state.


Senator Uche Ekwunife: The Policy Advocate
Alongside Ukachukwu stands Senator Uche Ekwunife, a lawmaker whose record demonstrates both economic awareness and grassroots connection. In Abuja, she has consistently pushed for legislation that addresses business growth, infrastructure development, and inclusive policies for women and youths.

Senator Ekwunife’s strength lies in her ability to bridge policy and people. She recognises that economic transformation is not merely about figures on a budget sheet but about ensuring that the market woman, the young graduate, and the small-scale farmer can all find prosperity in the state’s economic framework.

Her voice in the Senate has amplified issues of trade, small business funding, and infrastructural investment. As deputy governor, she would bring these insights home to create people-focused policies that turn Anambra’s economic energy into measurable growth.


Industrialising Anambra: A New Economic Blueprint
Industrialisation is the bedrock of sustainable economic growth. Historically, regions that have embraced manufacturing and industrial policies have seen long-term prosperity. From South Korea to Singapore, the lesson is clear: a people’s energy must be channelled into production, not just consumption.

For Anambra, the Ukachukwu–Ekwunife ticket has the capacity to replicate such models.

1. Reviving Nnewi as the “Japan of Africa”
Nnewi, once heralded for its entrepreneurial genius in auto parts manufacturing, remains a sleeping giant. With targeted policies, tax incentives, and modern infrastructure, the ticket plans to revitalise Nnewi into a full-scale industrial hub, attracting both local and foreign investors.
2. Expanding Onitsha as West Africa’s Trade Gateway
Onitsha, already one of Africa’s largest markets, can be transformed into a global trade destination. Investments in river ports, logistics facilities, and digital trade systems will reduce bottlenecks, expand exports, and create jobs.
3. Agro-industrial Development
With fertile lands across Anambra North and Central, agro-processing plants will link farmers directly to industries, cutting waste and boosting value chains. This not only ensures food security but also creates export opportunities.

Empowering Entrepreneurs: The Anambra Advantage
Entrepreneurship is at the heart of Anambra’s identity. A 2019 survey by the African Development Bank revealed that Anambra has one of the highest concentrations of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria. Yet, many of these businesses remain informal, underfunded, and stifled by poor infrastructure.

Ukachukwu and Ekwunife’s strategy for empowering entrepreneurs rests on three pillars:
• Access to Finance: Establishing state-backed funds and partnering with banks to provide low-interest loans tailored to small businesses.
• Skills Development: Creating training centres in partnership with universities and vocational schools to equip youths with both technical and digital skills.
• Infrastructure for Growth: Building industrial clusters with power supply, internet connectivity, and transport systems to reduce the cost of doing business.

By unlocking the energy of MSMEs, the duo intends to create a ripple effect that touches every sector of the economy.

Creating Jobs: From Policy to Reality
Unemployment is one of Anambra’s biggest challenges. According to Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (2023), youth unemployment remains above 40% nationwide, with states like Anambra feeling the pressure due to a growing young population.

The Ukachukwu–Ekwunife plan sees job creation not as an afterthought but as the natural outcome of strategic investment.
• Infrastructure Jobs: Road construction, housing estates, and public works will immediately absorb thousands of youths into productive labour.
• Industrial Jobs: Revitalised factories in Nnewi and agro-processing plants in Anambra North will create long-term employment opportunities.
• Digital Jobs: By promoting ICT hubs in Awka and beyond, the state will position itself as a centre for outsourcing, fintech, and digital entrepreneurship.
• Public Service Efficiency: [/b]Reforms will professionalise the civil service, creating merit-based opportunities for graduates eager to serve.
This comprehensive approach ensures that job creation is not only sustainable but also diverse, touching multiple sectors.

[b]Investor-Friendly Policies: Anambra Open for Business
One of the greatest strengths of the Ukachukwu–Ekwunife ticket is its investor-friendly orientation. Both leaders understand that private capital is essential for driving growth. As such, their administration promises to create an environment where investors feel secure, valued, and supported.

1. Ease of Doing Business: Cutting through red tape, digitalising government services, and ensuring transparent business registration processes.
2. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Opening key sectors like energy, transport, and housing to private investors through PPP models.
3. Security as Investment Catalyst: Strengthening local security infrastructure to protect lives and investments, ensuring confidence in long-term ventures.
4. Diaspora Engagement: Encouraging Ndi Anambra abroad to bring capital, skills, and networks home through targeted incentives.

These policies will position Anambra not only as Nigeria’s commercial hub but also as a beacon of investment in West Africa.

A Vision Anchored in Research and Global Best Practices
The vision of Ukachukwu and Ekwunife is not based on guesswork but on global lessons and local realities. Studies by the World Bank and United Nations have consistently shown that states which combine industrialisation with entrepreneurship support achieve faster poverty reduction.
For example, Vietnam’s transformation from a war-torn country to a manufacturing hub offers lessons in policy consistency and export-oriented growth. Similarly, Rwanda’s ease of doing business reforms demonstrate the power of governance in attracting investment.

The Ukachukwu–Ekwunife ticket promises to adapt these best practices to Anambra’s context, drawing from history, but tailoring solutions to the unique strengths of Ndi Anambra.

The Human Face of Economic Policy
While the numbers and policies matter, what makes this ticket stand out is its human face. Ukachukwu’s philanthropy has shown that wealth must serve people, while Ekwunife’s grassroots politics proves that governance must touch lives directly.

Their economic vision is not about abstract GDP figures but about ensuring that the teacher in Aguata, the trader in Onitsha, the auto dealer and technologist in Nnewi, the farmer in Ayamelum, and the graduate in Awka all find opportunities to thrive. It is an economy with a human soul.

Architects of a New Dawn
Anambra stands at a defining moment. For too long, its economic genius has been stifled by lack of infrastructure, policy inconsistency, and political distractions. But with Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife, the state has before it leaders who are not only politicians but architects of prosperity.

Their business acumen, economic foresight, and developmental vision form the blueprint for an Anambra that is industrialised, entrepreneurial, and job-rich.

This is not just about winning an election, it is about designing a future where Ndi Anambra can dream bigger, build stronger, and live better. In this vision, Ukachukwu and Ekwunife are not merely candidates; they are economic architects ready to construct a prosperous Anambra.

By Emeka Chiaghanam


Can we talk business and economy? if we can. Let’s talk about impermanence. It’s a uncomfortable truth, the kind we like to wallpaper over with stories of endless growth and unstoppable innovation. We like such stories. We’re told to build empires, to chase legacy, to create things that last forever. Who doesn't want to leave a legacy behind.

