THE IGBO

Kingsley Mathew, the 17-year-old IPOB member, who was allegedly shot dead by Nigerian soldiers during the group's Trump solidarity march in Port Harcourt, has been laid to rest in his hometown,  Ikot Nyoho village Ukpom in Ikono LGA,Akwa Ibom.

A terrible accident happened today Sunday,Feb 26,2017 along Warri/Sapele road by Mountain of Fire Camp ground.

According to reports, a black jeep jumped to the other side of the road after the driver lost control.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, has approved an 18-month professional diploma programme for practicing journalists in Anambra State.

The programme was designed to enable practicing journalists who have no background in the field of Mass Communication to acquire relevant procedural skills on the job.



The Chairman of the state’s council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr Emma Ifesinachi, who approached the institution with the proposal for approval, said it had become necessary given the theoretical knowledge gap observed among the members of journalism profession.

He maintained that the programme, being the first in the country, would hopefully be replicated or adopted by the national body of NUJ to make it a nationwide programme.

Also speaking, the Dean of Social Sciences Faculty, Prof. Stella Okunna who facilitated the approval of programme, said that the department under her watch would do everything within possible to ensure it succeeds within stipulated time.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joseph Ahaneku, who played host to NUJ officials who paid him a thank-you-visit in his office, disclosed that the university would not relent in contributing to the growth of journalism profession.

Ahaneku who described the gesture as the institution’s corporate social responsibility in the development of the society, said the programme would further enhance the journalism legacy of late Zik of Africa whose name the institution bears.

 Review NYSC to Reflect Entrepreneur and Job creating Scheme - Ifeanyi Ubah
Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has called for the review of NYSC in order for it to become a job creating platform as against what the scheme offers now.



Ubah who while speaking at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka yesterday (20th February 2017)at an event organized by Nigeria Economics Students Association ,(NESA),UNIZIK Chapter, called for the review of National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) Scheme from what it represents now to a scheme capable of solving Nigerian employment crisis .

The Anambra State born Entrepreneur Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah who was represented by his SSA Media, Ikechukwu Emeka Onyia advocate for new direction with respect to the NYSC Scheme while speaking on the topic " Entrepreneurship and Nigerian Youths : Ifeanyi Ubah Experience and Lesson ".


According to the MD Capital Oil and Gas , " NYSC is a scheme introduced by Federal Government as Interventionist Policy immediately after the civil war as an integration scheme and not for job creation.

But now , the greatest crisis facing Nigeria is that of unemployment and the development calls for the review of NYSC Scheme to reflect job creation .
The scheme founded in 70s is over 40years old and therefore begging for a review " he said .

Ubah went on to back his call for review of NYSC with below analysis ,
" Today , Federal Government pays each Corp member under NYSC Scheme N19,800 (Nineteen thousand Eight hundred naira ) per month and that gives us N237,600 per year and when you factor in other expenses that emanates from camping ,you will be having about N300,000  for each corp member per year .

Federal Government Mobilizes 150,000 graduates every year for NYSC . Let's use 150,000 graduates here .

If in a year , Federal Government mobilizes 150,000 graduates for NYSC and spends around three hundred naira (N300,000) on each of them , this amounts to N45 Billion (Forty Five Billion Naira ) per annum ".

The man many call ideas bearer went on to argue "we can review the scheme and make our graduates go through various skill acquisition training upon graduation and N300,000 handed to them by Federal Government to establish the Entrepreneurship that he or she might have learned . We can hand over this three hundred thousands naira (N300,000) to our graduates after they must have passed through one three weeks or say one month Entrepreneurship or skill acquisition training as a seed or start up capital. " Ubah argued.

He further argue , "Yes , we can adjust the 12 months service year to three weeks or one month which will be use for the training of these graduates towards self reliance.

According to him , " what is the gain of spending N45 Billion on our graduates after which you push them to unemployment market ? Is it not better we train them and hand each of them the three hundred thousands naira ( N300,000 ) as a seed ?
Some of them can even use their own seed money to go into cooperative groups among themselves towards setting up various businesses upon graduation and by so doing , we will be creating job creators instead of Job seekers" he said.

Ubah challenged the students to redirect the conversation towards providing solutions to the challenges blighting the Nation as the country is faced with multiple economic shocks.

