The Executive Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area, Hon. John Ogbodo, has called on the people of Nkanu West to enroll as beneficiaries in the vocational and entrepreneurial skills program of the National Directorate of Employment.
Ogbodo made the call when he received the officials of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), an agency of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, led by the Enugu State Coordinator, Mr. Oluka Godwin, during a courtesy visit to him at the council headquarters.
Speaking during the courtesy visit, the State Coordinator, Oluka Godwin, stated that the purpose of the visit was to formally inform the Executive Chairman of the ongoing registration exercise for individuals interested in acquiring vocational and entrepreneurial skills under the agency’s training programmes.
Oluka explained that the registration was targeted at locals within the Nkanu East and Nkanu West Federal Constituency who were willing to be trained in various skill areas as part of the Federal Government’s effort to reduce unemployment and promote self-reliance among citizens.
He stated that in the past, similar interventions had been carried out and the participants resettled after the training.
Noting that the challenge of unemployment could only be solved through a partnership among the Federal, State and Local governments, Oluka sought the support and participation of the local government to ensure its success.
Responding, the Council Chairman welcomed the NDE team and assured them of the council’s support in ensuring a smooth and successful registration and training process.
He also commended the initiative as a step in the right direction toward youth empowerment and economic development in the local government, noting that it was in line with the target of the Dr. Peter Mbah led administration of Enugu State, to achieve a zero poverty headcount, a target he stressed that his local government administration had already keyed into.
Ogbodo also recalled other human capacity interventions which had been undertaken by his administration since he assumed office, reminding that the latest was a capacity hands-on training involving a collaboration with Potters Wheel and the Enugu State Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.
Those present during the visit were the Local Government Secretary, Prince Barr. Onochie Igwesi and an Aide to Rt. Hon. Nnolim Nnaji (Member Representing Nkanu East and West Federal Constituency), Mike Udo.
The registration exercise is scheduled as follows:
Prince Onochie Jon-Igwesi has been appointed the Secretary of Local Government, Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State.
The appointment which took immediate effect followed his taking of oath of office and swearing-in on Monday, November 11, 2024 at the council headquarters in Agbani, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Performing the swearing-in, the Executive Chairman of Nkanu West LGA, Chief John Ogbodo, noted that with the appointment of Jon-Igwesi, the council was set to run effectively.
“All these while, we didn’t have a Secretary, but today we thank God, we thank His Excellency our governor for this opportunity, and now our council can run effectively.
“Once you have the secretary to the local government after all other arms are already inaugurated, it means the government is already running and with this team, we can now deliver, and we can be rest assured that executives can now function”.
Accepting the appointment, Onochie Jon-Igwesi also expressed optimism that with the mandate the local government administration has, the team will deliver and make the council one that her citizens will be proud to identify with.
“First, I wish to thank God Almighty who made today a reality because God is the one who rules over the affairs of men and I give Him all the glory.
“I thank the Executive Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, the visionary man who has plans that their implementation has continued to positively shock everybody.
“I also thank the Executive Chairman, the man who is driving the government plans at the local government level. Charity begins at home, so, if he can drive them effectively at the local government level, then we are very sure His Excellency’s plans will continue to be noticed at the state level.
“I believe that with the mandate that we have, we will deliver and make Nkanu West Local Government one that we will be impressed about”.
Recalling that donkey years ago, his grandfather served meritoriously as council chairman, Jon-Igwesi expressed confidence to keep the flag flying.
Onochie Jon-Igwesi has a diverse portfolio spanning public service, media entrepreneurship, and community engagement. In 2020, he embarked on media entrepreneurship founding Pacesetter Frontier Magazine.
He holds degrees in Microbiology and Law; certificates in Public Leadership and Policy; International Criminal Law, Journalism, Business Consultancy and Mediation. He is a school administrator, Rotary International member, and Paul Harris Fellow, driving discussions on peace, governance, and development through the Frontier Discourse Annual Public Lecture Series and Awards, an initiative of his Magazine.
The Enugu State Economic Planning Commission has scored the Nkanu West local government administration of Hon. Uchenna Ejim high for embarking on projects which it described as humanitarian and life touching, throughout all the fourteen wards of the local government within one year of his administration.
The Commission made this known during a visit to Nkanu West Local Government Area on Thursday, August 31, 2023, to inspect completed and ongoing projects following a mandate it received from the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, to visit the entire seventeen local government areas of the state to carry out comprehensive inspection and supervision of projects executed by the council chairmen, in line with the promise of his (Mbah’s) administration to run a transparent and accountable government and to ensure effective and diligent execution of projects across the state.
