Category: Lifestyle

The wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, marked the start of 2025 with a visit to the ESUT Teaching Hospital (Parklane Hospital), GRA, where she celebrated the birth of the first baby of the year yesterday, 1st January, 2025.

The baby, a beautiful girl, was born to Mrs. Blessing Anibueze at exactly 1:10 a.m. on January 1st. To commemorate the special occasion, the First Lady presented the family with essential baby items, cash gifts, and a bag of rice to provide immediate support.

Mrs. Mbah also extended her goodwill to other mothers in the hospital who had recently welcomed newborns, offering gifts and words of encouragement to celebrate the joy of motherhood.

Speaking during the visit, the First Lady highlighted the symbolic significance of the occasion:

“These little ones represent hope and new beginnings. I congratulate the proud parents and pray for their children’s health and happiness. Motherhood comes with immense joy and challenges, especially in today’s economic climate, and I commend the resilience of all mothers.”

She further assured that the Government of Enugu State remains committed to supporting mothers and children, striving for a healthier and more prosperous future for all.

POEM

I can barely hear
The sound of drums
That were loud and clear
Re-vibrated the four-walls of the nation
Pumped into echo
At Tafawa Balewa square
Lagos on a day like this.

October 1, 1960 as the episode.
Where a giant was born
Who now wobbles on it feet, Nigeria.

Even at 64?
The eagle is ducking
And the giant of Africa
Collapsing on feble boughs.

The isignia of our collective identification, leaking
And the whiteness of the flag is stained with
Blood of the iñnocent souls.

Muffled sound of drum
For drummers have picked race,
Butchered by the fire
Leaped from the muzzle of the militants’ gun.
Militants who with ego, now voice their membership in the market square.

The sound is muffled
The dancers of the drum
Are no where to be found
Having stayed back
From the roaming kidnapers
Set to take them for ransom.

The drum is muffled
As citizens recline to their cocoon
Away from the threat
Of reckless massacre
Of Boko-Haram.

Muffled is the sound
For the kleptomaniacs,
Politicians have sold off
The resources of the drum
And looted the treasury
Leaving behind empty drum.

The militants, Boko Haram, Kidnappers and LOOTERS of our common heritage
Have taken our joy
On a day like this.

Nigeria at 64, no echo from beating drums
But wail and anguish enacts.
Oh! what a muffled sound.

…Mbah Charges Nigerians on Impactful Living

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, joined other well-meaning Nigerians to pay last respects to former Director-General of the National Maritime Authority (NMA), now Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ferdinand Agu, at Obinagu in Udi LGA of Enugu State, charging Nigerians on impactful living.

Speaking during a funeral service in honour of the late Agu at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Obinagu, on Friday, Mbah, who expressed the deep condolences of the Government and people of Enugu said the deceased contributed greatly to the development of Enugu State and Nigeria and led a life worthy of emulation.

“Let me, on behalf of the Government of Enugu State, offer our deepest condolences to the immediate family of our late brother and friend, Sir Ferdinand Agu. This is a loss, not only to the immediate family, it is also a big loss to Enugu State and indeed, Nigeria at large. We mourn with you, we share in your grief.

“We have spent time talking about how our dear brother and friend excelled in his career as an architect, and in his public service life, he was no less remarkable. We are all aware of how, as the DG of the NMA, he laid the institutional foundation that later birthed what it is today NIMASA.

“So, we want to take so much inspiration in the legacies he has left and the impactful life that he led. We know that the true value of any human does not reside in the personal acquisitions, but rather the impact he made in the immediate world. Ferdinand has left legacies that will remain with us forever.

“We are going to all be consoled by the great life he has lived, and we pray that God grants his soul eternal repose. For the family, may God grant you the fortitude and courage to bear loss. May his soul rest in peace,” he stated.

The funeral service was attended by prominent Nigerians, among them Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; former Presidents of the Senate, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Senator Ken Nnamani; former governor of Enugu State, Barr. Sullivan Chime; former governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi; and Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; former DG of NIMASA, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, among others, while the sermon was preached by the former Minister of Power and an Anglican clergy, Prof. Chinedu Nebo.

Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has lauded the legacies bequeathed by a foremost professor of Law and development consultant, Chris Chijioke Ohuruogu, saying the consummate teacher lived an impactful life.

Mbah, however, said that he could only recall the last moments of Prof Ohuruogu with great pain, as he died at a time the society needed his wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom.

He stated these in his funeral oration during the funeral service of the late academic at Akabo, Owerri, Imo State, on Friday.

Describing the late professor’s passing as a great loss to not only the deceased’s immediate family, but also to him as a person as well as Imo State and the entire country, Mbah explained that their relationship spanned decades from the point he met him as a lecturer at the Lagos State University during his postgraduate studies.

He lauded him as a disciplined, accomplished and consummate scholar, adding; “Let me say this; I was fortunate to have drunk from the Prof Chris Ohuruogu’s fountain of knowledge as he taught me in the Lagos State University during my postgraduate studies in Maritime and Commercial law.

“So, the death of Chris, as we fondly called him, is not a loss that is exclusive to you, his family. It is a loss to me personally. So I’m also mourning. When I received the news of Chris’ death, my first reaction was a flurry of emotion and one of outright denial and plain anger over how cruel the hands of fate could be sometimes,” the governor said.

He regretted that all the courageous efforts made to save the deceased failed as it was the time apportioned to him by God to return to him, and enjoined the deceased family and the people of the state to bear the loss as such was the will of God.

He stressed that death remained the ultimate price awaiting all mortals, adding, however, that Ohuruogu’s legacies would continue to serve as exemplary steps worthy of emulation.

In his sermon earlier, the Archdeaconry of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Ven. Peter Duruaku, said the death of Prof Ohuruogu was not without hope as he had lived a godly and virtuous Christian life.

He called on the living to always remember that death was inevitable for every living being and that each person would be called to give account of the stewardship by God.

Appreciating the governor for remaining faithful to a friend even in death, the traditional ruler of Akabo Ancient Kingdom, HRM Eze Evans Njoku Nwasi, said governor Mbah had re-echoed his love for the bereaved family, the people of Imo State people and humanity.

By Barr. Benjamin Okorie Ajah, PhD, M.Sc., B.L., LL.B., B.SC., AICMC, MNYA, MNSC, MNASA, AISDS, AMAPA

We live our lives, each day, hoping for the crops we planted to bring us peace.  By our sojourn through life,  we pray we succeed and  witness the progress of our children and love ones. You toed this path, dear mother, till your flight to heaven took off.  That is why the grieve of your death by garden of flowers can be heard in high heaven, and human population mourning your sudden heavenly movement.

By your death, dear mother,  I can now fathom  the depth of what Marcus Aurelius, the last emperor of the Pax Romana and philosopher king, meant when he  enjoined us  to “think of the life we have lived until now as over and, as a dead man, see what’s left as a bonus and live it according to Nature. And we should go to our final resting place like a ripened olive that drops praying the earth that nourished it and grateful to the tree that gave it life.” Your existence, dear mother, actually glued to this advice. You made every second count by positively transforming the lives of people around you. That, perhaps, is the reason why they  named you “Omeyaa”. The significance of that name is that you were ever ready to sacrifice your comfort in putting smiles on the faces of people you come across and  ensuring their prosperities in life.

Omeyaa, though you painted the cloud blue and left us in the deepest sorrow of our time, we cannot question the decision of Almighty God. The golden footprints, you left, are inerasable in the sands of time. Needless to state that we are consoled by the undying words of the Great Buddha, when he said “even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely”. Toeing similar path, John Donne wrote, “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. Why swell’st thou then? One short sleep past, we wake eternally And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die”.

And in furtherance  of that, David Mazzuchelli noted that “life is stressful, dear. That’s why they say, Rest in Peace”. Omeyaa, I’m proud that you conquered death even in death.

We are happy, dear omeyaa, we are happy

For  death is  even afraid of thee

And we can feel the savannah and garden of flowers smiling at thy heavenly acceptance.

Good bye, dear mother. Send our earthly greetings to Arch Angel Michael, Arch Angel Gabriel and all the Angels of Heaven. Tell them we would have loved to spend more time with you but we submit to the decision of The Almighty God. Tell them to always intercede for your children and people on earth.

Tell your husband, Julius Okorie Ajah, that he should have lived more to witness the progress of his children.

Tell our brother, Rev. Fr. Cletus P.A. Okorie that his death caused so many socio-psychological, economic, physical and spiritual tremors.

To your daughter, Getrude Okoro, tell her that she should have witnessed the success of her children before leaving.

Ask your son, Umahi, why didn’t he live to experience the birth of your last child and witness the  prosperity of his siblings.

Thank you, dear mother, for the quality time you spent with us.

By Chetanne Chinelo 

The Nkanu people pride themselves with being known with many things, one of which is the trade of killing and retailing meat – Igbuánụ́.

A particular story has it that the word “Nkanu” was coined from the phrase “Nka anu du” meaning “The place with abundance of meat”. Although some persons disagree with this version, Pacesetter made a stop, in preparation for the 2023 Nkanu Today column, at the home of Chief Sunday Nwafor Alias Umunnanwezueaku from Ameke Amigbo, Ozalla, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Chief Sunday is a renowned but retired merchant in the trade of Igbuánụ́. Telling his story, he says he once slaughtered ten cows in a day.

The concept of Igbuánụ́ begins from purchasing the cow to taking it to slaughterhouse, killing, sharing, and retailing the parts nicely. It is more encompassing and involving than the mere killing of a cow. Although our train couldn’t make it to the slaughterhouse, we got to the Afor-agu market in Ozalla (Four corners) where meats were retailed to consumers.

On what Igbuánụ́ entails, hear Chief Sunday Nwafor:

“Igbuánụ́ is one means of quick wealth. So many of our people who didn’t go to school was as a result of the influence of the wealth made from Igbuánụ́. Our people didn’t initially believe in the benefits of education so, a lot of the Nkanu people joined the trade. The Hausas who owned the cows then trusted us as long as you were honest. We served them before penetrating the business.

“The trade was common among the people of Obe, Ozalla, Amurri, Akpugo, Agbani and Akegbe Ugwu. Our people were drawn to the business of coal and Igbuánụ́. These two trades made our people really wealthy. We traveled as far as Warri, Port-Harcourt, Onitsha, Abakaliki, etc. to ply our trade.

“To commence the trade, you will have to begin by serving someone (Igba boyi). You can’t just jump into the trade. From there, after a while, you can then be on your own. The meat isn’t sourced from hunting, you must buy the cow. You have to learn the names of the different parts of the cow in Hausa language, how to cut each part into its appropriate size and other secrets of the trade, because if you don’t cut the meat properly, you will lose your money. There are ways you will cut the meat and it will shrink in size. The Hausa language is an essential aspect of the trade.

“Those who practiced Igbuánụ́ were feared throughout Nkanu because some of them, most of the time, appeared to be diabolic. This was one of the reasons the trade wasn’t open to everyone. Unfortunately, things have degenerated so badly that even women now practice the trade. Initially, if you were not from Nkanu and practiced the trade, we will show you John Igweshi (Laughs). No matter how wealthy you are, you cannot just venture into the trade like that, No!

“If any of our youths look to joining the trade in this age, it must be digitalised, not doing it the usual way. One of the improvements must be to maintain a very high sanitary standard because usually, anyone in the trade smells a lot.

“I, Oko Nwoko, Samuel Agu, Alhaji Nwokafor Nweke, Chief Emmanuel Okorie-Ani, the Agu-Ude family were some of those who really profiteered from the trade. The irony is that today, it appears that most of those who still practice the trade of Igbuánụ́ are not successful. After I saw the way things changed in the trade, I decided to stop the trade. I wouldn’t advise anyone to practice Igbuánụ́ or involve the children in the practice of the trade. Most of those who made huge profits in those days but never invested the profits are nowhere to be found today. Education is the way forward today”.

Inset: We saw a storey building in Umuokorouba, Ozalla, situated at the center of the market, constructed by Chief Emmanuel Okorie-ani in 1947 using the proceeds from Igbuánụ́.