Author: Editor

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia State, and the Coordinator of Atiku’s Presidential Campaign in 2023, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, has dismissed PDP members who decamped to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as “political viruses without any electoral value.” Ogbonnaya who was a former Deputy Chief of Staff to former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, spoke exclusively with Ikengaonline on the heels of the defection of Ikpeazu’s former Commissioners and other appointees to the APC. Some of the former PDP chieftains who dumped the ‘Big umbrella’ and picked the’broom’ included former Commissioner for Information, Eze Chikamnayo;…

…Moves to launch institute in Enugu Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Nigerian Mental Health Practitioners in the United States, have noted with concern, the inadequacy of infrastructure for mental health care in Nigeria. President of the association, Dr Azubuike Aliche, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia, Abia State, said the group had decided to intervene to help bridge the gap. He said that the association would launch the Nigeria-American Institute for Mental Health at Godfrey Okoye University Enugu on April 13, as part of its resolve to help provide quality health care for patients with mental challenges. Dr…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The member representing Igbo Eze South State Constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Harrison Ogara, says he has chosen to teach his constituents how to catch fish instead of giving them fish. Hon. Ogara said this during the graduation of about 40 trainees (Igbo Eze South Agro Rangers) in Biopreneurship programme which he sponsored at the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). He commended the trainees who bagged Certificates of Proficiency in Biopreneurship and urged them to go back to their various homes to practice what they learnt during the 3-month intensive…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, has decorated eight newly-promoted police officers to their new ranks of Superintendents of Police (SP) from the ranks of Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP). Addressing the officers during the decoration on Wednesday in Enugu, Uzuegbu noted that promotion engenders the motivation to work harder. The commissioner charged them to see their promotion as an opportunity to take higher responsibility and exhibit higher levels of wisdom in the discharge of their duties. He said: “I congratulate you on your promotion. But you must know that the higher the…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia President Bola Tinubu, has finally signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024, into law. Tinubu assented to the bill on Wednesday after both chambers of the National Assembly had respectively passed it into law. In a remark after his assent on the bill, President Tinubu who described the bill as effective tool to fight poverty, said  the main objective of the new law was to ensure that Nigerian children are not denied the right to education. Tinubu said his administration was poised to ensure that any Nigeria wishing to pursue a…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, His Lordship, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah will deliver a lecture at the third anniversary and second annual memorial lecture of Mr Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma. Themed: “The Power of One: Dreams & Nightmares: Thoughts on Innocent Chukwuma,” the lecture will focus on the life and times of Mr Chukwuma, the founder of Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation (ICCEF). ICCEF Executive Director, Gad Peter, on behalf of the CLEEN & ICCEF, said the event will take place on Friday, April 12, 2024, in Abuja in remembrance of Chukwuma’s “selflessness, simplicity, and humaneness.” “In commemoration of…

…Says their docility delaying IPOB leader’s release Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Worried over the continued detention of their son, the family of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has written an open letter to South-East Governors, urging them to act fast to avoid his death in custody. The family in an emotion-laden letter signed by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, alleged that the failure of the South-East Governors to come together as a people to demand Kanu’s release, was the reason behind his continued incarceration. According to Kanu’s family, if the Governors should jettison their political differences…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Persons living with disabilities working with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State have cried out for help over their four years unpaid salaries. The PWDs, numbering ten said most of them had been ejected from their apartments for inability to renew their rents, while others were indebted to food vendors in order to feed. Speaking to Journalists, one of the victims, Kenechukwu Uka, said they were recruited in 2020 and had immediately resumed work after undergoing necessary documentation. He said they were directed to work from August till December 2020, when their data would be captured by…

…Introduces contributory pension scheme Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Abia State Government said it spent N9 billion to wipe out pension arrears that stockpiled under the watch of previous administrations in the state. Government also said it had set up a Help Desk in the Ministry of Finance to address omissions and other issues arising from the recent payment of pension arrears. Recall that Governor Alex Otti, had over the weekend, approved the clearing of pension arrears of Abia retirees running into several months. Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing the press in Government House Umuahia…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Bishop of the Niger, Anglican Communion, Anambra State, Rt Rev Owen Nwokolo has passionately called upon Nigerians to steadfastly defend their livelihoods and strive for survival against the prevailing difficulties and mounting hardship in the country. The bishop advised Nigerians to firmly stand their ground and take responsibility instead of giving up or blaming governments in the face of economic hardship plaguing the nation. He also counselled the citizens to use their hands to produce tangible things of great value capable of benefitting themselves and others wherever they found themselves. Nwokolo who gave the advice in his…