Author: alex enebeli

Debate

By Alex Enebeli

Enugu, June 10, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has inaugurated a debate competition for youths, with a whopping prize of N15 million for the winning team.

Mbah disclosed this on his verified X handle, @PNMbah, on Monday, adding that the debate was being organised through the Office of his Senior Special Assistant on Social Culture and Self-Development, with support from the private sector.

He said the debate would feature 37 teams, representing all the 20 universities in the state, and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in the 17 local government areas.

“My latest social culture project is a ‘Debate Tournament’ for young people in Enugu State. I have provided a platform for you to debate social issues that influence our culture, and the winning team will be rewarded with N15 million.

“It is important to give our young people a platform to voice their opinions and contribute to the society.

“It is important that they feel heard and understood. One of the best ways to achieve this is through intellectual discourse.

“To our young people, this is your time and your turn; the stage is yours. Do your research and think critically; challenge the norms and amaze us with your wits and persuasion.

“Congrats in advance to the winning team,” the governor said.

He advised those interested in knowing more about the debate to follow the social media handles, @debatecoolit and @deradebates, and also check the state government’s website, enugustate.gov.ng. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AAE/FON/MNA

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Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Maureen Atuonwu

Trafficking

By Alex Enebeli

Enugu, June 10, 2024 (NAN) The former United Nations Special Rapporteur, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, has urged end to human trafficking and unsafe migration to stop Nigeria women from abuses.

Ezeilo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) made the call in a statement on Monday in Enugu while reacting to the viral video of young Nigerian girls trafficked for forced prostitution in Ghana.

She attributed the current economic challenges in Nigeria as the factor fueling human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and unsafe migration, including the “Japa” syndrome.

According to her, watching the trending video of young Nigerian girls,, trafficked for forced prostitution to neighbouring Ghana is a stark reminder of the pervasive and cross-border issue of human trafficking or Trafficking In Persons (TiP).

She observed that in Africa, one in every four trafficked persons was Nigerian, making the country the most affected by trafficking.

“This issue remains prevalent in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Edo was once considered the epicenter of trafficking in persons but that was no longer the case.

“Nigerian women, children, and men are vulnerable to transnational or cross-border human trafficking, primarily to Europe and Africa, as well as to other parts of the world, including Asia and the Americas.

“Human trafficking knows no borders.

“During my time as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, from 2008 to 2014, I encountered Nigerians who were trafficked.

“Or living as irregular migrants in nearly 100 countries I visited as part of my global assignment,” Ezeilo said.

She added that the main reasons for the trend included increasing poverty, unemployment, inequality, gender-based violence, lack of access to education, ignorance, conflicts and displacement.

The Founder of Women Aid Collective (WACOL), noted that most widespread form of human trafficking was sexual exploitation, accounting for 79 per cent of cases, with girls being the most common victims of sexual exploitation.

“I strongly urge the government at all levels to implement urgent measures to address the root causes, particularly to reduce the vulnerabilities of young girls.

“Establishing early warning mechanisms is important to identify when girls disappear from school, fail to enroll in school, or live outside of family care.

“Additionally, we need to address unsuitable working environments that increase the vulnerability of women and children to trafficking,” she said.

The situations, she said, included where girls worked as waitresses in restaurants, hotels and brothels while still under 18 years of age or when they worked as apprentices in specific high-risk jobs and environment

“End human trafficking and unsafe migration now. Stop the impunity of traffickers through effective prosecution and punishment.

“Join NAPTIP and other actors, including WACOL, to eradicate human trafficking and unsafe migration in Nigeria,” appealed. (NAN)

AAE/CHOM/MNA

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Maureen Atuonwu

Ohanaeze Ndigbo mourns Ex-NIMASA boss, Agu

Condolence
By Alex Enebeli
Enugu, June 8, 2024 (NAN) The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has mourned the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Maritime Authority, now Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ferdinand Agu, who died on Friday.

The National Publicity Secretary of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, conveyed the group’s condolences in a statement issued on Saturday and made available to newsmen in Enugu on Monday.

Ogbonnia stated that the organisation “received with a rude shock, the sad news of the tragic passing of yet another Igbo prodigy, Agu”.

He described Agu as “an exceptional moral edifice, an outstanding man among men, a vivacious exemplar, orator and mobile encyclopedia”.

He further stated that Agu was former Secretary, Ohanaeze Committee on Planning and Strategy; former member, Ohanaeze Committee on Diaspora; former Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria; former Chairman of the Governing Council and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Oturkpo.

“Ferdy, as he was fondly called by his peers, was a thorough-bred Igbo, with immense patriotic zeal for a restructured Nigeria.

“He worked closely with Prof. Charles Soludo to produce the Ohanaeze document for the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation, which was presented to the public on May 21, 2018 at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

“When it mattered most, the Ferdy social skill was sought in conducting the election that produced the Late Prof. George Obiozor as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo at Owerri,” Ogbonnia added.