But history, that straight-shooting truth-teller, has a different story to tell. It whispers that all things, even the mightiest, must transform, decline, or fall. And there is no clearer evidence of this than the graveyard of corporate giants.

These weren’t just companies. They were ecosystems. They were identities. They shaped skylines, defined eras, and employed millions and rewrote stories. Their collapse wasn’t just a blip on a stock chart; it was a seismic event that shook the global economy and left countless lives in the rubble and some never recovered from it. Their stories are more than business case studies; they are our modern-day parables about hubris, change, and resilience.



Here are ten legends that soared, shook the world, and ultimately fell to earth. They teach us not to despair, but to pay attention.

1. The Dutch East India Company (VOC): The Original Bubble
The Boom: Imagine a company so powerful it could mint its own currency, wage wars, negotiate treaties, and colonise foreign lands. Founded in 1602, the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC) wasn’t just a company; it was a sovereign state in all but name, and the world’s first publicly traded corporation. It made early shareholders unspeakably rich, pioneering the very concept of stocks and dividends. At its height, it was worth a staggering $7.9 trillion in today’s money, according to economists at Yale University.

The Bust: The rot set in from within and has always been the same in similar cases. Corruption became endemic. The cost of maintaining its global empire and military soared. Fierce competition from the British drove down profits. The VOC’s story is the ultimate lesson in what happens when an entity becomes too big, too complex, and too arrogant to adapt. It was nationalised in 1800 before dissolving, a hollow shell of its former self. Its dramatic rise and fall is a masterclass in unsustainable growth.

2. Lehman Brothers: The Domino
The Boom: For 158 years, Lehman was a pillar of Wall Street. It survived the American Civil War, the Great Depression, and two World Wars. It was the very definition of establishment, a blue-blooded investment bank that embodied financial grit and sophistication. In the early 2000s, it rode the wave of the housing boom, becoming a major player in packaging risky subprime mortgages into complex securities.

The Bust: When the housing bubble burst, Lehman was holding a bomb. Its immense exposure to these "toxic assets" rendered it insolvent. In September 2008, the US government made the fateful decision not to bail it out. Its bankruptcy filing, the largest in US history, was the match that lit the tinderbox of the Global Financial Crisis. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated the crisis wiped over $2 trillion from global economic output. Lehman teaches us that no institution, no matter how old or revered, is immune to a fatal misjudgement of risk.

3. Enron: The Illusion
The Boom: Hailed as America’s “most innovative company” by Fortune magazine for six years running, Enron was the darling of the new economy. It was a seemingly brilliant energy and commodities company, its stock price soaring on the back of what appeared to be revolutionary business models and boundless profits.

The Bust: It was all a house of cards. Enron’s success was an elaborate accounting fraud, a labyrinth of off-the-books entities designed to hide billions in debt. When the truth emerged in 2001, it collapsed with breathtaking speed, evaporating $74 billion in shareholder wealth and wiping out the pensions and livelihoods of thousands of employees. As the philosopher Seneca, a favourite of Stoics like Ryan Holiday, once warned, “A kingdom founded on injustices never lasts.” Enron is the eternal reminder that if something looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

4. Blockbuster: The Missed Turn
The Boom: For a generation, Friday night was Blockbuster night. The blue and yellow store was a cultural hub, a place of possibility lined with endless shelves of VHS tapes and, later, DVDs. At its peak in 2004, it had over 9,000 stores and 84,000 employees worldwide. It was a titan of entertainment.

The Bust: Blockbuster didn’t fail because people stopped watching movies. It failed because it refused to see the world changing. It dismissed a nascent mail-order DVD service called Netflix as a “very small niche business.” It had the chance to buy Netflix for a pittance and laughed it off. It was killed not by a superior competitor, but by its own inertia. Its demise is a brutal lesson in the necessity of adaptation. As the management writer Peter Drucker famously put it, “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic.”

5. Toys "R" Us: The Leveraged Burden
The Boom: For kids, it was a paradise. Aisles of toys as far as the eye could see. Geoffrey the Giraffe was a beloved icon. For decades, Toys "R" Us was the category killer, the undisputed king of toy retail that dominated the market.

The Bust: Its undoing wasn’t a lack of magic, but a crushing load of debt. In 2005, private equity firms acquired the company in a leveraged buyout, loading its balance sheet with over $5 billion of debt to finance the deal. The crippling interest payments left no money to invest in stores, online sales, or the customer experience. While competitors evolved, Toys "R" Us was strangled by the financial engineering meant to “save” it. It filed for bankruptcy in 2017, a cautionary tale of how short-term financial gains can destroy long-term legacy.

6. Pan American World Airways (Pan Am): The Fallen Flagbearer
The Boom: Pan Am didn’t just fly planes; it sold the glamour of international travel. It pioneered the jumbo jet, its blue globe logo symbolising a new, connected world. It was America’s unofficial flag carrier, a symbol of post-war optimism and innovation.

The Bust: A combination of tragic events, fierce competition following airline deregulation, and poor financial decisions led to its downfall. The 1988 Lockerbie bombing was a devastating blow from which its reputation never recovered. It collapsed in 1991. Pan Am’s story is a poignant one: that even the most glamorous and powerful brands are vulnerable to shifts in the market and world events beyond their control.

7. Nokia: The Complacent King
The Boom: Before the iPhone, there was Nokia. Its phones were legendary for their durability and battery life. The Nokia 3310 is still a meme-worthy icon of reliability. At its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it dominated the mobile phone market with a share of nearly 40%.

The Bust: Nokia saw the smartphone revolution coming but was too slow, too bureaucratic, and too invested in its own Symbian operating system to respond effectively. It failed to appreciate that a phone was becoming a portal to the internet, not just a communication device. As former CEO Stephen Elop famously lamented in an internal memo, “We’re standing on a burning platform.” By the time it jumped, it was too late. It was acquired by Microsoft in 2014. Nokia’s failure was a failure of vision, a lesson in the danger of resting on your laurels.

8. Woolworths: The Empty Five-and-Dime
The Boom: For over a century, Woolworths was the heart of Main Street USA and the UK high street. It invented the five-and-dime store concept and was a retail pioneer, the Amazon of its day. It was a place of community and affordable goods.