" You must start raising agenda for the policy makers of this Nation. Creating solution is what makes an Entrepreneur tick and you must rise to the occasion especially now that our Nation faces multiple economic shocks." he said.

" Good enough, there is hope because you are here today in this hall as  stakeholders in this great search for solutions ".

Ubah later called on the government to redirect its focus in creating enabling environment for Entrepreneurship to thrive in Nigeria.

"The truth is that Govt cannot do this alone and there is need for Government at all levels to start creating enabling environment through Public Policies that will stimulate entrepreneurial growth in the country in order to forestall recurring economic crisis in the country ".

Prof. Nwogwugwu of Economics Department, University Nnamdi Azikiwe University toed the line of Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah when he told the students that they must start thinking as job creators " You are here to learn how to solve problems facing our Nation and not to create one " he said.

Students later threw questions to Ubah who graciously responded .

Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, the Abia State capital, has sued the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Chuku Abali.





The doctors said the suit, filed at the National Industrial Court, Enugu, became unavoidable as the CMD had allegedly failed to address basic issues affecting their welfare and facilities.

They said he planned to sack some of them.

The suit, which was yet to be fixed for hearing, has NARD, FMC Umuahia President, Dr Orji Emeka Innocent and other executive members as plaintiffs.

The doctors are seeking an order to make the CMD “desist from interfering with their residency programme”.

“To address forthwith all the issues relating to the remuneration owed either by immediate payment or a concrete arrangement backed with sincere commitment.”

An Owerri High Court has awarded N20 million as damage against the police for assaulting an Owerri lawyer, Chukwuemeka Amaghiro, last year.

In his judgment, Justice K.A. Orjiako said the respondents were found guilty of gross violation of the applicant’s right.


Amaghiro in 2016 filed a suit of violation of his right against the Police Service Commission, Nigeria Police, Commissioner of Police in Imo State and the OC D8 SARS Investigative Police Officer, Bassey Ikpa, for assaulting him.

Orjiako held that evidence before him proved the lawyer’s right was violated.

He said he awarded the damage considering the reputation of the person assaulted and the provision of the law on human right violation.

Orjiako advised the police to respect human right while discharging their duties.

Amaghiro and Emeka Iwuchukwu were allegedly assaulted by police officers when they visited their client, Keziah Nwoha, who was in police detention in 2016.

Iwuchukwu was awarded N10 million as damage on December 6, 2016 in an Owerri High Court presided over by Justice E.F. Njemanze.







Counsel to the applicant, Mr. Soronnadi Njoku, told NAN his clients approached the court due to how they were manhandled by police officers on the instigation of the OC SARS D10, Mr. Emenike.

He said the two lawyers visited the police to find out why their client was arrested and detained, as her case was still pending in court.


    “When the lawyers got to the police, the Investigating Police Officer, Mr. Bassey Ikpa, became hostile.
    “The lawyers became helpless and approached his superior, who directed the officers to deal with them,” he said.


He said he would enforce the two judgments simultaneously to ensure the damage awarded to the applicants was paid.

The respondents and their lawyers were absent during the judgment.

NAN

Gospel singer Benita Okojie is a multiple award winning Gospel artiste popularly known for her hit track,”Ose Mudiamen”.





The former child star has lost her father. She made the sad announcement this evening on Instagram. She wrote:

“My hero and father has gone to be with Jesus. He made such great impact in my life and in the lives of so many people. I’m eternally grateful to God that you walked me down the aisle.
Quizzed my then boyfriend like every father would , gave your consent and enjoyed that day and many other months with us.
I love you with all my heart. Thank you for believing in us (your children) and seeing to it that we all followed our passion.
Thank you for your legacy.
No more tears anymore. Now its celebration. You will be celebrated for life. Mummy misses you like crazy but she knows you’re with Jesus.
You remain in our hearts forever. THANK YOU, OBU SIR!!
Jesus is coming soon so I know we will see in heaven soon.
Till then, rest with Jesus Baba Benita’

See Photo:

Abia State born Nollywood actor and producer, Prince James Uche is currently battling with a severe case of kidney failure that has left him bedridden for several years maybe on the road to recovery as Abia State governor, Ikpeazu fulfills N10 million promise to him.






A few weeks ago, the leadership of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, the umbrella body of actors, actresses and producers in the movie industry in Nigeria visited Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at Government House Umuahia and pleaded with him to come to the aid of the ace actor before he dies. The actors told the Governor that life has become unbearable for the Abia born actor and that the cost of his treatment is very high and beyond what they can handle.

Governor Ikpeazu told the actors that his government will do its bit to assist the actor cope with the cost of his treatment and pledged a donation of 10 Million Naira for that purpose.

Ikpeazu’s SA on public communications just released an official statement to that effect.

Read below:

I can confirm authoritatively that the money has been released and the Governor’s personal physician, Dr. Enyinnaya will, tomorrow, in Lagos, hand over the cheque to Prince James Uche in the presence of leading nollywood actors.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is a kind hearted leader who feels for his people. It is our prayer that this intervention by the Governor will go a long way in accelerating the recovery of this actor who, for several years, brought smiles to our people through his films.

Onyebuchi EMEMANKA, Esq.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Communications.

Many people were trapped, yesterday, as fire razed about 15 buildings in Onitsha, Anambra state.

The fire started at about 8.20pm, yesterday, from a filling station at Denis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha (DMGS) Junction. Banks, street markets and many vehicles were burnt.












It was gathered that the fire was caused by a tanker loaded with fuel, which lost control and fell into the filling station situated at DMGS Roundabout and exploded on impact.

At the time of filing this report, the fire was still raging, despite the presence of officials of Fire Service who came an hour after the fire started, but could not stop it from spreading. It was also gathered that many were injured while trying to escape from their buildings, while others sustained injurirs while trying to remove valuables from their shops and houses. As at last night, there was no official confirmation of the number of casualties, but security operatives and the Red Cross were on ground to secure life and property.

Anambra State government has set 2019 as target to be self-sufficient in production of poultry, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr Mark Okoye said.
Okoye made this known in Awka on Saturday, saying by 2019, Anambra would no longer require poultry products from outside the state.






Recall that on February 10, Gov. Willie Obiano inaugurated a mega poultry project on a 75 hectare farm in Igbariam, Oyi Council Area of the state.
The commissioner said that the first phase of the project had the capacity to produce 350,000 chicks every six weeks and hatch 30,000 eggs per week.

He said the poultry was one of the largest in the South-East and was an equity project in which the state government contributed the land while the funding would be undertaken by a consortium of investors.

Okoye explained that Anambra prior to the inauguration of the mega poultry project had depended on poultry farms in the South-West of Nigeria for supply of eggs, day-old chicks and processed chicken.

He said that the state would become a net exporter of poultry products in two years time.
“Gov. Obiano inaugurated the largest poultry project in South Eastern Nigeria, the project is located on a 75 hectare farm in Igbariam.
“The first phase of the project has the capacity to produce 350,000 birds every six weeks and 30,000 eggs a week.
 
“Our target is that in two years, we would have achieved self sufficiency in poultry production thereby reducing our dependence on the South Western part of the country for eggs and frozen chicken,” he said.

The commissioner said that the poultry project was one of the first facilitated in the agriculture sector by Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, the lead investment agency in the state.
Explaining further, Okoye said that the government also approved minority shareholding for Igbariam, the host community, to the tune of 5 per cent as dividend of the profits of the company into perpetuity.

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWDs) has protested the assault on a disabled man by two soldiers in Onitsha Anambra State for allegedly wearing a military camouflage shirt.

Who ever that wakes up every morning should  pray and commits the days activity in to the able hands of God. a disturbing report reaching our newsdesk has it that  An unidentified man was crushed to death in a fatal accident along a highway in Awka, Anambra state on Thursday.

Two people were killed yesterday during a fight between Fulani herdsmen and some Igbo traders at Gariki market in Enugu state. According to reports, the fight started after a herdsman identified as Ali came to an abattoir at the Market to slaughter a cow. He was charged N500 but paid N400 after he finished slaughtering his cow. The abattoir attendant identified as Ifeanyi Ifeacho asked for the N100 balance but Ali allegedly refused to pay.

An argument ensued between them which later degenerated into a fight. Ali allegedly removed his knife and stabbed Ifeanyi in the stomach. He died on the spot. Ali made an attempt to run from the market but was apprehended by other traders and then beaten to death. Some angry Igbo traders attacked some other Fulani traders and also razed the Mosque in the market.

Security agents have been drafted to the area to restore law and order


IGBO KWENU !!!