Author: Editor

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged member states of the African Union Member (AU) to prioritize preprimary and fundamental learning for every child in their respective countries. Dr Ijeoma Ogwe, Communication Officer, UNICEF Enugu Field Office, stated thus during a press briefing on the commemoration of the Day of African Child with theme, “Planning and Budgeting for Children’s Rights: Progress since 2010.” Dr Ogwe said that there was the need for all the AU member states to recommit to making education a budget priority and allocate at least, 20 per cent of their annual budgets…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The Obeagu Ugwuaji Community in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, has called for the urgent intervention of the state governor, Dr Peter Mbah, by calling to order, the  Commissioner for  Local Government, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Matters,  Deacon Okey Ogbodo, to avoid possible break down of law and order in the area. This was contained in a statement signed by the President General of the Obeagu Ugwuaji Development Union, Mr Obi Chukwunomso Freedom. In addition, the community has also taken steps to commit the commissioner to prison over contempt related matters, consequent upon their…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki  The Abakaliki Division of the Ebonyi State High Court has court has sentenced a 48 years old man, Emmanuel Nwaji, to five years imprisonment for defiling 11-year-old girl, Ukamaka (surname withheld).  Nwaji, a primary school teacher teaching the victim’s brother, defiled the girl in Igbeagu, Izzi Local Government Area of the state when her mother sent her on an errand. The incident occurred in March, 2022 in the man’s house where he lured her into. After the defilement, Nwaji warned her not to disclose it to anyone, else, she would be killed by him. Two months later,…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki An Izzi High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has sentenced a 30-year-old man to death by hanging for killing an 18-year-old SS2 student after the deceased revealed their sexual relationship, which resulted in the deceased experiencing anal problems. The convict, Boniface Abraham Edigbo, killed the deceased, Ogbonna Joshua, on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, by poisoning him in a hotel after their last sexual encounter on the night of Monday, May 22, 2023. The deceased, until his death, was a student at Community Secondary School, Amachi, in Izzi Local Government Area of the state. Edigbo was…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The chairman of Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, Dr Eric Odo, has called on the Federal Government to declare herdsmen bearing arms and  causing havoc in the country as terrorists. Odo said that declaring them terrorists would enable the security agencies and the Armed Forces, to deal decisively with their criminal tendences. Odo made this call on Monday in Enugu at a two-day Institutional Strengthening and Agenda Setting Meeting with Enugu LGA chairmen organised by the Actionaid Nigeria in collaboration with the South-Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO). The council chairman urged President Bola Tinubu to…

By Owei Lakemfa Twenty years ago, I got a message that Uncle Sam Amuka-Pemu, the publisher of the Vanguard Newspapers could not be found. It was his 70th birthday and plans to mark it were in place, but the celebrant was not responding to calls. He seems to have simply vanished. I placed a call and he picked. I congratulated him and asked him where he was. “Departure lounge,” he responded. “Which airport, Sir?” “…Of the world. Once you are 70, you are at the departure lounge, waiting for your flight to be called.” He similarly dodged the celebration of…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka  The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has criticized the style of leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the failure of the Federal Government to visit victims of Niger flood disaster and Benue massacre, respectively. It would be recalled that on May 28, 2025, flooding caused by heavy rainfall submerged the market town of Mokwa in Niger State, Nigeria, killing more than 200 people in the process. Hundreds were also reportedly massacred in a recent attack by gunmen in Yelewata village, an area known for conflicts between farmers and herders in Benue…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, has promised to support women empowerment in the state. Mrs Mbah said this in Awgu Local Government Area, the headquarters of Enugu West senatorial zone after her familiarisation visit to the area. She said that the visit presented her a vital opportunity to connect with the people and understand their concerns. ”My role is that of service, championing courses that affect our families, women, children and communities. We must work together to eliminate social-economic and cultural barriers that prevent our women from succeeding. “I am dedicated to supporting…

…As MOUAU begins harvest of fruits from orchard Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Director of Agribusiness Incubation Centre (ABIC), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Dr Philips Nto, has commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) for its support for commercial agriculture in Nigerian universities.  He said the gesture apart from actualizing the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in agriculture and food security will also create employment for the youths.  Dr Nto spoke at Umudike as ABIC commenced the maiden harvest of fruits from its pineapple orchard, which the centre planted for commercial purposes.  He noted that the current Executive Secretary…

…Proposes $1 billion youth innovation fund to boost startups Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Policy Analyst and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, has unveiled a comprehensive strategic blueprint that outlines immediate and long-term solutions to tackle unemployment, stimulate entrepreneurship, and reposition Nigeria’s youth as economic drivers. This is as he has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare “a national emergency on youth unemployment,” citing what he described as a “triple jobs crisis” facing Nigeria. The Anambra-born Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of a Swedish-based Artificial Intelligence (AI), creativity startup, Askdeep.ai, warned that:“Nigeria is sitting atop a demographic…