The Bust: The world moved on. Out-of-town supermarkets and discount retailers offered better prices. E-commerce began its rise. Woolworths failed to define a new reason for its existence; it became outdated and irrelevant. When the 2008 financial crisis hit, it was uniquely vulnerable. The last UK stores closed in 2009, a moment that genuinely shook the national psyche. It wasn’t killed by one thing, but by a death from a thousand cuts, a slow refusal to evolve.

9. General Motors (The Old GM): The Unwilling Giant
The Boom: For much of the 20th century, General Motors was American industry. Its slogan, “What’s good for General Motors is good for America,” wasn’t just marketing; it was often accepted as fact. It was a byword for manufacturing might, innovation, and economic power.

The Bust: Burdened by colossal “legacy costs” like pension and healthcare obligations for a vast army of retirees, and famously slow to respond to the demand for fuel-efficient cars, GM became a dinosaur. The 2008 crisis was the final blow. The company that once symbolised capitalism required a $50 billion government bailout and underwent a structured bankruptcy in 2009. The old GM died of rigidity, a warning that no company is too big to fail.

10. Thomas Cook: The Package Holiday Pioneer
The Boom: Founded in 1841, Thomas Cook literally invented the package tour. It made world travel accessible to the middle class. For generations, it was a trusted name, the company that handled your entire holiday, from flight to hotel to transfer. It was a British institution.

The Bust: The digital age dismantled its business model. Why book a package tour when you can easily book your own flights and Airbnb online? The company, laden with debt from a poorly timed merger, failed to adapt quickly enough. It collapsed suddenly in 2019, stranding hundreds of thousands of travellers and triggering the UK’s largest peacetime repatriation. It was a sobering end for a pioneer, showing that even a 178-year head start is no guarantee of survival.

The Dust Settles: What We Learn in the Ruins
These stories can feel like tragedies. And in many ways, they are. But they are also necessary. The economist Joseph Schumpeter called this process “creative destruction”, the old must be dismantled for the new to be built. It’s brutal, but it’s the engine of progress.

The lesson isn’t to avoid building for fear of failure. It’s to build with wisdom.

Stay humble. No position is unassailable. The VOC and GM teach us that.
Embrace change. Blockbuster and Nokia show us that yesterday’s logic is today’s liability.
Mind your foundations. Enron and Lehman Brothers prove that structures built on deceit or excessive risk will collapse.
Remember your purpose. Woolworths and Thomas Cook forgot why people originally loved them.

These companies shook the world on their way up and on their way down. Their ruins are not just memorials to failure; they are the foundations for what comes next. They remind us that in business, as in life, resilience isn’t about avoiding the storm. It’s about learning to dance in the rain, to rebuild after the flood, and to never mistake the temporary for the permanent.

Rally Support For Ukachukwu–Ekwunife Ticket, Pledge Massive Grassroots Mobilization Ahead Of Guber Poll


By Emeka Chiaghanam


The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Dunukofia Local Government Area has formally inaugurated its Campaign Council, ward coordinators and co-coordinators, setting the tone for grassroots mobilization ahead of the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election. The meeting, held at Ifitedunu, doubled as a strategic rallying point for stakeholders determined to unseat Governor Chukwuma Soludo, citing alleged failures in education, security, agriculture, and the economy.

The gathering brought together ward chairmen, vibrant support groups, and party stakeholders, with resounding pledges of loyalty to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife. Discussions centered on intensifying awareness at ward and polling unit levels, strengthening voter mobilization, and consolidating APC’s base to secure Dunukofia as a stronghold for the party.

Nwankwo: Dunukofia Must Deliver Ukachukwu
Hon. Dandove Nwankwo, APC Dunukofia Local Government Chairman and Co-Coordinator of the campaign, delivered a rallying charge on the need for collective commitment.

“Dunukofia must deliver Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, because he is not just the best candidate for this election but the only one with the credibility and capacity to rescue Anambra from the grip of failed promises. Our people have suffered from poor governance and declining services in key sectors like education, health, and security. The future of Dunukofia and Anambra rests on our ability to make the right choice, and that choice is Prince Ukachukwu. With his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, we have a balanced ticket that represents competence, experience, and compassion. This election is about the destiny of our children, and it begins with Dunukofia voting massively for APC.”

Egenti: Anambra Yearns for Change
Also speaking, Barr. Rich Egenti, PhD, the Dunukofia Coordinator for Ukachukwu’s campaign, emphasized the urgency of change in the state.

“Anambra has been yearning for change – genuine, people-driven change. The APC represents that change, and with Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, we have the man to bring it. This government has failed in critical areas of governance – our schools are suffering, insecurity is rising, farmers are abandoned, and the economy has left our people in hardship. This is why we must rally, vote, and defend our votes for APC. The Ukachukwu-Ekwunife ticket is the hope of our state, and Dunukofia cannot afford to be left behind. The people’s desire for change must translate into massive votes for APC at the ballot.”

Onyeanisi: Women Must Vote as a Bloc
APC Central Woman Leader, Mrs. Uju Onyeanisi, stirred the women in attendance with a passionate appeal for unity and decisive action.

“We, the women of Dunukofia, carry the strength of numbers, and our bloc vote can determine the outcome of this election. It is time for us to stand together and ensure victory for Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu. Women know the pain of bad governance – the cost of food, insecurity in markets, and the struggle to educate our children. Let us use our voter cards as our weapon of change. Let us vote en masse for APC, for Ukachukwu, and for the future of Anambra. Our unity is our strength.”

Onyiliagu: Unity and Hard Work Are Key
In his remarks, Hon. Vin Onyiliagu, Deputy Coordinator of the campaign, stressed the importance of teamwork in delivering victory.
“Victory does not come by wishful thinking but by unity and hard work. Every ward, every polling unit, every household in Dunukofia must feel the APC message. We must knock on doors, speak to voters, and ensure nobody is left behind. This is not just a campaign; it is a rescue mission for Anambra. When we unite under one vision, nothing can stop us from winning. Our success will be the product of our collective effort.”

Symbolic Gesture
The high point of the event was the official presentation of thousands of campaign posters and flyers by the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Dandove Nwankwo, to ward coordinators and co-coordinators. The symbolic gesture underscored the readiness of APC in Dunukofia to saturate the grassroots with the Ukachukwu-Ekwunife message.

Stakeholders left the meeting with renewed energy and determination, confident that Dunukofia would play a decisive role in delivering victory for APC in the November 8 election.