Receiving the delegation from the Commission in the company of the Deputy Chairman, Hon. Chijioke Ngene and the fourteen local government legislators at the Nkanu West local council secretariat in Agbani, Hon. Uchenna Ejim, while thanking them for their visit, noted that his administration had undertaken projects in all the wards of the local government, ranging from infrastructural developments to social service projects, community development projects, economic empowerment projects and an overall improvement of the local government.
He reiterated his strong commitment to the message of disruptive innovation in governance which is the core of the Peter Mbah administration, revealing that it was one of the driving forces towards his determination to have a local government administration that was better than what he met on ground.
Some of the project sites visited by the delegation, comprising of completed and ongoing projects, were a fully equipped, state-of-the-art ICT Lab with an ongoing four weeks intensive ICT training program for Nkanu West youths, located within the council headquarters; a 50kva Perkins Electric Power Generator; ongoing six weeks intensive free holiday lesson at St. John School, Eke Agbani; ongoing construction of 3.7km Asphalt road with a 7.4km concrete drainage completed at Obinagu Uwani Akpugo, which connects neighboring communities for improved market access; construction of 11 adjoining culverts; completed construction of 14 culverts, one for each ward, with an extra culvert at Amuzu Community, Akpugo.
Others were the ongoing construction of a two-storey concrete reinforced security tower at Agbani police station; construction, equipping and rehabilitation of the military checkpoint along Amodu/Obeagu road; ongoing comprehensive renovation of Orjiagu Health Centre, Agbani and the construction of Agbani Town Hall; evacuation of a waste dump at the Nigerian Law School, Agbani and Ozalla; commencement of the complete renovation of Community School, Obinagu Uwani Akpugo; ongoing extension of rural electrification to Ameke, Ogrishi, Obodo Ede, Azu-Egu, Uno-Ofia, in Obinagu Uwani.
More projects were installation of street lights; rehabilitation of solar powered borehole at Obodo Ede square; construction of Omo bridge at Ndiagu Agwa Umuokwo and the ongoing rehabilitation of Ozalla Fire Service and erection of extra coaches on the fence of Fire Service outpost.
Speaking to Pacesetter at one of the project sites, the leader of the project team, Engr. Jude Ikechukwu Uwakwe, expressed great satisfaction with the achievements and accomplishments of Ejim’s administration.
“Coming to Nkanu West, the Mayor’s performance is enormous, compared to other local governments that we have visited.
“Seeing this bridge, the ongoing road construction, other infrastructural construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of projects are quite impressive.
“Most of the projects we have inspected today are humanitarian projects, they are life touching projects. These are very gigantic projects”, Uwakwe said.
In a briefing with Pacesetter’s correspondent, the council chairman, Hon. Uchenna Ejim, reaffirmed his commitment to serving the good people of Nkanu West and improving the communities through infrastructural development, economic advancement and community empowerment.
“Despite the challenges, the fire buring in us and the desire to serve the people rekindles every day. We welcome the challenges, pitfalls and we rise each time we fall.
“Insecurity was our greatest challenge, but we have begun to tackle and dismantle this challenge.
“We erected a security post at the boundary between Obeagu and Amodu. The State Government in collaboration with the local government has maintained joint patrol of the military and the Nigerian Police”.
He assured the people of his firm dedication towards improving Nkanu West’s health and education sector, as well as other social services and human empowerment that will greatly advance Nkanu West.
Recall that in 2022, Ejim awarded One Million Naira to Miss Somto Ekwochi, an indigene of Umueze in Nkanu West LGA who was the nationwide top performing student in the WAEC exams.
Additionally, he, along with his wife, the First Lady of the Local Government, provided significant support during the measles and yellow fever vaccination flag off at the Agbani Health Centre, among other notable achievements.
Committed to strengthening Maternal and Child Health Care in Nkanu West local council of Enugu State, the First Lady of Nkanu West LGA, Mrs Mary Onyinyechukwu Ejim, Friday, October 7, 2022, flagged off vaccination for Measles and Yellow Fever.
The flag off ceremony which was performed by the First Lady and the Council Chairman, Hon. Uchenna Ejim, was held at Nkanu West Health Centre.
Speaking at the ceremony, the First Lady, Mary Onyinyechukwu Ejim, thanked the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his wife, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi, for their thoughtful support to the fight against the diseases.
