OCHA Brigade Boss Endorses aPas C O'star Eze

Pix: (L-R) Osita Eze, Henry B Klassic, Chief Kenneth Okonkwo, Adanma Amanda Amaechi
DJ Black

OCHA Brigade Boss Endorses aPas C

O'star Eze

The Managing Director of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra State, Chief Kenneth Ositadimma Okonkwo has given his nod to a forthcoming Anambra Peace and Security Concert, aPAS C, which will hold at GeoGold Hotel, Awka come October 21.

Chief Okonkwo gave this approval in his Awka Office while entertaining a contingency of aPAS C Execution Team, lead by Henry Ukachukwu, the CEO of Henry B Klassic Entertainment, a firm that has held several successful shows in the South South part of Nigeria.

Kenneth Okonkwo said, "If there is one legacy the Dr. Willie Obiano administration has created, it is security of lives and properties as well as sustained peace of NdiAnambra. It is therefore an exciting thing to partner with a group of youths intending to celebrate the peace and security in Anambra state and I'm happy the government has given their endorsement to the cause and I shall look into the proposal they have submitted to me to see how we can help."

Henry Ukachukwu, while speaking with the press later on, explained that the music concert is borne out of a deep passion to see peace and security, two major catalysts to facilitated sustainable development and increased IGR, engrained in the consciousness of NdiAnambra and beyond.

"This has taken more than 2 years to birth and I'm glad the present administration of Chief Dr. Willie Mmaduaburochukwu Obiano has achieved this ideal. This is why Henry B Klassic Entertainment is going to celebrate peace and security as well as the Father of Peace and Security in Anambra himself, Willie Obiano, who started from day one to sanitize the state," Henry submitted.

He then revealed that prominent artists like Phyno and Zoro will be brought down to their base and the youths will under the atmosphere of unbridled entertainment learn their part in continued sustenance of peace and security from the lips of Chief Security Stakeholders in the state, while upcoming artists will be given a platform to move their dreams closer to reality by putting them on a platform that will expose them to millions of record labels world over.

The Media Director of the group, Osita Eze also intimated that the event will be free while the Brand Ambassador, Queen Ameena Amanda Amaechi who is presently contesting for Most Beautiful Girl in Abuja, called on all Anambrarians and people living within Anambra and around to partner with the Peace and Security event, which will be educative, free of charge and fun.

Also in the delegation was DJ Black and several print and electronic media men.

Socioeconomic transformation depends on education - Altruist

Engr. Bart Nwibe

An Education altruist cum enthusiast, Engr Bart Nwibe, has fingered education as the singular tool that can cause the desired socioeconomic revolution in the country, while frowning at the what he described as the poor attitude of firms and government towards education in the country.

Engr Nwibe made this assertion while receiving a 15-man delegation of Anambra Teachers Forum, in his foundation office at Igboukwu, Aguata Local Govt. Area of Anambra state.

Nwibe also observed that education gives equal opportunity to everyone to attain any desired height in life, saying that this is what informed he sustained effort of his foundation, Ugo Igboukwu Foundation, which has run for  15 years already with not less that 10000 young people from across Anambra state as beneficiaries, to, besides giving full scholarship to children who show a degree of academic brilliance, also run an adult education program that equips disadvantage adults with literacy skills.

The chairman of the Teachers' Forum who lead the 15-man delegation, Comrade Peter Ezekwe, in his introductory speech, narrated how the activities of Ugo Igboukwu Foundation has kept alive the dreams of countless bright children and youths from indigent homes in the state, saying that this was why the forum members who are first hand observers of the effect of Bart Nwibe's philanthropy have decided to collectively sought to encourage commend his efforts and encourage him to continue.

"Engr Bart Nwibe may not fathom the gravity of good he is doing in this state with his educational empowerment programs, but I stand here to say that there is no philanthropy greater that educational empowerment as it is the best way of doing the proverbial " teaching how to fish", as removed from the conventional hand-outs that most well-to-do but misdirected persons do these days," Ezekwe enthused.

Let's preach peace and security through music - Music Entrepreneur

Henry Izuchukwu Ukachukwu, CEO, Henry B Klassic Entertainment, is from Imo state, but was born and brought up in Anambra state. In the following exclusive interview with O'star Eze of Orient Daily, his Odyssey into the music entrepreneurship was explored as well as the Peace and Security concert that he conceived and is on the verge of launching. Excerpts:

Can you share your antecedents?