By Francesca Nabor


I still remember the night Lagos rain drowned half my plans. I’d left my umbrella at work, rookie mistake, and by the time I got home, soaked to the bone, my wife had quietly laid out a dry towel and a steaming bowl of pepper soup. No speech. No grand declaration. Just that small, deliberate act. And it struck me: love doesn’t always arrive with fireworks. Sometimes it sneaks in like a whisper, tucked inside gestures so ordinary you almost miss them.

That’s the trick, isn’t it? We expect romance to be loud, roses, candlelit dinners, declarations on Instagram. But the deepest care often hides in the margins of daily life. And if you’re not paying attention, you’ll mistake it for routine when really, it’s devotion dressed down.

Love in the Quiet Corners
Here’s the thing: humans are storytellers. We’ve been trained by films, novels, and pop songs to expect love in grand, cinematic flourishes. Shakespeare gave us balcony confessions; Nollywood dishes out dramatic airport chases. But history, and common sense—tells another story. Anthropologist Margaret Mead once wrote that civilisation began not with tools or fire but with “the healed femur,” evidence someone had stayed behind to nurse another back to strength. Care, not conquest, built us.

Your partner’s care might look like the packed lunch you didn’t ask for, or the way they remember your cousin’s birthday even when you forget. It’s less about spectacle and more about stewardship, protecting your joy, tending to your tiredness, filling in your gaps.

The Hidden Languages of Care
Gary Chapman popularised the “Five Love Languages,” and while the framework has been criticised (and rightly so, people are more complex than five boxes), it nailed one truth: love has dialects. But here’s the twist, it’s often spoken in unexpected ways.

Take silence. Not the cold, punishing kind, but the peace-filled silence of someone sitting beside you when words are too heavy. Or humour, the inside joke repeated at just the right moment to dissolve your tension. Or even conflict, yes, conflict. Because sometimes, the fight is proof they still care enough to wrestle with the mess instead of walking away.

Psychologists at the Gottman Institute call this “turning towards.” It’s the micro-moments, a glance, a sigh, a question asked in passing, that accumulate into trust. Care is less about the mountaintop moments and more about the consistent footfalls that carry you through valleys.

Case Study: The Phone Charger
A friend of mine once told me the sexiest thing his girlfriend ever did wasn’t a candlelit surprise or a sultry glance. It was when she tossed a spare phone charger into his bag before a work trip. “I knew I’d forget,” he said, “and she knew I’d forget. She saved me from myself.”

That’s the crux: real care anticipates. It sees around corners. It doesn’t wait for you to stumble before extending a hand—it clears the path beforehand. And when you think about it, that’s more profound than any gift-wrapped jewellery box.

Historical Echoes of Everyday Care
We tend to frame history as battles and treaties, but what about the quieter acts of devotion that never made the record books? During World War II, letters between soldiers and their spouses often carried small notes like, “Don’t forget your scarf,” or “I left extra bread for the children.” These weren’t trivialities. They were lifelines.

In Ghanaian folklore, Ananse stories remind us that wisdom often comes not from bravado but from foresight, the spider preparing webs before the storm. In the same way, partners who show care through planning, remembering, and smoothing life’s rough edges are carrying forward an ancient wisdom: love is logistics as much as lyric.

The Cultural Blind Spots
Here’s where culture trips us up. Modern consumer society monetises love. Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, even proposals are marketed as opportunities to prove care with a receipt. But ask around, and you’ll hear the same refrain: the grand gestures fade; it’s the everyday steadiness that endures.

A 2018 Pew Research study found that couples who reported high satisfaction weren’t the ones constantly posting each other online. Instead, they were the ones who regularly shared chores, laughed together, and supported each other’s goals. Turns out, washing dishes might matter more than a dozen roses. Who knew?

Care in the Mundane
Think about it: who takes out the bins without being asked? Who makes sure the generator has fuel before NEPA strikes? Who notices the tiny crack in your confidence and covers it with encouragement? These aren’t chores; they’re care disguised as duty.

And yet, because they’re so ordinary, we miss them. Or worse—we dismiss them. We think, “Well, that’s just what a partner should do.” But here’s the paradox: the more invisible the care, the more radical it actually is.

Sarcasm, Served Warm
Of course, we’re not always noble. Sometimes we grumble, “Thanks for loading the dishwasher wrong again.” But that’s the funny part: even sarcasm hides care. Because the opposite of love isn’t anger; it’s indifference. If your partner still argues about the right way to fold towels, it means they’re still invested in building a shared life. Annoyance is proof of proximity.

The Science of Subtlety
Neuroscience backs this up. Oxytocin, often dubbed the “bonding hormone,” doesn’t just spike during sex or childbirth. It rises during small moments of trust, like when someone hands you a cup of tea exactly the way you take it. Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert once said, “The human brain is a prediction machine.” So when your partner gets your preferences right, it reassures your brain: I’m known. I’m safe.

The Danger of Taking It for Granted
Here’s the risk: familiarity dulls appreciation. You start assuming the coffee will always be brewed, the jokes will always land, the support will always be there. But history warns us otherwise. Civilisations have collapsed not because of sudden invasions, but because of slow neglect, the little systems no one bothered to maintain. Relationships are no different.

Personal Reflection
I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty. I once overlooked how much care lived in my wife’s daily acts, until a business trip when she wasn’t there to buffer my clumsy mornings. Suddenly, I realised the packed lunches, the reminders, the subtle emotional check-ins weren’t background noise. They were the symphony. Absence revealed abundance.

A Global Mirror
Zoom out, and you see this truth mirrored globally. In Japan, the concept of amae describes the quiet dependence and indulgence between partners. In Yoruba culture, proverbs remind us: “Ẹni tí ó bá fẹ́ ọ́, ló mọ̀ ọ́.” (“Only the one who loves you truly knows you.”) Across cultures, love is less about spectacle, more about knowing, sometimes better than we know ourselves.

Unexpected Ways, Revisited
So, what are these unexpected ways your partner shows they care? They’re in the mismatched socks they fold for you anyway. The eye-roll followed by the back rub. The late-night, half-asleep “Drive safe” text. The instinct to argue about money because they want the future secured. The small shields they raise against the chaos of life.

A Statistic That Sting
Here’s one to chew on: according to the World Health Organization, 264 million people globally suffer from depression, many in silence. Partners who quietly check in, ask the second “How are you?” when the first gets brushed aside, those people are frontline mental health workers, whether they realise it or not. Care can be lifesaving, literally.

