IMSUTH: Best graduating medical student dedicates award to souls in purgatory

A young medical doctor, Chiedozie Ikwu, who emerged the Best Overall Graduating Student of the Fifth Set of Imo State University Teaching Hospital (IMSUTH) doctors, has dedicated the coveted award to souls in purgatory. Dr. Ikwu, an ardent Catholic and active member of the Purgatorian society, disclosed this in his response after receiving his certificate of award and prize.  The occasion was the swearing-in/induction ceremony for the 5th set of medical doctors  at IMSUTH. He said, “God Almighty has been everything to me all the way.  I lack words to thank Him.  Some of the times I passed my exams, they were obviously miracles.  I couldn’t understand why some of those things happened.  Thank you…

August Meeting

As this year’s “August Meeting” draws near, a lot of anticipations and preparations are made in order to make it a fruitful one.  Women from all over the world, especially the married Igbo women flock back home for this annual meeting. It is during this meeting that decisions are made for the betterment of the Igbo women and the community at large.  This very meeting of theirs is taken very seriously, in the sense that anyone who fails to attend it pays a fine (especially those who have been mandated). The concept of the meetings evolved from the annual mass return.  The mass return were for every citizen – men, women, youth and children.  The…

Fixing the Owerri Metropolis

One of the enduring legacies bequeathed to successive administrations in Imo State by the pioneer Governor, Rear Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu (February 1976 – August 1977) is a comprehensive Master Plan for the development of the Owerri Capital City. Referring to that plan in a lecture he delivered at the Inaugural Owerri Club Heartland Lecture Series in July 2010, the Admiral himself disclosed that it was conceived beyond 2010.  Kanu’s vision for Owerri Metropolis comprised a twin-city concept (Old and New Owerri developing simultaneously at their own paces).  A 15-kilometre radius from the Owerri Post Office was consequently declared Government-owned land. The Master Plan was a masterpiece, designed by a Swiss Firm, Finger Huth and…

Police discover gun depot in Mbaitoli

In another development, the Imo State Police Command has uncovered a gun depot at Idume-Ogwa in Mbaitoli LGA with at least 13 brand new AK47 rifles. Also recovered from the depot are pump action guns, double barrel guns, assorted rifle parts, 750 live cartridges, one carton of security torchlight, rifle accessories and vehicles. State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Katsina told journalists on Wednesday that the bullet proof jacket with the inscription, “Nigeria Police” was also recovered by the reconstituted illegal arms mopping squad. Some suspects have been arrested in connection with the discovery and investigation is ongoing to arrest others implicated in the gun deal. Katsina also disclosed that the fight against crime and criminality…

FUTO VC counts blessings, challenges – After two years in office

The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Chigozie C. Asiabaka (KSM) was two years in office on June 19, 2013, having assumed office on June 19, 2011. To mark the second anniversary as the 6th substantive Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. Asiabaka addressed the press, June 17, during which he counted his blessings, prospects and challenges. Reflecting on the past two years, Asiabaka said: “We have indeed made remarkable and commendable progress towards re-positioning this university to world class standard”, adding that the laudable success which they have recoded so far would not have been possible without the support of the academic, administrative and other non-teaching staff of the university. He listed what he…

Widow, family members, others escape death from food poisoning in Ohaji

-As couple dies after meal in PH The Ministry of Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has relocated to its permanent office at No. 14 Orlu Road Owerri, after being commissioned by Governor Okorocha. Commissioning the office complex, Owelle Rochas Okorocha said that Community Government Council (CGC) is government of the people for the people and by the people. He further said that development can only be achieved if powers are decentralized to the communities for them to manage their affairs. Responding shortly after the commissioning of the office, the Commissioner for Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Barr. Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro reaffirmed her determination to actualize the ideals of CGC in the state. In another development,…

Abandoned Road Projects

Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha recently warned contractors handling road projects in Imo State to expedite action and ensure completion of their jobs to avoid disruption by the rains.  He said government will deal ruthlessly with contractors who fail to deliver according to specifications and on time.  The Governor gave the warning while inspecting state road projects at Okigwe town.  His Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Uche Nwosu had some weeks earlier issued similar warnings to contractors handling Government’s Monumental Projects in Owerri. We commend the present administration for its laudable achievements in construction of imposing edifices at several locations in the major cities of Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe such as the Multi-Million…

Women of letters honoured in Owerri – Including Dr. Mrs. Joy Oguh

The Director of Continuing Education and Part-Time Studies of Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, Dr. (Mrs.) Nneoma Joy Oguh (LSM) has advised women to be equipped with the great tool of education in order to prepare themselves for full participation in national development. She noted that women education when attained will enhance women in the world of excellence, labour and productivity, fulfillment, integrity and dignity. Dr. (Mrs.) Oguh stated this at a forum for celebration of Ladies of Letters and Womanhood organized by Imo Network of Professionals in conjunction with Opinion Research Communications Inc. in Owerri. Dr. (Mrs.) Oguh – a senior lecturer and former Director of Academic Planning and Curriculum Development Unit of Imo State…

Extortion Rocks Junior School Cert Exam In Imo – Enraged Education Commissioner vows to punish culprits

A large scale extortion of candidates in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (a.k.a. Junior WAEC) by those charged with the supervision of the examination in Imo State, has been exposed Following public outcry, especially by parents of students involved in the examinations, who were shocked they were being demanded between N200 to N500 each examination day for their children and wards to “settle” their supervisor, THE LEADER embarked on a fact-finding tour of parts of the state including Isiala Mbano, Onuimo, Ehime Mbano, Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas and made telephone contacts with Orlu, Oru West, Ihite-Uboma and Ikeduru LGAs. Investigations in three schools visited in Isiala Mbano – Aquinas Secondary…

POLYNEK LECTURE: Varsity VC lists criteria for True Democratic System

Professor Boniface Egboka, Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa has identified true democratic system as one anchored on the development of appropriate institutions. This fact was contained in a convocation lecture he delivered at the convocation ceremony of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri on Wednesday June5, 2013. The University don, whose topic was, Democracy and good Government: An imperative for political stability and Economic Development in Nigeria, posited that this could be achieved through developing stronger vehicles for formal political participation and representation through political parties and electoral systems. It could also be achieved through improving governance in political parties, promoting the participation of minorities and women, building electoral systems and limiting the distorting influence…

NIGERIAN GOVERNORS FORUM: WHICH WAY NOW?

When the Chief Executives of the 36 states of the federation formed the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) soon after the return to civil rule in 1999, Nigerians welcomed the idea as a laudable development capable of strengthening the then fledging nascent democracy. The Forum, as a coalition of the elected governors is a non-partisan association which seeks to promote unity in governance and better understanding among states to ensure a healthy and beneficial relationship between the states and other tiers of government.  It is on record that the Forum has played useful role at certain critical moments of crisis in the country by trying to wedge the country from drifting down the precipice. The Forum…

International Health Conference Ends In FUTO

Nigerians are careless with their health – Asiabaka A three-day international health conference has ended at the Federal University of technology Owerri (FUTO), May 23. The conference with the theme: Global Health: Issues, Challenges and Management, was organized by the Centre for Women, Gender and Development Studies in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Health Technology, FUTO. In her welcome address, the Acting Director, Centre for Women, Gender and Development Studies FUTO, Dr. Mrs. Ihuoma Asiabaka defined global health as the health of people in a global contest and transcends the perspectives and concerns of individual nations.  “It is about worldwide improvements of health, reduction of disparities and protection against global threats that disregard national…

VIRUSES ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN CANCER (1)

Cancer may be described as any tumor arising from abnormal and uncontrolled division of cells that then invade and destroy surrounding tissues. Most of them are named after the organ or cell in which they start e.g. liver cancer, cervical cancer, skin cancer etc. Cancers are grouped into: carcinoma when they arise in the epithelium, sarcoma when they involve connective tissues, leukemia with origin in blood or bone marrow, lymphoma arising from B or T lymphocytes (white blood cells), myeloma originating from plasma cells, and central nervous system cancer when the cells of the CNS are involved. Cancer is a public health problem world-wide and affects all categories of persons. It is the second common…

Community Government: Is it viable?

Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha has on several occasions enumerated what Imo people stand to gain from embracing his Fourth-Tier System of Government, otherwise called, Community Government.  The novelty of it all, being that the state power base will, as it were, relocate from Douglas House Owerri (Government House) to the various autonomous communities in the 27 local government areas of the state. According to the new structure, the duly recognized traditional ruler of each autonomous community will preside over the Community Government Council (CGC), which will include: a Government Liaison Officer (GLO), a Community Liaison Officer (CLO), a Woman leader, Youth leader and Secretary.  The concept is to bring development close to the people as…

Margaret Thatcher’s Life and Times: A lesson for Nigerian Women

There has been an avalanche of condolence messages pouring into Britain, from various countries, including Nigeria since that Sunday night (08/04/2013), when ailing Baroness Margaret Thatcher finally gave up the ghost. These messages speak volumes of the personality Margaret Thatcher was. They are testimonies to the international political stature of Britain’s First female and longest-serving prime Minister (1979-1990).   Margaret Thatcher was born on October 13, 1925. She was a graduate of the famous Oxford University, who started life as a research chemist. After getting married to wealthy businessman Denis Thatcher, she returned to become a barrister in 1954. Earlier in her political career, she held such appointments as: opposition spokeman on Pension matters as…