I started school in St Faith, Awka and from there i moved to St Paul's Primary School. Then, when they transferred my dad, who is a clergyman, to Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area, our family had to relocate there and i started schooling at St Catherine's Comprehensive Secondary School and then finished secondary education at Urban Secondary School, Ekwulobia, where i wrote my WASCCE. Then i gained admission at Federal Polytechnic, Oko, where i studied Business Administration. I graduated in 2006. But in that year, we had an entertainment club we were managing. So, when we were about closing down the club, given we were graduating, we decided to organize a life show that would bring a lot of people. Then Cosmo FM was in vogue. So, we discussed with the Cosmo FM management, liaised with their DJs, got the partnership of very big shots in Oko, including the Director of Rozander Hotel. The show was such an explosive success. I had not been to Lagos before then but that show took me to Lagos where I contracted Sample (Ekwe). Then he was at the prime of his career as a music artiste. We brought him down to Oko them for the show. The show was a grand success. It was Sample that first observed that i was not stuff for Anambra state and that i should come up to Lagos where my Entertainment promotion and organisation (which he was obviously impressed with) would be better appreciated.

From the origin, i had always been a music enthusiast. I enjoyed and played all kinds of music; Reggae, Highlife, Hiphop, excetera. A habit that always got me in trouble with my father who was  a conservative given his religious vocation. I also was a vocalist in church. So, music was a natural flair. But i never wanted to be a public figure.

So, following my passion, I went to Lagos after graduating from Fed. Poly. Oko and in 2009, I launched myself formally into the music industry in Lagos. I hosted 120 DJs, 12 media houses and a lot of other entertainment firms in Lagos state to launch Henry B Klassic Entertainment into the Music Industry. From there, i started running shows, both on the streets and in establishments, managing artistes and suchlike. That was how we got into the music industry and it has been a rich and profitable experience all the way. These days, you find that music is the in-thing. Back in the days, when you indicate interest in music, your parents and relatives would tag you wayward, 'ofeke', but these days, football is the order of the day. These days, everybody would want to associate with musicians and musicians are big boys. We show promoters have all their contacts.

Presently, i want to break the jinx of Showbiz in the South East and make it a big deal, just as it is in Lagos. 

Now, let us talk about your Peace and Security Concert. When and how did you conceive the idea and what is all about?

The Peace and Security concert. Yes, i have been seeing a lot of crisis in the society.  A lot of people die, are maimed and are rendered homeless as a result of conflicts and wars. We got really concerned about this and started thinking of how we can reach the youths who are the primary target of conflict and instigators. We now perceived that it would be good if we go to the society with the language of music to preach peace and security.

And you know that whenever a country is at peace and secured, a lot of investors come in. Business will be flourishing and development is facilitated. So, we decided we would marry showbiz with the message of peace and security, a strategy we believe would drive the message home better. This birthed the concert of peace and security.

We want to use known faces in the music industry, draw the crowd and we would now pass the message of peace. People should be security conscious, promptly report any suspicious activities in their environment to the security agencies. We don't want to hold a conventional show where people just come, pay gate fee and get entertained. The event is a free show.

So far,  a lot of people want to be part of Peace and Security Concert and more people are invited to partner with it to make it a resounding success.

I understand that there is such a concert in the Offings.  Can you share with us how far you have gone and when we should be expecting the show in Anambra state?

So far, we have been able to break into the Anambra state government. We introduced the idea to Anambra state government, they set up a committee to look into the project and saw that the project is good to the society. So, they now endorsed it. We have the endorsement letter with us. The government now propelled us to package our materials, source for funds from the private sector and carry out the event. We have talked to our artistes and to some media houses to partner with us, given it is more of a humanitarian outing seeking to impact the society positively. We want to also use the platform to appreciate the governor for how far he has gone with security in the state. People now talk about Anambra in Lagos and elsewhere, that it is now a safe economic hub for investment. So far, we are looking for more sponsors to come in and partner with us, because we already have our team ready, our materials set and our artistes on standby for mobilization. There is also going to be a PowerPoint projection of the old Anambra before the present Administration with it's security issues and then the present security status of the state courtesy of the present administration.

So we have work plan for the event and we have a lot packaged for the day. What we have been waiting for is here already, which is the government's endorsement letter. It is here now, so we are good to go. We therefore call on individuals, firms, brewery, telecommunications, to partner with us. Let us preach security and peace to our people through music.

I WILL FIGHT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE - ANAMBRA PC

Mr Sam Okaula, Anambra state's new Police Commissioner has declared his resolve to nip every abuse of human rights in the bud in the discharge of police duty by sensitizing his men and officers on his stance concerning it and working with members of the Civil Society Network, Anambra state.