Measure of Love
But let’s twist the knife inward. If the unexpected ways matter most, then here’s the uncomfortable question: how are you showing care? Not with gifts or posts, but in the grit of daily life? Do you notice the weight your partner carries? Do you make their path smoother, or heavier?

Because in the end, the measure of love isn’t in the roses you buy, but in the roots you tend. And maybe, just maybe, the most unexpected way to show you care is to start paying attention to the unexpected ways they already do.

Three words.
Notice.
Appreciate.
Reciprocate.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

The first time someone told me that reading just twenty minutes a day could change my life, I laughed. Twenty minutes? That’s half a sitcom. That’s standing in line at the bank on a busy Friday. How could something so small carry that much weight? But life has a way of teaching us through storms, and one of the lessons I’ve learned, sometimes the hard way, is that the smallest consistent habits can reshape an entire destiny.

Reading is one of those habits.
It doesn’t have the loud glamour of achievements you can post online, nor the instant gratification of scrolling through your phone. But it carries something deeper. It sharpens the mind, heals the soul, and builds the kind of resilience that stays with you long after the storms have passed.

And here’s the truth: you don’t need to spend hours buried in books to reap these benefits. Twenty minutes a day is enough to rewire how you think, how you feel, and ultimately, how you live.

The Power of Compound Growth
Let’s start with some numbers. If you read twenty minutes a day, at an average speed of about 250 words per minute, that’s 5,000 words a day. In a week, 35,000 words. In a month, about 150,000. That’s the length of two or three full-length books. In a year, you’ve read over a million words, the equivalent of 20–25 books.

Now imagine doing that for five years. That’s over a hundred books.

James Clear, in his bestselling book Atomic Habits, writes: “Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” Just like saving a small amount every day builds wealth, reading twenty minutes a day builds a library inside your mind. You’re not just learning facts, you’re shaping how you see the world, how you solve problems, and how you connect with people.

Healing Through Words
I’ve walked through seasons where I felt lost, crushed under the weight of grief and uncertainty. In those moments, reading wasn’t a luxury; it was a lifeline. I remember picking up Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, wrote: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

That sentence alone carried me for weeks. It didn’t erase my pain, but it helped me frame it.

Psychologists at the University of Sussex found that reading for just six minutes can reduce stress levels by 68%, more than listening to music or going for a walk (University of Sussex, 2009 study). Reading gives the mind a sanctuary, a pause button in a world that rarely stops moving.

Building a Stronger Mind
When you read, you’re not just absorbing information, you’re training your brain. Research published in Neurology (2013) showed that regular reading slows cognitive decline as we age. It literally keeps your mind sharper for longer.

But beyond brain health, reading daily teaches focus. In an age where the average attention span has dropped to about eight seconds (Microsoft Study, 2015), sitting with a book, even for twenty minutes, is like mental weightlifting. It retrains your mind to stay present, to hold a thought, to connect dots that are otherwise lost in distraction.

Learning from Other Lives
History is full of people who credited reading as their turning point. Abraham Lincoln, born in a log cabin with little formal schooling, read borrowed books by candlelight. Those books shaped his thinking and gave him the words that would one day reshape America.

Malcolm X taught himself to read in prison, copying out entire dictionaries by hand. He later said: “People don’t realise how a man’s whole life can be changed by one book.”

Twenty minutes a day may feel small, but over time, it can turn a prison into a classroom, a setback into a seedbed for growth.

A Practice of Presence
Mark Nepo, poet and philosopher, once wrote: “Reading is a way to feel the heartbeat of another.” When you pick up a book, you are stepping into someone else’s shoes, seeing the world through their eyes. It cultivates empathy, and empathy changes how we live with others.

In relationships, in leadership, in parenting, empathy is not optional. It’s essential. And reading, even in small doses, is one of the simplest ways to nurture it.

The Spiritual Dimension
For many, reading sacred texts or books of wisdom isn’t just about learning, it’s about grounding. Whether it’s the Bible, the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, or the writings of Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, daily reading offers perspective.

Aurelius, who ruled as Emperor of Rome while facing endless wars and plagues, wrote in his journal (later known as Meditations): “You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think.”

Those words still echo today, offering guidance in a world just as uncertain. Reading reminds us that we’re part of a bigger story, that others have walked the road before us and left behind their wisdom like breadcrumbs.

Practical Transformation
Let’s get practical. What exactly does twenty minutes a day do for you?

1. Expands Vocabulary and Communication Skills: A 2019 study by the National Literacy Trust showed that people who read regularly are more articulate and confident in expressing themselves.

2. Improves Focus and Discipline: It’s a daily act of saying, “I will step away from noise and give my mind this gift.”

3. Boosts Emotional Intelligence: By stepping into different characters’ worlds, you understand feelings and motives better—something psychologists say is crucial for leadership and relationships.

4. Unlocks Creativity and Ideas: According to a report from the World Economic Forum, creativity and problem-solving are among the top skills for the future of work. Reading fuels both.

My Story, Your Story
I started my own twenty-minute practice during one of the darkest chapters of my life. At first, it felt pointless, like pushing a boulder uphill. But slowly, I noticed changes. My thoughts became clearer. My days felt more anchored. My conversations deepened.

It wasn’t the number of books I finished that mattered. It was the consistency. The act of showing up every day with a book in hand reminded me that growth doesn’t come from grand gestures but from small, faithful steps.

You may be reading this thinking, “I don’t have time.” But you do. We all do. Replace twenty minutes of scrolling. Read while waiting for your child’s football practice to finish. Read before bed instead of bingeing another episode.

Equip Yourself.
Reading twenty minutes a day won’t solve all your problems. It won’t erase grief, remove obstacles, or guarantee success. But it will equip you. It will give you tools to think more clearly, see more deeply, and live more intentionally.

The world doesn’t just need more achievers. It needs more people who can pause, reflect, and bring wisdom into their daily choices. Reading is one of the simplest ways to become that person.

So tonight, before you switch off the light, pick up a book. Set the timer for twenty minutes. Let the words meet you where you are. Over time, they will build a fire within you, steady, lasting, and strong enough to light the way forward.

And maybe, just maybe, twenty minutes a day will change your life forever.

By Emeka Chiaghanam


Not long ago, a man swore by the old belief that shaving your hair makes it grow back thicker. When gently told by his friend that science had disproved this decades ago, he looked stunned. “Then why does everyone say it?” he asked.

