By Our reporter
The Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has vowed to offer #10 million to the first street in Onitsha to complete their repainting from February 1 to March 10 this year.
The Governor made this vow through the Commissioner for environment, Mr Felix Odimegwu during an interactive session with Onitsha landlords at Onitsha South Local Government Area Secretariat on February 5.
According to him, the runners up will receive #5 million while the third position will smile home with #3 million.
"We are here for the follow up of the last visit here where our governor sent his deputy to come and interact with the Fegge landlords on degeneration and facelift of Onitsha.
"We want to do this thing in three folds; repainting, where the governor brought out a challenge 'Ka Anambra Chakee' which prompted him to set a cash gift to any street that comes together, discuss and embark on this initiative, paint from street end to street end.
"It is the wish of the governor to embark on this initiative. He said that he would be here on Friday for you to see him and hear also that he is the one that sent us here. This is an agenda that is not hard to do and also it is for our health benefit.
"Another one is cleaning of drainages. Onitsha was last rated as the dirtiest place in West Africa but this government since it came, is deliberate to change Onitsha from the present narrative and place it on the right direction it should be.
"Since solid roads constructions are going on, it will be an eyesore that the environment, buildings within these roads are dilapidated, we all know that paints help in protecting houses, so we are here to appreciate the governor.
"Fegge is well planned, when we painted all our houses, plant trees, it will make your properties valuable, appreciate naturally and also conducive for foreign investors and businesses."
According to him, WHO has also made it known that 60 per cent of the causes of our ailments are from the environment. Clean environment with good air, plus good food, you have given yourself primary health, thereby scaring sicknesses away from you," he explained.
"The Local Government Chairman fixed this meeting today to ginger Onitsha landlords and as you are doing it, Awka landlords are doing theirs, likewise Awada and the chairman is trying to see that Onitsha landlords come first. If this 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions come to Onitsha South, it will be remarkable.
"Also is tree planting, if we can also plant step trees, masquerade tree, map out small space for this, each street should choose their choice and each building plants two step trees each in front of their buildings and in straight line too.
"Each street will pick their tree choice and colour, which must be the same for the whole building in that street but the colour must be a particular colour but might be of different shades, he further explained.
The Transition Committee Chairman, Onitsha South Local Government, Mr. Emeka Orji in his contribution said that to support the governor in his initiative and to encourage Onitsha landlords, that he will add #1million, #500,000 and #300,000 to the first, second and third streets, adding, "we are trying to bring back the former face of Onitsha and we are almost there.
"We are beginning this week because there is no more time, infact, any building that first starts the painting will get #I00,000, let's make Onitsha proud, even the governor.
"I want to also remind us that I will start demolition very soon, so let everybody hear it and immediately demolished, the scraps will collect them immediately. We don't want fence around any building in Onitsha South, let it be removed before we start our work," he pleaded.
Mr Ndubuisi Umezurike- Vice chairman Landlord Association, on assuring the commissioner that the initiative is a welcome development, said that he led a team on waste evacuation at Portharcourt road on Sunday and in the process he stood at the front of First biank by Niger street and on looking forward, surprisingly, he sighted Upper Iweka at a stretch and he was encouraged.
"Infact, we have been planning to come and thank the governor for this, please let us do this, we are born and brought up of this place, we know everything. We are doing it for ourselves, this is our place," he pleaded.
One of the stakeholders, Mr. Sylvester Emeka Okafor (CIWO Paints) stressed on the need to embrace the initiative and the need to use a very good paint with quality which will not wash away but retained the quality for the achievement and sustainability of the governors agenda.
Another Stakeholder, Mr. Patrick Azumma, advised on the need to inform these new building landlords by announcing the colour code of each street so that those that are about to paint their buildings will queue in immediately.
Also present at the event were the State President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Obi Chukwuemekalum Udodeme, President General, Onitsha South, Rex Wilson Anyaoha, Personal Assistant to the Council Chairman, Barr. Stanley Okafor, Secretary, Onitsha South Council Area, Barr. Paul Onuachara, Chairman Ochanja Market, Chief Bonaventure Muo and other personalities.
Anambra Youths Set For Massive Empowerment Opportunities
By Ifeoma Aniagbado
The Anambra State Ministry of Youth Development has reached an agreement on strategic partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Commerce to massively explore and harness empowerment opportunities for the youths of Anambra State.
This landmark agreement was reached following the visit of Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Agha-Mba to his Ministry of Trade and Commerce counterpart.
Earlier in the discussions, the commissioner, who was accompanied by the ministry’s officials, said that the key objective of the visit was to intimate his Trade and Commerce counterpart on the various programmes of the ministry and discuss the areas of collaboration.
Mr. Agha-Mba said that the essence of collaboration is to take youth empowerment in the state to the next level.
He emphasized the state government's commitment to developing youth through numerous programmes like 1 Youth 2 Skills Solution in order to ensure higher productivity and contribution to the state GDP, saying that the ministry has already developed a program called Job-kikstart Solution, which is intended at closing the gap between job seekers and employers, while building the capacity of the youths in understanding Management, Workplace Essentials as well as Career Choices.
Mr Agha-Mba commended the Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for creating the enablings for investment and youth development, acknowledging the achievements of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce in the present administration.
He noted that youth development programme cannot achieve the desired object without the involvement of Ministry of Trade and Commerce, hinting that plans are underway to improve the Apprenticeship Scheme of 'Umuboi' for better effectiveness.
The commissioner expressed the need to create job opportunities and link up youths with employment and relevant skills that will help them become self employed which in turn, reduces crime through positive engagement.
Responding, the Commissioner for Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Mr. Christian Udechukwu, welcomed the team to his ministry, commended him for his achievements and promised to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth Development to achieve the state government's youth development agenda.
He said that his ministry will assist in bringing big corporate organizations to serve as Master Trainers in the 1 Youth 2 Skills Solution, explaining that the Ministry will organize a programme called Solution Master Class, which will help in developing both undergraduates and unemployed youths through big industries like Innoson, ABC and Cosharis in order to achieve the desired objective.
The Commissioner also reiterated the need for the trainees to publicize the experience gained from the empowerment programmes in order to impact useful knowledge to other youths for their futuristic use.
Highpoint of the event was the formal presentation of 1 Youth 2 Skills brand to the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, who in turn, presented "Made in Anambra Tea" to the Commissioner for Youth Development and his entourage as part of the campaign for the promotion of Made in Anambra Products by his ministry.
Meeting attendees included the Acting Permanent Secretary, Youth Development Mrs. Chito Osili, Special Assistance to Governor on Commerce and Industry, Mr. Eloka Maduekwe, Special Assistant to Governor on Youth Development Engr. Emeka Tony Omatah, Executive Assistant to Governor on Youth Development Mr. Chibuzor Udeh, Director Industry Eboh-Nwosu Josephine Nkiruka, HOD Small Medium Enterprises, Mr. Okwudili Obiefuna and the media team of the ministry.