News
Enugu East Council Boss Named NUJ’s Best LGA Chairman for 2025
…attributes achievements to Gov. Mbah’s leadership
Engr. Pastor Beloved-Dan Obi Anike, Executive Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, has been named Best Local Government Chairman of the Year 2025 in Enugu State by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The Union said the award recognises his “inclusive, innovative and transformational governance model,” which has positioned Enugu East as one of the state’s most progressive councils.
Speaking after receiving the honour, Anike dedicated the recognition to Governor Peter Mbah, saying the council’s achievements were made possible by the governor’s clear policy direction. “Our achievements are a reflection of the governor’s exceptional leadership. His disruptive innovation agenda provided the framework that made all these reforms possible,” he said.
In the last one year, Enugu East LGA has undergone major administrative and developmental reforms that have created a more responsive, data-driven and community-focused governance system.
Anike’s administration is guided by a framework that combines inclusion, innovation, institutional strengthening and transformation, all aligned with Governor Mbah’s vision of a more livable and economically vibrant state.
At the centre of the council’s development approach is the Family Economic and Empowerment Programme (FEEP), which integrates governance inclusion, community empowerment, human capital development, social protection and public health improvement.
The chairman explained that FEEP has helped the LGA organise development “not as isolated activities but as a coordinated system with measurable outcomes.”
These efforts have attracted national and international recognition. Enugu East placed second in Nigeria in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Mayors Challenge, placing the council on the global innovation map.
The World Health Organization also honoured the LGA in May 2025 as the Best Performing LGA in Primary Healthcare in the South-East. In addition, the council pioneered Nigeria’s first Inclusive Governance Charter, which has strengthened transparency, accountability and equity and is now referenced as a national model.
Under Anike’s leadership, community inclusion has expanded significantly. The LGA institutionalised participation through engagements with communities, youth groups, women, traditional institutions, faith leaders and development practitioners.
This process later led to the establishment of the Human Capital Development Trust Fund. The council sponsored WAEC fees for 1,700 students for the 2024/2025 session and has already begun registration for the next academic year. It also registered and trained over 200 women’s cooperatives for a revolving loan scheme aimed at strengthening family economies.
The LGA’s scholarship and bursary schemes have supported thousands of young people. The Greater Tomorrow Scholarship granted full awards to 150 students in both junior and senior secondary school categories, selected through competitive examinations.
Another 1,000 undergraduates benefited from the bursary programme, while 15 medical and technology students received sponsorship at Maduka Onyishi University. Seven law students also received support in 2025, alongside five students supported for international studies. In youth skills development, more than 400 young people have completed training in ICT, welding, upholstery and heavy-duty operations, while 100 others graduated from aviation-related training at the Universal School of Aviation in Lagos.
Health protection has also expanded, with 5,000 people, especially women of childbearing age, the elderly and the urban poor, enrolled into the health insurance scheme. In land governance, the administration established the Land Mediation and Verification Centre, which now handles land rights protection, conflict resolution and fraud prevention across communities.
The council has also recorded significant progress in infrastructure delivery. Fifteen transformers have been installed and energised, while 60 kilometres of community access roads have been graded.
In addition, the LGA delivered 12.4 kilometres of inter-community roads with drainage channels, including a mini bridge linking parts of Ugwuomu, Emene, Ibagwa, Eziama and Umuchigbo. Three new Type-1 Primary Health Centres were constructed in Neke Uno, Nkpologwu and Obinagu.
The Ugwogo–Amankpaka Ultra-Modern Market has been completed, while several neighbourhood markets are progressing through public–private partnerships.
Anike’s administration has also strengthened peacebuilding and institutional stability. The Land Mediation and Verification Centre continues to resolve disputes quickly, offering communities a reliable avenue for justice and minimising tensions in areas previously prone to conflict.
On social welfare, the LGA has rolled out programmes that support vulnerable households. Ten thousand women benefitted from the One Woman, One Wrapper initiative, while a festive distribution of 10,000 bags of rice to households is being planned. The council has also introduced an Elders Welfare Package and institutionalised an Advisory Council to support development decisions.