That’s the funny thing about myths: they’re sticky and difficult to disregard. Myths have stayed with humans from time immemorial from one nation to nations and in every region of the world, some have become universal that people can’t tell where it originated. Though myths stay long to seem but they don’t survive because they’re true; they survive because they feel true. They appeal to our instincts, our need for certainty, or our longing for control in a world that’s far too unpredictable. And, more often than not, they reveal more about us than about reality.

Come with me let’s pull back the curtain on some of the biggest myths still floating around, beliefs you probably absorbed without question, and uncover what the facts really say.

Myth 1: Humans Only Use 10% of Their Brains
You’ve probably heard this one in films, read in books, or maybe from a teacher or even a friend trying to inspire you of the immense capabilities of a small percentage of the human brain. “Imagine if we unlocked the other 90%!” It sounds thrilling, like there’s a secret superpower hidden in our heads. But here’s the truth: it’s a total myth. A myth that still trends as truth till date.

Neuroscience has shown again and again that we use all parts of our brain. Brain scans light up across different regions even during everyday tasks, talking, walking, daydreaming, you name it. Sure, not every neuron is firing at once (and thank goodness for that), but that doesn’t mean they’re lying dormant.

So where did the “10%” idea come from? Probably a mix of early misquotes and people misunderstanding brain research. But it stuck, because let’s be honest, it’s a hopeful myth, and who doesn't want to be hopeful about any situation. It whispers that we’re capable of more, that greatness is sitting untapped.

The notion that we are capable of more, but not because we’ve got spare brain lying around. It’s simply because potential comes from practice, resilience, and sometimes failing forward, not from unlocking some mythical hidden chamber in our heads.

Myth 2: Goldfish Have Three-Second Memories.
Perhaps you have heard this one from people explaining why the poor family fish sits in a bare glass bowl. “Don’t worry, it won’t remember anything.” That sounds convenient, right? Except, it’s completely wrong. Research shows goldfish can remember things not just for seconds, but for weeks and even months. In experiments, they’ve been trained to swim through mazes, recognise sounds, and even tell human faces apart. Not exactly brainless. The sad part is that this myth has made it easier to neglect them. If we convince ourselves they can’t remember, we feel less guilty.

But really, it points to something bigger: we often underestimate the intelligence of creatures (and people) we don’t fully understand. The fact? Memory is survival. Even “simple” animals like goldfish have sharper minds than we give them credit for. You remember the phrase, ‘’ Goldfish has no hiding place, here the myth that goldfish have three-second memories has no hiding place.

Myth 3: Sugar Makes Kids Hyperactive
Any connection between sugar and hyperactivity? Every weary parent at a birthday party knows the scene. The kids eat cake, and ten minutes later they’re bouncing off the walls. The easy culprit? Sugar. But here’s the kicker: study after study, including controlled, double-blind ones, and show no solid link between sugar and hyperactivity. What’s actually happening is context.

Birthday parties are already high-energy zones, balloons, noise, games, other sugar-high kids, and we link the chaos to the cake. Yes, sugar affects health in plenty of ways (none of them good), but fuelling hyperactivity isn’t one of them. The real lesson? We’re quick to confuse correlation with causation, and that little slip fuels everything from medical myths to conspiracy theories.

Myth 4: You Need to Drink Eight Glasses of Water a Day
Even health experts once promoted the “8x8” rule, eight glasses of water, every single day, has become gospel. People repeat it like a holy mantra from the belief of dealing with hydration to detoxifying the body among other health benefits. But here’s the truth: it was never based on solid science. Hydration isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on your body, diet, activity, and even the weather. A lot of our water doesn’t even come from drinks, it’s hidden in food, fruit, vegetables, even bread. The original 1945 guideline that birthed this myth actually mentioned that most fluids come from food, but that part got quietly lost along the way.

So what’s the reality? Simple: drink when you’re thirsty. Your body’s signals are far smarter than arbitrary numbers.

Myth 5: Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis
That sharp popping sound is enough to make people across the room wince. For years, the warning’s been the same: “Stop that you’ll get arthritis.”

Dr Donald Unger wasn’t buying it. Annoyed by the constant nagging, he decided to run his own personal experiment: crack the knuckles on his left hand every day for 50 years, but leave the right untouched. Half a century later? No difference. Studies back him up. The sound isn’t bones grinding, it’s just bubbles in the joint fluid bursting.

What’s interesting is why the myth stuck around. Because cracking annoys people. Saying “it’s bad for your health” is a tidy way to shame someone into stopping. In other words, it’s less about science, more about social control.

Myth 6: Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
This one sounds almost poetic, nature’s way of balancing the scales. Unfortunately, physics doesn’t care about poetry.

Lightning is just electricity seeking the easiest path. Tall objects? They get hit over and over again. The Empire State Building, for example, is struck roughly 25 times every single year.

So why does the myth endure? Because humans crave fairness in randomness. We want to believe the universe distributes its blows evenly. But the truth is harsher: nature doesn’t deal in fairness. It deals in probability.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

When people talk about leadership, they often think first of power, influence, or authority. But true leadership is not measured in the number of titles one holds or the strength of their political machinery. It is measured in compassion, how deeply leaders feel the struggles of their people, how far they go to ease burdens, and how much of themselves they give to the service of others.

As Anambra prepares for the November 8, 2025 governorship election, the joint ticket of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife, flying under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is making waves not simply because of political strategy, but because of the humanitarian foundation upon which it stands. Together, they represent a blend of philanthropy, grassroots empathy, and people-centred governance. This is not just another ticket, it is a statement that leadership, at its best, is an act of service.


Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu: Philanthropy in Action
For decades, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, popularly called Ikukuoma, has shown that compassion is not just a word but a lifestyle. His philanthropy is not the type that begins when elections approach; it is part of his DNA. Known for his deep investments in education, housing, and social empowerment, Ukachukwu has consistently used his wealth and influence to uplift communities.

Across Anambra, countless families can testify to his interventions, children who went to school because he paid their fees, widows who started small businesses through his support, and communities that found hope because he believed in their dreams. His generosity is not a display of affluence but a demonstration of heart.

One of his most recognised contributions has been in the housing sector. Through his real estate and construction ventures, he has provided affordable housing for families who would otherwise never have dreamed of owning a home. In a country where shelter remains a major challenge, this is a profound humanitarian legacy.