She expressed gratitude to her husband, the council chairman, for what she described as his “unending support and dedication towards the welfare of Nkanu West residents especially women and children”.
Addressing the women of the local council area who turned out in their numbers, she said, “we urge you to comply with us and allow your kids to be vaccinated”.
Lauding the health department, especially frontline workers, she supported the vaccination programme with fifty thousand naira and a brand new megaphone to aid in making town announcements and disseminating health information.
Head of Health Department in Nkanu West, Mrs Ogbodo Eunice, thanked the council chairman and first lady for their immeasurable support towards the welfare and affairs of Nkanu West health department.
Stressing on the aim of the flag off and campaign as being for awareness, she noted that the vaccination will commence on October 13, 2022.
“The vaccination will be administered not only in Nkanu West but all over Enugu. Other vaccines like COVID-19 vaccines and other routine immunizations will also be administered. The vaccination programme will last for 10 days and if you have received yellow fever vaccine in the past, you don’t need a second dose because the immunity lasts for 10 years”.
The Supervisor for Health, Hon Mrs Roseline Nnaji, adviced the people to take advantage of the free-health services aimed at ensuring safety of children and adults against measles and yellow fever.
“Mothers have lost their babies to measles. It is important you cooperate with us and vaccinate your kids”, Nnaji said.
Mrs Stella Ani pointed out that letters had been sent out to schools, churches and communities to inform them of the vaccination exercise.
She enlightened the residents more on the vaccination programme, stating that BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin) vaccine fights against Tuberculosis (ukwara nta) and Polio vaccine fights against paralysis, weak muscles and muscle twitch.
She expressed profound gratitude for the COVID-19 lab testing site established in Nkanu West, at Amurri health Centre. She also adviced mothers to pay close attention to training their young children especially the female ones, create a channel for proper communication with them and report any side effects to health/medical centres.
Pledging her continued support, the First Lady further supported nursing mothers with soaps, buckets and gave party women wrappers and fifty thousand naira. The council chairman, Hon. Uchenna Ejim, also made donations to support the vaccination exercise.
HRH Igwe Okechukwu Egbune and Engr. Buchi Nnaji, SPA to the council chairman on Media, were present.
Others were representatives from Enugu State Primary Health Care Development Agency and World Health Organization.
Let us go back in time to the evening of June 9, 2020. While putting finishing editorial touches to the maiden Democracy Edition of Pacesetter Frontier Magazine which was planned to be released on June 12, 2020, I received a call from my father, H.R.H Eze Barr Igwesi O. Igwesi. My father, who had taken to farming as one of his ventures, had called to let me know that his car broke down around Obeagu community, as he made his way back to his palace in Omuoha, Obuoffia from the farm.
My father’s inclination to always call me in times such as what was at hand wasn’t lost on me. Perhaps he had a strong belief in me to always, promptly step up to the matter and get it done, and although working on seeing the magazine released exactly on June 12, 2020 was a priority, I just couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him out there and not being the usual me. By the time he called back to tell me not to bother coming again since his mechanic was on the way, I was already some minutes close to where his car broke down.
Fast forward to minutes later, I arrived at Obeagu-Amechi Road, precisely the junction leading to the palace of the Traditional Ruler of Obeagu Uno Autonomous community, HRH Igwe Linus Okafor, a fine gentleman. I got to know that he is a successful businessman based in Jos; Ah! the typical Igbo man and his pan-Nigerian mindset again. Let’s not wander too far joor; my father’s car, according to the mechanic’s diagnosis wasn’t going to be fixed that evening so the only available option was to push it into Igwe’s Palace so that the next day, the mechanic would fix it. The only problem was that the car was an SUV and the gate leading to Igwe Okafor’s Palace was up a slight hill.
While thinking of what to do, we noticed a locked church compound across the road and a residential building with its gate slightly ajar, adjacent the church. I approached the compound to speak to the owner to permit us push in and park the car till the next day.
“Cast your Bread upon waters, for after many days you will find it again”. Those were the words of King Solomon. As at the time I took decision to enter that compound, I didn’t know that I would see those words play out just as it was written.
When I got into the compound and knocked, a woman, whom I guess was in her mid or late fifties answered and asked what I wanted. I thought it necessary to speak the beautiful Nkanu dialect to see if it would water the ground for the request I was about to make. I introduced myself as Onochie and recounted my father’s experience with his car and all that had happened till that moment but to my chagrin she said “No”. She said “Daddy”, referring to her husband, wasn’t around and as such she couldn’t decide alone. Thinking about it in hind sight, she displayed the nature of a well-bred, traditional Igbo woman who would never attempt to usurp her husband’s powers without getting a nod of approval (Exhales), Nwanyi bu Ife.