Reflecting on the progress so far, Anike maintained that the achievements recorded in Enugu East are a direct outcome of Governor Mbah’s leadership philosophy. “Governor Mbah gave us the clarity, the confidence and the policy direction to be bold and innovative. Enugu East simply followed his footsteps to deliver results,” he said.
With these reforms, Enugu East LGA has become a leading example of inclusive and innovation-driven local governance in Nigeria.
Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has warned Nigerian youths against depending on sports betting as a pathway to wealth, saying lasting success can only be achieved through hard work, patience and integrity.
Speaking during a message to members of his congregation, the cleric described betting as a dangerous distraction capable of destroying the future of young people and preventing them from fulfilling their God-given potential.
Oyedepo urged youths to resist the growing temptation of seeking quick riches through gambling, stressing that genuine prosperity is built on diligence, discipline and purposeful living.
“Young people, 9jabet is not the way to financial fortune. Stop wasting your destiny,” he declared.
He emphasised that although the journey to success may sometimes appear slow, honest labour and consistency ultimately produce more enduring rewards than relying on luck or shortcuts.
“It may be slow, but it’s sure,” he added.
The bishop also reflected on his personal life, recalling how his mother’s unwavering faith influenced his decision to become a Christian at the age of 15.
He recounted how he later expressed his gratitude by buying her a car while she was living in the United States, describing the gift as one that brought her immense joy before her passing at the age of 92.
Using the experience to encourage young people, Oyedepo urged them to embrace faith, perseverance and gratitude instead of pursuing instant wealth through betting.
He concluded his message by urging Nigerian youths to rethink their priorities and make choices that would guarantee a brighter future.
“You better wake up,” he said.
Family members have launched a fundraising campaign to repatriate the remains of a Nigerian woman, Christiana Nwosu, who reportedly died of cardiac arrest while visiting the United Kingdom.
The information came on Monday from a GoFundMe appeal signed by Chijioke Metuka on behalf of the Nwosu family.
According to Metuka, Nwosu died on July 19, 2026, leaving her children and loved ones devastated by the sudden loss.
Metuka described the deceased as “a beacon of light, love and warmth” whose passing had created an irreplaceable void in the lives of those who knew her.
The family said its greatest wish was to honour her memory by returning her body to Nigeria for burial, where she would be laid to rest among her extended family and ancestral roots.
The appeal read, “During this time of immense grief, Izuchukwu and his family’s deepest wish is to honour her memory by laying her to rest in her homeland of Nigeria, surrounded by her extended family and roots.
“Repatriating a loved one from the UK to Nigeria comes with significant and unexpected financial burdens.”
However, the family noted that repatriating her remains from the UK would cost about £10,000, covering funeral director fees, specialist repatriation services and documentation, air freight charges, transportation, and funeral and burial expenses in Nigeria.
“We have set up this fund to support Izuchukwu and his family during this incredibly difficult time. Every single donation, no matter the size, will go directly towards covering these repatriation and funeral expenses to help ease the financial strain on the family,” the appeal read.
The organisers appealed to members of the public to support the family through donations or by sharing the fundraising campaign with others.
“If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this page with others and keeping Izuchukwu and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, generosity and support,” the statement added.
As of the time of filing this report, a sum of £7,941 had been raised out of the £10,000 target.
In February a Nigerian woman, Oluranti Akinyemi, died in the UK shortly after arriving in the country for her son’s graduation ceremony.
Her family had launched a fundraising campaign on JustGiving to raise £20,000 to repatriate her remains to Nigeria and cover related expenses.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
One person has been confirmed dead while three others sustained injuries following the collapse of a three-storey building in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The building, which reportedly housed students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, collapsed on Sunday night, trapping some occupants beneath the rubble.
The injured survivors were rescued and taken to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital and St. Michael’s Hospital, Oko, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government has sealed off the site of the collapsed building, reaffirming its commitment to stricter enforcement of physical planning regulations and the elimination of unsafe construction practices.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barrister Chijioke Ojukwu, said preliminary findings indicated structural failure as the likely cause of the collapse.