According to him, in the clamour to develop the Igboland, Agu worked closely with a renowned economist, Prof. Osita Ogbu, to develop a template that, if implemented, would transform Igboland to a self-sustaining economy.

Ogbonnia added that the likes of Agu, an architect, “are very scarce to find, owing to his amazing public relations; character comeliness; marital exemplariness; oratorical skill; political sagacity and dispositional humility”.

He added that the group’s President-General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, “could not withhold his sorrow when he heard the sad news”.

He also stated that Iwuanyanwu was devastated “over the loss of another Igbo genius.

“He lamented that Nigeria could not tap or harness the enormous resource reservoir in Agu, before he passed on,” Ogbonnia stated.

He conveyed the condolences of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to the bereaved family, especially Agu’s wife, children, his aged mother, siblings; the Obinagu Udi Community and the people of Enugu State “over the irreparable loss”.

“While we pray that the Almighty God will grant the soul of Agu an eternal rest in his bosom, we urge the bereaved to accept with serenity the things we cannot change,” he stated. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

AAE/FON/USO
Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Sam Oditah

Engage into real estate business, company urges youths

Training

By Alex Enebeli

Enugu, June 9, 2024 (NAN) An Enugu based company, Set Reality Limited, on Sunday trained 160 Enugu youths on the rudiments of real estate business aimed at making them financially independent.

Speaking during the training which held in Enugu,the Managing Director of the company, Mr Ugochukwu Okoronkwo, said the training was motivated by the core goal of the organisation to empower youths in Enugu free of charge on how to make money through real estate.

He said it was a business they could do on the side in addition to what they were doing and earn huge amount of money from it.

According to him, their objective is to see that Nigerian youths acquire knowledge of finance and take advantage of real estate industry that will enable them make so much money to take care of their needs and people around them.

Noting that the company specialized more on human capacity development and empowerment on real estate, Okoronkwo said, “We do more of building people than building property.

“Our doors are open to anybody that wants financial empowerment as we teach and mentor them to take advantages in real estate industry,” he said.

The managing director equally urged the public to patronise their property at Prime View and Akuabata Estates at 9th Mile Enugu, assuring that they were genuine with certified documents.

Highlighting the opportunities available in real estate, Mr Francis Uka, the Chief Operation Officer, Set Reality, advised the participants to become a realtor- the one who broker deal between a buyer of a property and a seller for reward and commission in a real estate business.

He said they could get commission as high as five, 10 to 15 per cent of the total sum paid for a property.

“It is a business that can be done with zero amount but pays in millions of naira as well as done in their comfort zones.

“Basically, we have over 160 participants and real estate business in Enugu is very lucrative given its landmass and people from the southeast wants to own property in Enugu.

“Even with the issues of government demolition that make people apprehensive and great impact on real estate business, the industry is not slowing down as the value of landed property in the state keep jumping,” he said.

He pointed out that there was massive investment opportunities in real estate business that youths could explore.

“At the estates we have, we offtake it from the communities with understanding that we buy and sell.

“We provided survey for the property and all the registration with the ministry of lands.

A beneficiary, Esther Egbo, said the training was impactful stressing that he had benefited a lot from the company’s training.

While thanking the organisers, Egbo said youths engaging in real estate business would create them massive employment. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AAE/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Investment

By Alex Enebeli

Enugu, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The Tanzanian Government has urged Nigerians with attractive business opportunities to tap abundant economic resources in her country.

Dr Binilith Mahenge, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Tanzania Investment Centre, said the visit to Enugu was to present business opportunities to Nigerian investors that would be mutually beneficial to both Nigeria and Tanzania.

He spoke at an event on Thursday in Enugu, tagged  “Tanzania Investment Forum” with members of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), in attendance.

The theme of the event was : “Strategic Investment Form For Prospective Investors in Enugu, Nigeria”.

Although Mahenge  acknowledged that there were Nigerian investors in Tanzania, but noted that the number was infinitesimal compared with the avalanche of business opportunities yet to be harnessed in the East African nation.

He said: “We are encouraging and advocating for more investments as there are many entrepreneurs in Nigeria whom we want to capture more of the available business opportunities.

“Presently, investment is being done by every country of the world including developing countries because through investment, jobs can be created, currencies of other countries can be attracted and influx of new technologies.

“So, everyone wants investment in his country.

“Tanzania is a peaceful country and from 1961 when we got independence with six successive governments, the country has always been in peace.

“We have abundant natural resources which Nigerians can invest in and our economic growth will make their investment very comfortable,” he assured.

He, however, urged Nigerians to invest in agriculture, tourism and other areas, adding with that Africans could invest, exchange their technologies and businesses.”