I left to tell my father and he decided to speak to her by himself. He introduced himself as Obi Igwesi. The moment the woman heard “Igwesi”, she asked “Is it the Igwesi from Obuoffia?’’ My father nodded in the affirmative. She wasn’t satisfied, she asked again “Are you the son of the late John Igwesi?” My father nodded again and immediately, her face lit up and she said “My husband is Philip Ani. He always talks about John Igwesi. He said your father (John Igwesi) trained him back in the days at Umudike (I feel she was talking about the then School of Agriculture, Umudike which is presently known as Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu). He said that if it weren’t for your father, things would have become really hard for him. He said he wasn’t the only one your father was training at that time. He also talked about how your mother would always give him a very big portion of food because she and my husband were both from Amechi and she always called him her brother”.
HRH Eze John Egbo Igwesi
She said so many other beautiful things about my Grandfather while I just watched and listened in awe and admiration of a man who was a Colossus while he lived. My father went ahead to make again, exactly the same plea I made and this time she quickly gave her nod of approval. While we left to push in the car, I overheard her say to her visitor who was there while all these went on: “Daddy wouldn’t have been happy if he came back and heard that I turned back the son of John Igwesi without rendering him the assistance he needed”.
Yet again, she didn’t disappoint. I think she should be called Obidiya for she could tell what her husband would do at any given situation. Her approval of the request after she came to know whose seed my father was – wasn’t a usurpation of her husband’s powers, it was a strong and undisputable confirmation that good deeds do not die. If they did, how come we came to reap the benefits of the deeds of a man who died many years ago?
His Royal Majesty, King John Egbo Igwesi (Eze Chinawaeze II of Obuoffia) was a civil servant with the then Nigerian Coal Corporation. He represented Udi Central Constituency in the then Eastern House of Assembly under NCNC. He was the Chairman, Nkanu County Council for 7 unbroken years, a record no other has held till date. He led the formation of Awkunanaw Welfare Association. He was a Scholar, seasoned Parliamentarian and a conscientious civil servant. He was the King of Obuoffia and the clan head of Awkunanaw. He will always be fondly remembered for moving the historic motion that bestowed autonomy on Nkanu Local Government from the old Udi Division.
He trained and oversaw the establishment and rise of many sons and daughters of Awkunanw and Nkanu Land, some of whom are still alive till date. He personified Justice as a defiant and strong willed WAWA man, little wonder, a typical Nkanu man who had been denied justice will tell you “I will show you John Igwesi.” He was an Iroko and he came, saw, conquered and surpassed a lot of his contemporaries, a man whose political and historical records have been treasured at the Archives of the Enugu State Ministry of Information. This, in summary, was the man whose name at that moment opened onto us a door that was shut.
King John Igwesi is dead and yet he lives on. Those who are vexed and envious of the great life and times of John Igwesi have at times turned the truth about him and his descendants, to make it stand on its head. Because that position is uncomfortable for the truth, the truth has always, against all odds, reverted to its normal position which is standing on its feet.
Some days after the car incident, I got to know that Mr. Philip Ani died as a result of an illness he had been down with for some time. Ah! (Hisses) I felt so bad, but I still felt somehow happy, happy because fate was very kind to him. Fate kept him alive till he did a last act of kindness to the first son of the late John Igwesi. I’m sure that as he journeyed to the great beyond, he must have felt fulfilled because he was able to say “Thank you” in his own little way to the late John Igwesi for all the good deeds he did to him and many others in his life time.
Like someone once said, carve your name on hearts because legacy is not just leaving something for people but leaving something in people.
Before you die, if you haven’t, ensure that the world owe you a favour, a debt which they would pay to your children and descendants unborn. Leave the inheritance of a good name for your children in a world that will feel indebted to them because of the kindness, goodness and compassion of their parents. It was Jonathan’s kindness that caused his crippled son Mephibosheth to eat for the rest of his life at the table of the king, David.
I have now learnt to at all times introduce myself as Onochie, without forgetting Jon-Igwesi, so that perhaps one would show me kindness because of the good deeds of Igwe John Egbo Igwesi.
Shalom.
Onochie Jon-Igwesi writes from Omuoha, Obuoffia, Awkunanaw.