He announced the immediate closure of the site pending comprehensive investigations and structural integrity assessments.
Ojukwu said the incident would mark a turning point in the enforcement of building regulations across the state, warning that owners and developers of defective or non-compliant structures would face sanctions.
He added that ongoing construction projects would also be subjected to stricter inspections.
The Commissioner for Works, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, said technical investigations were ongoing to determine the exact cause of the collapse, adding that a team of professionals had been deployed to conduct a comprehensive structural evaluation.
Ezeobi assured residents that recommendations arising from the investigation would be implemented to strengthen the state’s building control system, prevent future occurrences and ensure that anyone found culpable is prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said medical personnel and ambulances were immediately deployed to the scene to provide emergency care for the injured.
He said the Ministry of Health worked closely with other emergency response agencies throughout the rescue operation.
Obidike commended the swift and coordinated response of the Anambra State Government and emergency agencies, describing it as crucial to the rescue efforts and the timely medical treatment of the victims.
The Mayor of Orumba North Local Government Area, Rtd. Capt. Casmir Nwafor, also praised the rapid intervention of the state government and emergency responders, noting that their coordinated efforts helped contain the situation and minimise further risks.
Nwafor urged developers, property owners, institutions and residents to strictly comply with approved building regulations and safety standards, reaffirming the local government’s support for the enforcement of physical planning laws.
An eyewitness, Prince Ifeanyi Ezefunamba, said the building, reportedly occupied by students of the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, collapsed at about 10:00 p.m. after occupants heard cracking sounds and began evacuating.
He said one survivor, Miss Chioma Akabike, narrowly escaped moments before the building collapsed, while rescue operations commenced immediately.
A traveller who arrived in Abuja aboard an Enugu Air flight has praised the airline for its service, describing the flight as smooth, calm and comfortable despite unfavourable weather conditions.
The traveller, Wordshot Amaechi Ugwele, in a viral social media post said Enugu Air had become a source of pride for the South-East and had significantly improved connectivity between Enugu and other parts of Nigeria.
Ugwele said the airline’s expansion to destinations including Benin and Kano had made air travel more accessible to residents of the region.
He said, “Today, our people can also fly directly from Enugu to Kano, a travel convenience that would have seemed unimaginable not too long ago, until Enugu Air made it a reality.”
Ugwele also commended Enugu State Governor, Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for what he described as his vision, meticulous planning and disciplined execution in driving development across the state.
According to him, the governor’s achievements in infrastructure, connectivity and economic transformation had contributed to Enugu’s emergence as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing states.
He said the establishment and expansion of Enugu Air demonstrated the administration’s commitment to improving transportation and connecting Enugu with other parts of the country and beyond.
Prophetess Ezinne Nwanorue, a Nigerian preacher based in Canada, has sparked controversy online after appearing to celebrate the death of her mother-in-law in a social media post that has drawn widespread criticism.
The cleric shared the funeral poster of the deceased, Comfort Nwanorue, on Facebook on Monday, accompanying it with remarks in which she accused her late mother-in-law of being responsible for some of the challenges she had faced in the past.
Ezinne claimed she had endured years of spiritual attacks and persecution, saying she believed God had exposed those she held responsible for her struggles.
She also issued stern warnings to individuals she described as agents of evil, urging them to repent.
Her comments triggered a wave of reactions on social media, with many users criticising her for publicly expressing what they perceived as joy over the death of a family member.
The incident has also renewed public interest in Ezinne’s marriage to Franklin Nwanorue, which previously made headlines over a controversial fidelity oath he took before relocating to Canada.
Before leaving Nigeria, Franklin reportedly recorded a video in which he pledged to remain faithful to his wife, declaring that he should die if he ever cheated on her after relocating abroad.
However, Ezinne later accused her husband of violating the oath, alleging in a separate Facebook post that he had become involved with another woman despite his public declaration.
As of the time of filing this report, Franklin Nwanorue and other members of his family had yet to publicly respond to Ezinne’s latest social media post.
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