He made this known while receiving the executive members of Civil Society Network, Anambra state in his office during their courtesy cum familiarization visit.

Speaking further, Mr Okaula said that he believes strongly in the rule of law and respect for human rights and have always drummed it into the ears of his officers and men that any abuse of human rights is not tolerated anywhere he serves.

He therefore asserted that the Civil Society Network will work with him in ensuring that the human rights of Anambra state inhabitants are not trampled upon while assuring that he maintains an open door policy and will always welcome any information that would aid him solve any problem that might arise as a result of human mistakes amongst his men.

GAMES VILLAGE TOUR: IFEANYI UBAH SHARES PASSION FOR YOUTHS

Yesterday, Chief Dr.  Ifeanyi Ubah, Ebube chukwu uzo Nnewi, the newly appointed chairman of Anambra FA took out time to share very intimate aspects of his persona and projects in his hometown with a large number of social media experts during which he shared the sleepless nights he gets over the Anambra Economic question and youth empowerment.

During this memorable day,  Anambra online media people who were invited to a tour of the IFEANYI UBAH FC GAMES VILLAGE also witnessed the appointment of IFEANYI UBAH as the National Grand Patron of Youth Forum. He also accepted to host the Dr Ifeanyi Ubah under 20 National football competition, one of the competitions that were proposed to him.

The group were also led on a tour of the site of the Games Village in Nnewi where he said he wants to prove that football is made in Anambra state. He enthusiastically pointed out the position of the Lawn tennis court, golf course, five star hotel,  L shaped gallery. He enthused that the Games Village will be a tourist attraction.

 Dr Ifeanyi Ubah also shared his intention to share 30000 footballs to every family in Anambra state. This, he envisaged, would inspire 30000 families in Anambra state to produce at least one professional footballer each.  This will be a major economic boost,  he said.

 Ifeanyi Ubah went ahead to disclose that the huge project is on the verge of providing 500 job/ empowerment opportunities during road construction."How many Anambra youths know how to make mold kelps or carry out standard road construction? How many anambra people are good road workers? We are using here to create a model to empower youths for road construction."

The Entrepreneurial genius then pointed out the spots for a shopping mall, Football academy,  Linguistic school where the footballers will learn  Spanish, Portuguese, French. He added that Ifeanyi Uba FC is partnering with Westham Football academy,  rated the World best in running their own academy,  making them the first African partner with Westham. He then noted that Ifeanyi Ubah FC has already signed three Brazilian players in their team.

Other features of the more than 200 hectare Ifeanyi Ubah games village were Amusement parks, 4 industrial boreholes for the surrounding ; Ozubulu  and Nnewi. Each borehole worth 8 million naira. A state of the art Night market. First of its kind. 1000 Kva transformer, thirty warehouses.

Survey reveals rapid development in Nigeria schools.

The education survey carried out by the National Population Commission NPC has revealed a rapid development of schools across the states of the nation.

This  latest development was made known to the public by the chairman of NPC, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, SAN, during the occasion of the Zonal dissemination of the 2015 Nigeria Education Data Survey NEDS, at King David's Hotel, Awka.

The survey according to Chief Eze is meant to "provide policy makers with accurate and timely data to formulate courses of action, designed to increase enrolment, attendance and learning.

In his words, "With this more reliable database,  we shall achieve Nigeria's Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC's "Education for All" goals for the children of school age and as well provide a substantial amount of household - based education data needed in Nigeria."

He added that the outcome of the survey will inform programs that will improve level of students enrolment and attendance and as well facilitate equitable access to quality schooling for all children in Nigeria.

Seven months after 7 DSS Officers went missing in Lagos...

Seven months of pains, tears and sorrows, as the Federal Government and DSS are still mute on the whereabouts of seven Department of State Security (DSS) officers that went missing 7 months ago at the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The families have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to open a thorough investigation and unfold the mystery behind their disappearance. But it is sad, that up till now nothing has been done or said by the Federal government or DSS on their whereabouts.

Let Nigerians ask why the DSS should keep silent on the sudden disappearance of their gallant officers who were on national assignment and refuse to even ask how their families have been faring! 

The Government or the DSS have not for one day, asked after their wives and kids or how they are coping. What a great country that one will put his or her life down for?.

Note:

Seven DSS officers went on a mission to rescue the kidnapped wife of Deputy MD Sun Newspaper on the 15th of September 2015.  Since then till now, no word or any form of contact from the 7 of them till today, while the woman was released two days later by the kidnappers.