Mahenge extolled the inquisitiveness and willingness of the investors in Enugu on the procedures on how to invest in Tanzania noting that they demonstrated willingness especially with the questions they asked.

He, nonetheless, expressed displeasure by the way Africans were doing  in business, stressing that more needed to be done given the continent’s rich natural resources.

“Each country has what they produce. It is better for us to exchange our products within the African continent as we have the capabilities,” he said.

Earlier, the Acting Tanzania High Commission in Nigeria, Mrs Judica Nagunwa, explained that the country’s main goal was to inform Nigerians especially, investors in Enugu to bring their businesses, explore the potential opportunities in Tanzania and invest in them .

Nagunwa represented by Mr Philbert Peter, the First Secretary-Economic Affairs, Tanzania High Commission, Abuja, said the Commission covered 15 West Africa countries with Nigeria inclusive and was responsible for the country’s economic diplomats to promote investment and ease of trade.

“I came here in April to explore the possibility of the embassy’s participation in 2024 Enugu Trade Fair.

“When we visited Enugu, we presented the potential we had in Tanzania to ECCIMA President, Odeiga Jideonwo.

“But he said that he wanted members of ECCIMA to be informed about these opportunities and we spoke to Tanzania Government who sent Mahenge to come and speak to investors in Enugu,” he said.

Presenting the opportunities, the Senior Investment Officer, Tanzania, Gaudence Mmassy, said Nigerians could invest in Tanzania given its economic stability, labour force, rich natural resources, peace and political stability as well as access to market.

He explained that the investors could invest in Agriculture and agro processing, pharmaceutical, tourism, real estate, clean energy, mining and metals and oil and gas sectors.

“There are $800 million to $1 billion value opportunities in medicine and medical devices with government’s goal of reducing import bills.

“Nigeria with less than 28 companies in Tanzania created 1,990 jobs with $1,358.42 investment value,” he said.

In a welcome address, ECCIMA’s President, Jideonwo, said the meeting would lead the people expanding their business empires to Tanzania while Tanzania people would also find Enugu as the most suitable for investment destination inNigeria.

Jideonwo noted that the programme was one of their efforts towards building a lasting and profitable bilateral trade and business relation starting with the African countries.

“It is our hope that those of us in Agriculture, ICT, Health, Construction, Manufacturing of consumer goods, financial services, environmentand energy, real estate, will after this programme further plan a trip to Tanzania to sign MOU for bilateral investment,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AAE/KOO/MNA

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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Maureen Atuonwu

Education

By Alex Enebeli

Enugu, June 5, 2024 (NAN) The United Nations has rated Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State’s investment in education high and recommended the establishment of its 4th headquarters in the state.

Dr Tivlumun Ahure, the President of the ongoing NgEducators International Model United Nations (NGIMUN), Conference, in Enugu, made the recommendation on Wednesday in Enugu.

The NgIMUN is a United Nations structured simulation idea for students. This is an educational strategy in which a particular set of conditions are created or replicated to resemble authentic situations that are possible in real life.

Specifically, the NgEducators International Model UN is an activity for those interested in learning more about how the UN operates.

Students at Secondary Schools and University levels are enlisted to participate in Model UN with the aim to build and maintain strong links between the UN and the student participants.

 The theme of the conference is “Development of Education in Developing Countries”.

Ahure, who described what he saw in Enugu education development as “overwhelming and fascinating”, said the organisation tend to have the fourth headquarters of the United Nations in the state.

While explaining that the UN had three headquarters in New York, Vienna and Geneva, Ahure said they would push for fourth United Nations headquarter to be established in Enugu State.

He said, “If you really like that, let me emphasize that in our lifetime, there will be the headquarter of the United Nations cited in Enugu State Nigeria.

“There are documents we will be forwarding to Mbah and that is why we are emphasizing that the state will eventually become another headquarters of the United Nations,” he pledged.

He described what the governor was doing in education as “marvelous and unbelievable”

Ahure told Mbah that the various student representatives he saw at the programme were Nigerian students cut across 36 states of the federation that represented delegations from different countries in the United Nations.

“The student delegates you see are cut across four important committees in the United Nations. The first sitting style represent the sitting procedure in the United Nations at the New York, the middle is the sitting position at Geneva while at the back represent the sitting position at Vienna.

“The delegates in front discuss politics, those in middle discuss Human Rights and the delegates at the back discuss United Nations declarations and Resolutions.

“We have replicated that arrangements here in Enugu but fundamentally, our concern and the central theme has to do with the development of education in the poor and developing countries,” he explained.

On the choice for Enugu State, the president said that after the assessment that was carried out in every region regarded in the developing world, across Central Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, the state was selected.

He said the choice of Enugu State was confirmed and authenticated given that the state was leading destination in the entire global sites of developing countries as it was currently pioneering and leading in educational development.

