Author: Editor

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia About 200 widows from the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency were on Thursday empowered by the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa. The beneficiaries, who had earlier undergone vocational training in skills such as soap-making, hairdressing, and make-up artistry, also received start-up kits to help them launch their businesses. Speaking during the empowerment event, Rep. Osonwa said the initiative was part of his unwavering commitment to improving the welfare of widows and other vulnerable groups in his constituency by providing them with sustainable means of livelihood. The Labour Party lawmaker said he…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia The Agricultural and Industrial Entrepreneurs of Nigeria (AIEN) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Mr. Bonaventure Okhaimo as Managing Director/CEO of the National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (NCGC). In a statement issued Thursday by its National President and former Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Chief Chuku Wachuku, AIEN described Okhaimo’s appointment as a major boost to entrepreneurship in the agriculture and small and medium enterprises (SME) sector. The Board of Directors of NCGC, chaired by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, with Okhaimo as Managing Director, was inaugurated…

…Identifies causes as strategic workshop holds in Umuahia Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia A recent survey conducted by the Federal Ministry of Health has identified Bende, Ugwunagbo, and Ukwa East Local Government areas as the top three LGAs in Abia State with the highest maternal mortality rates. Dr. Onuka Okorie, the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAP) Desk Officer in the state, made the disclosure during a presentation at a four-day workshop for health leaders and managers in Abia. The workshop, organised under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), was attended by key stakeholders including representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki In a major political development in Ebonyi State, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Joseph Onu Silas, has resigned from the party, citing irreconcilable differences and undue interference by some sitting governors. Mr. Onu announced his resignation in a letter dated July 16, 2025, addressed to the PDP Chairman in Obiozara Ward, Ohaozara Local Government Area. Describing his decision as one taken “with a heavy heart but for a more patriotic reason,” Onu said internal crises and the influence of powerful individuals within the PDP had compelled him to seek a new political direction. He…

…Demand new constitution Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; ex-Secretary General of the Common Wealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Victor Attah, among other patriots and elder statesmen, on Wednesday convened a national constitutional summit in Abuja. In attendance at the summit were leaders of regional bodies and socio-cultural organisations including Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan Niger Delta Development Forum, PANDEF, who made presentations at the gathering. Other patriots at the summit included General Ike Nwachukwu, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Prof. Pat Utomi, and Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN). Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana (SAN), Dr Kayode…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Amid the soaring cost of chemical fertilisers, farmers have been urged to adopt biochar—a charcoal-like substance derived from agricultural waste through pyrolysis—as a cheaper, more effective, and environmentally friendly alternative. According to experts, biochar not only improves soil fertility and increases crop yields but also helps in mitigating soil acidity, a common challenge in South-East Nigeria. It is considered a more sustainable option compared to synthetic fertilisers, which are increasingly unaffordable for many rural farmers. With a 50kg bag of chemical fertiliser now selling for between ₦40,000 and ₦50,000 depending on the type, biochar has become a…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The security surveillance team of Governor Peter Mbah has vowed to flush out criminals hiding in the forests of Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State. The team made the declaration during a visit to the community as part of its surveillance strategy. Residents, including stakeholders, youths, and women, turned out in large numbers to welcome the delegation led by the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Security, Mr. Vincent Onyeabor. The team arrived at the Ogbete, Eha-Amufu Joint Task Force (JTF) Security Camp aboard three helicopters. They were accompanied by officers of the Nigerian Air Force…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Peter Obi’s major support group, the Obidient Movement, has debunked reports of an alleged rift between the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate and the party’s acting National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman. The group made the clarification in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Dr. Yunusa Tanko. Describing the rumoured discord as a fabrication by mischief-makers, the statement reaffirmed Obi’s loyalty to the Usman-led Labour Party, especially following the Supreme Court’s recent decision that upheld her appeal in the party’s leadership crisis. “His Excellency, Peter Obi, has consistently affirmed that he remains a committed…

Our Reporter, Abuja  Mr. Peter Obi, has explained why he was absent at the burial of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which held on Tuesday, July 15, in Daura, Katsina State. He made this on disclosure Wednesday, via a post on his X handle. Obi, who visited the late President’s family on Wednesday to pay his respects, said his failure to attend the funeral was due to unforeseen logistical challenges beyond his control. “Yesterday morning, after a condolence visit to the family of the late Awujale of Ijebuland in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, I tried to be in Daura, Katsina State…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has commenced the screening of 151 shortlisted candidates from the South-East for its 2025/2026 Overseas Scholarship Scheme (OSS) for Master’s and Ph.D. programmes. Mr. Uche Ikoku, Manager at the PTDF Centre for Skills and Development, Port Harcourt, disclosed this on Wednesday during the ongoing screening exercise at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC). Ikoku explained that the candidates, who reside in the five states of the South-East, indicated the zone as their preferred screening location. The exercise, which spans three days, is being conducted in line with PTDF’s mandate and…