Ukachukwu’s philanthropy goes beyond material assistance. His belief in people is his greatest gift. He has always insisted that Anambra’s greatest wealth lies not in oil or minerals but in its human capital. By empowering people, he has invested in the true engine of development, the human spirit.


Senator Uche Ekwunife: Grassroots Empathy
While Ukachukwu has built his reputation as a philanthropist, Senator Uche Ekwunife has earned hers as a politician of the people. Few leaders in Nigeria can match her grassroots connection. She is not a politician who descends on communities only during campaign seasons. She has lived among the people, listened to them, and consistently fought for their interests in Abuja.

Her time in the House of Representatives and later in the Senate has been marked by a relentless focus on human issues, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and women empowerment. She has been a voice for the voiceless, especially women and youths, often breaking barriers to show that leadership is not the preserve of men.

What sets Ekwunife apart is her empathy. She understands not just the policies that people need, but the emotions behind their needs. When farmers cry about bad roads that make it difficult to bring goods to market, she hears more than complaints, she hears the pain of wasted labour. When mothers talk about poor hospitals, she feels more than their words she feels their fear of losing children to preventable diseases. This emotional intelligence makes her not just a politician but a humanitarian at heart.

Compassion Translated into Governance
Philanthropy and empathy are powerful traits, but what makes the Ukachukwu–Ekwunife ticket remarkable is how these traits can be translated into governance. Humanitarian leadership does not stop at giving handouts; it reshapes policies, builds systems, and creates an environment where people are prioritised over profits and political games.

• Education: Ukachukwu’s passion for funding schools and scholarships will translate into policies that make education not just accessible but excellent. With Ekwunife’s policy experience, they can push for state-wide reforms that equip young people for a competitive world.
• Healthcare: Their shared compassion means healthcare will not be left to decay. Ukachukwu’s investments and Ekwunife’s advocacy can birth new hospitals, modern equipment, and welfare programmes for health workers.
• Women and Youth Empowerment: With Ekwunife as deputy, Anambra will see a government that places women and youths at the heart of its agenda. Empowerment programmes will not be token gestures but structural commitments.
• Community Development: From Ukachukwu’s community projects to Ekwunife’s grassroots initiatives, the ticket is built to deliver local solutions. Rural roads, water projects, and electricity will not be ignored because both leaders understand what they mean to daily life.
•
This blend of philanthropy and empathy is how people-centred governance is born, not in empty manifestos but in leaders who already live it.

A Ticket Rooted in Humanity, Not Politics
Nigerian politics is often dominated by rhetoric, promises, and power struggles. But what makes the Ukachukwu–Ekwunife partnership stand out is that it is rooted in humanity first. Their stories are not those of career politicians chasing titles; they are stories of people who have consistently put service above self.

Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu is a businessman who could have chosen to remain in the comfort of private success. Instead, he chose public service because he believes his wealth means nothing if his people remain poor. Senator Uche Ekwunife could have stopped at breaking barriers as one of Nigeria’s most successful female politicians. Instead, she continues to take risks in politics because she believes women and men alike deserve a fair and inclusive society.

Their candidacy is therefore not just about winning an election but about redefining what leadership means in Anambra State.

Lessons from History: Compassion Builds Nations
History is filled with examples of leaders who built nations not just on policies but on compassion. Nelson Mandela once said, “Our human compassion binds us the one to the other, not in pity or patronisingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.”

Anambra, like much of Nigeria, needs this kind of compassionate leadership now more than ever. Poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and social inequality cannot be solved by strong arms alone, they need tender hearts that see people as more than statistics.

The Ukachukwu–Ekwunife ticket is Anambra’s chance to write its own compassionate chapter in governance.

Hope for the Ordinary Citizen
At its heart, politics is not about politicians, it is about people. For the trader in Onitsha, the farmer in Ayamelum, the teacher in Awka, or the student in Nnewi, what matters is whether their lives become better.

This joint ticket speaks directly to them. It says: We see you, we hear you, we feel your struggles, and we will walk with you. It is not a campaign of empty slogans but of lived experience. Ukachukwu and Ekwunife’s track records are evidence that they will not just promise change, they will deliver it.

A Future Built on Compassion
Anambra is standing at a crossroads. The state can continue with politics as usual, or it can choose a path where compassion meets competence, where philanthropy meets policy, where empathy meets execution.

The joint ticket of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife is more than a political alliance, it is a humanitarian promise. It is a vision of leadership rooted in compassion, shaped by empathy, and committed to people-centred governance.

If leadership is indeed about service, then Anambra has before it a chance at rebirth. And that rebirth will not come through slogans or empty manifestos but through the humanitarian leadership of a ticket rooted in compassion.

By Emeka Chiaghanam

The political atmosphere in Anambra ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship election took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) Professional Women Council stormed Awka for a landmark endorsement rally in support of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife.

The event, which drew representatives from the 21 local government areas of Anambra and coordinators from across the South-East, was described as a “watershed moment” in the march towards reclaiming Anambra State under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking at the gathering, Hon. Tony Ezekwelu, a stalwart of the APC and former member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, declared that Anambra has finally found in Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu “a true leader who genuinely cares for ndi Anambra.” He described Ukachukwu as a man whose concern for the welfare, wellbeing, and security of the people comes naturally and without self-interest.

Hon. Ezekwelu, in a fiery address, stressed that all federal road projects currently under construction in the state are achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s APC-led Federal Government, not the APGA administration of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo. “From Awka to Ekwulobia to Akokwa, and from Agulu through Nnewi to Okija — all are federal roads made possible by President Tinubu’s approval. The credit belongs squarely to the APC,” he asserted.

He further questioned the use of state resources under Soludo, noting that Anambra has earned about ₦680 billion in three years. “With that amount, each local government should have benefitted by at least ₦14–18 billion. Yet, what is there to show for it? No single road has been constructed in Idemili South, Nnewi South, Ayamelum, and many others,” he stated. Ezekwelu concluded by urging ndi Anambra to rally behind Prince Ukachukwu, whom he described as an all-round leader with the capacity to transform every sector of the state.

Dr. Vivian Obi, Zonal Coordinator of the APC Professional Women Council, further electrified the gathering, announcing that members across the 21 LGAs have unanimously resolved to deliver bloc votes to Ukachukwu. She described him as “a visionary game-changer whose promises are never rhetoric but grounded in integrity and action.”

Evang. Lillian Okeke, State Coordinator of the APC Professional Women Council, described Ukachukwu as “the best choice for Anambra in 2025 — a God-fearing man with a compassionate heart and a listening ear.” She said he has demonstrated readiness to secure and prosper the state, pointing to his firm opposition to ndi aka odo, armed groups allegedly terrorising the people. She also hailed Ukachukwu’s choice of Senator Uche Ekwunife as running mate as evidence of his commitment to gender balance and inclusivity.

With solidarity expressed by APC Women Council leaders from neighbouring South-East states, the endorsement rally signaled a resounding message: the women of Anambra are ready to put their weight behind Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife in what many described as a decisive step towards delivering Anambra into higher glory and APC’s fold.

Shaping Tomorrow Through Balance, Courage, and Hope


By Emeka Chiaghanam


On November 8, 2025, Anambra will again face a defining moment in its democratic journey. The governorship election offers not just a choice of leaders but a choice of direction, a chance to decide whether the state remains locked in old battles or takes a bold step towards rebirth.

At the centre of this turning point is the joint ticket of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, and Senator Uche Ekwunife, his running mate. Together, they represent something far bigger than a political alliance. They symbolise stability, inclusivity, and a new vision for the people.

This partnership is not accidental. It is deliberate, crafted with a sense of history and an understanding of what Anambra truly needs at this time, a balanced ticket capable of bridging divides, restoring trust, and steering the state into a future of progress and prosperity.

A Meeting Point of Experience and Fresh Drive
Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, fondly known as Ikukuoma, has built his name on resilience, enterprise, and philanthropy. His record in business, real estate, and community development stretches across decades. He has invested in education, housing, and social empowerment, touching lives across the three senatorial zones. What makes his candidacy compelling is not just his financial capacity or political weight, but his passion for service rooted in faith and humanitarian values.

On the other side is Senator Uche Ekwunife, a political trailblazer and grassroots mobiliser, an Amazon. Her reputation as one of the most formidable female politicians in Nigeria is well-earned. She has broken barriers, stood her ground in the male-dominated arena of politics, and emerged as a bridge between leadership and the everyday struggles of the people. Her legislative experience in both the House of Representatives and the Senate has given her a wide lens to understand governance at both state and federal levels.

Individually, Ukachukwu and Ekwunife stand tall. Together, they create a synergy that blends economic strength with political versatility. This is the power of a balanced ticket.

The Symbol of Political Stability
Anambra has often been a hotbed of political tension, where alliances rise and fall quickly, and leadership struggles sometimes overshadow governance. What the state desperately needs is stability, leaders who can inspire trust across factions, who can unify rather than divide.

Prince Ukachukwu and Senator Ekwunife bring this stability. His deep roots in the South senatorial zone and her wide acceptance in the Central and North zones break the cycle of zoning rivalries. Their joint ticket speaks not to one part of Anambra but to the whole, signalling a leadership that belongs to all, not a section.

This is more than strategy, it is a message that the politics of exclusion is over. In a period where Nigeria grapples with polarisation, Anambra has a chance to model what inclusive politics should look like.

Inclusivity Beyond Rhetoric
Representation matters. For too long, politics has been shaped by the voices of a few, often leaving women and younger generations at the margins. By choosing Senator Uche Ekwunife as running mate, Ukachukwu and the APC have made a bold statement, that women are not afterthoughts in politics but central partners in leadership.

Her candidacy is also a signal to young women across Anambra that the glass ceiling can indeed be broken. It proves that political offices are not reserved for men, and that talent, competence, and courage will always create space. This inclusivity extends beyond gender. Their partnership reaches across professional divides, religious lines, and generational boundaries. In a state marked by diversity, this is the essence of political rebirth.

Vision Rooted in Realism
The power of this joint ticket lies not just in what it symbolises, but in what it promises. Both leaders have outlined clear priorities that reflect the needs of the people:
• Security: Restoring safety to communities so that businesses, markets, and schools can thrive again.
• Economy: Unlocking Anambra’s entrepreneurial spirit with investments in agriculture, infrastructure, and technology.
• Youth Empowerment: Creating opportunities that keep young people productively engaged and reduce brain drain.
• Education and Health: Strengthening human capital as the foundation for sustainable development.

This vision is not empty rhetoric. Ukachukwu’s track record in business shows he understands investment and wealth creation. Ekwunife’s legislative accomplishments prove she knows how to navigate policy and governance. Together, they offer not dreams, but doable plans.

Bridging Divides: Gender, Zones, and Generations
What truly sets this ticket apart is its power to unite. Anambra has long struggled with internal rivalries; North vs. South, elite vs. grassroots, male vs. female. Ukachukwu and Ekwunife embody a new chapter where these divides lose their sting.
• Gender: He embodies strength and stability; she embodies resilience and inclusion. Together, they balance each other.
• Zones: His popularity in the South complements her widespread influence in the Central and North.
• Generations: His wealth of experience meets her relatability with younger demographics, creating a blend of wisdom and modernity.
This bridging power makes their candidacy more than a political ticket, it is a social contract for unity.

Reform-Driven Leadership for a Reform-Hungry State
The people of Anambra are restless. They want more than promises; they want transformation. They want leaders who can think boldly, act decisively, and reform deeply.

Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu has always been known as a reform-minded businessman who dares to dream big and execute bigger. Senator Ekwunife has earned her stripes as a reformist legislator who fights for fairness, transparency, and accountability. Together, they represent not just continuity but change—change in how politics is played, and how governance is delivered.
Their joint ticket is therefore not a gamble; it is a calculated step towards reform.

The Future They Promise
Imagine an Anambra where youths don’t leave in droves for lack of opportunities. Where women hold leadership positions not as tokens but as decision-makers. Where every zone feels represented, and every community feels seen.

This is the Anambra Ukachukwu and Ekwunife are promising. Their ticket is not just about winning an election; it is about redefining leadership for the state. It is about rebirth, a political, social, and economic rebirth that places Anambra at the heart of Nigeria’s growth story.

A Balanced Ticket for a Balanced Future
In the end, elections are about choices. But some choices are too clear to ignore. The joint ticket of Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and Senator Uche Ekwunife is not simply another campaign. It is a statement of balance, between gender and power, between zones and interests, between vision and execution.

As Anambra approaches November 8, 2025, the people must ask themselves: Do they want politics as usual, or do they want a rebirth that ushers in stability, inclusivity, and visionary leadership?

The answer lies in the power of a balanced ticket. And in Ukachukwu and Ekwunife, Anambra have just found the partnership capable of turning potential into reality.