“We have evidence to show this as we have toured Enugu beginning in September 2023 and the same tour was held in several regions to determine the exact destination to host the programmes.

“The state was eventually selected and has become the official state in a largest country to host the programme in Africa,” Ahure said.

Responding, Gov Mbah said he was emotional, honoured and delighted to host the programme in Enugu as well as the pledge of the organisation to establish its headquarters in the state.

He said the programme would nurture future leaders and imbibe the virtues of public services in them.

“We have United Nations diplomats from Senegal, Sierra-Leone, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Conakry, Uganda, Chad, Cameroon, Jordan, Niger, Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali,” he said.

The governor explained that the presence of the students delegates across the 36 states in Nigeria underscored the sure commitment to foster and sustain the high quality education system capable of preparing the youths for the future.

According to him, it is an inspiring conference and opportunity for some hard reality checks in relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly as regards to targets for education.

Mbah regretted that almost five years of launching SDGs, African countries committed to the objectives of the universal basic education were still confronted with the challenges of the the school children at a proportion that can ever be tenable.

“We have activated plan to ensure that every child of school age is enrolled, has access to quality education which we are imparting, hence, the smart schools with experiential learning,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AAE/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Rerun

By Alex Enebeli

Enugu, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Mr Bright Ngene of the Labour Party (LP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to send a new team to conduct the June 8 rerun election for the Enugu South Urban Constituency.

Ngene, who was the LP candidate in the 2023 General Election said he had lost confidence in the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Mr Chukwuemeka Chukwu and Enugu South Electoral Officer, Mr Francis Chigbu, in conducting the rerun.

The LP candidate made the call in a press conference held on Sunday in Enugu.

Narrating his ordeal, Ngene said that INEC declared him winner of the March 28, 2023 House of Assembly election for Enugu South Urban Constituency after scoring 5,862 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 2,098 votes.

“Consequently, I was inducted into the 8th Assembly of Enugu State with certificate of return issued to me by INEC.

“So I consider this press conference an opportunity to inform the good people of Enugu State and Enugu South Urban Constituency in particular of what is happening around me and to the mandate they overwhelmingly gave to me.

“However, the PDP candidate, Sam Ngene, went to court challenging the victory, and praying the court to declare the election inconclusive, and order for a re- run.

“His contention was based on the ground that there was violence in the eight polling units situated at Ward 5, Uwani and Robinson Primary School that had 4,257 registered votes,” he said.

Ngene said the court found favour in argument of the PDP candidate that there was need to conduct a re-run election in the said eight polling boots which INEC scheduled the first re-run election on Feb. 3, 2024.

“On the said date the election could not hold because the original result sheet mysteriously and suddenly got missing under the watch of Enugu REC and Electoral Officer who could not give account of what happened to the original result sheets.

“Consequently, INEC re-scheduled the second re-run election on Feb. 14, 2024 but the election could not hold because PDP interrupted the election alleging that the original result sheet provided by INEC was fake.

“Furthermore, thugs started destroying INEC cubicles and other sensitive materials,” he said.

He regretted that INEC for reasons best known to them deliberately refused to investigate who in particular disrupted the election and refused to call for evidence even when it was brought to their notice.

He expressed disappointment that in spite of the alleged disruption of the election and also captured all over our social media, none of them had been apprehended or prosecuted till the time of this press conference.

“My utmost concern of this proposed 3rd time re- run election is that INEC is intending to allow or use the same Chukwu and Chigbu to conduct the election.

“While up till today no account has been given by the duo or INEC on what actually happened to the said original result sheet,” Ngene lamented.

According to him, I have lost confidence and trust in the integrity ofthe REC to conduct a credible, free and fair election.

“I equally wish to let the world know that it is now over nine months that Enugu South Urban Constituency seat has remained vacant and unrepresented at the Enugu State House of the Assembly.

“I therefore, passionately and humbly request the media, Non Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organisations, Election monitors, European Unions, and Other International Organisations to be on ground to supervise and monitor the election,” he appealed.

Reacting, the PDP candidate, Sam Ngene, denied the allegation of leading thugs to disrupt second rerun, challenging him to show the world the picture and video evidence.

He said, “I am working hard to prepare for my election on Saturday and what he is doing is laying blame and trying to preempt the election, which he needed to prove it.

“INEC conducted the election the first time that favoured him and he was in the House of Assembly for six months. He shouldn’t come out now to condemn the umpire that made him win first election.

“The said area for the rerun is my ward and stronghold where I had been a Councillor and also made me go for first term in 7th State Assembly.

“I have enough influence because of things I put on ground which has been fear,” he said.

All effort to reach Enugu REC proved abortive as he neither answered his phone calls nor return the text messages sent to him. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AAE/MNA

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu