IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

From Everest Ezihe, Owerri 

Ahead of the forthcoming National Sports Festival, NSF christened Ogun 2025,Imo State Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, has passionately advised Nigerian athletes to shun enhancing substances, especially narcotics and illicit drugs so as to have clean and healthy competitions.

Speaking during a seminar jointly organized by group of botanical researchers from University of Ibadan and the State Government, titled “A Multi Parameter Approach for the Prevention of Autochthonous Botanical Supplement Doping Among Elite Athletes in Nigeria,” Onyeocha emphasized the dangers of doping and the importance of maintaining integrity in sports.

The event, which brought together Imo State sportsmen and women from various disciplines, focused on raising awareness about the risks of using unverified supplements and the long-term consequences of drug abuse in sports.

The Commissioner further highlighted the commitment of Governor Hope Uzodimma led Shared Prosperity Administration in promoting clean sports. 

He also disclosed that Uzodimma was one time President of Wrestling Federation of Nigeria with deep-rooted involvement in athletics and that his global experiences in sports underscores his administration's zero-tolerance stance on doping.

“Our athletes must always strive to compete clean. Substance abuse not only damages careers but also tarnishes the image of our great State and the athlete, with the right education and discipline, am convinced that Imo athletes will continue to represent us with honor and integrity.”

The seminar marks another step in the State's ongoing efforts to foster drug-free sporting excellence. 

Ugwumba Uche Nwosu NTA Program Tomorrow on Youth Mentorship: A Testament to His Already Known Legacy

By Ashamkonye Francis, Owerri. 

As you prepare to participate in Ugwumba Uche Nwosu's NTA Weekend Deal live program tomorrow on youth mentorship, it's more than just a talk; it's a practical reflection of what he has consistently done through the Ugwumba Leadership Center for Africa.

Since its launch in 2018, the Center has mentored, supported, and empowered over 5,000 young entrepreneurs across Nigeria and beyond with fund, business development opportunities, skill development programs and so on.

To mention but a few, Gift Muoneke, a brilliant Electrical and Electronics Engineering student of FUTO. In 2019, he won ₦700,000 from the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge. The Center continued to groom him, leading to his victory at the 2020 Youth Innovation Challenge in Abuja, where he clinched ₦1,500,000. Today, Gift runs a thriving tech business in Eziobodo, Owerri West LGA, Imo State.

Another inspiring story is that of Ms. Ruth Ede, the then-undergraduate of Michael Okpara College of Agriculture, Umudike. She participated and won initial ₦500,000 from the Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge and was consistently supported by the Center. Later on, she won the ₦1,000,000 star prize at the Catch Creativity Challenge. Due to her resilience and drive, Ugwumba adopted her as a mentee and has closely monitored her progress. Her hard work paid off again when she emerged a $20,000 winner at the Ayute Africa Challenge, among several other awards.

Currently, Ugwumba Leadership Center has produced thousands of progressive young Entrepreneurs who are competing favorable in both local and international Agro, Tech and other Entrepreneurial ventures.

These are not just stories; they're evidence of a real-life success stories and more.

Don’t miss this heartwarming program tomorrow, by 7:30am.

By Ik Ogbonna, Owerri. 

The nomination of Ms. Usoro Offiong Akpabio as Managing Director/CEO of the South South Development Commission (SSDC) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a deserving recognition of her exceptional leadership skills and dedication to public service. 

This appointment is a historic milestone that not only acknowledges the talent and capability of Nigerian women and youths but also demonstrates the President's commitment to inclusive governance and regional empowerment.

Ms. Akpabio has an impressive background in policy analysis, political engagement community development, and strategic leadership makes her an ideal fit for this role. She has had experience in addressing rural infrastructure challenges, youth empowerment, and women's health has earned her recognition and respect. She is a passionate, selfless, focused and inspiring team player who would bring pride to Nigerian women and the youths with her outstanding performance. 

This appointment is a beacon of hope for Nigerian women and youths, and with collective support and visionary leadership, we can look forward to a new era of progress, unity, and prosperity.

With her vision, dedication, and hands-on experience, the SSDC can deliver on its promise of inclusive, sustainable development, and Ms. Akpabio's leadership will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the region. 

Three members of the House of Representatives under the Labour Party (LP) have rejected their reported suspension from the party, describing the move as both baseless and desperate. They claim it is a ploy by embattled former National Chairman, Julius Abure, to remain politically relevant following his removal by the Supreme Court.

In a strongly worded joint statement issued on Thursday, Leader of the Labour Party Caucus in the House; Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, Deputy Leader, Hon. Seyi Sowunmi, and a caucus member, Hon. Amobi Ogah, accused Abure of attempting to destabilize the party rather than rebuild it. The lawmakers described their alleged suspension as "laughable," asserting that Abure no longer holds legitimate authority within the party following the apex court’s decision that effectively ended his tenure.

They further criticized Abure's recent announcements, which also purportedly included the suspension of Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Senator Ireti Kingibe, and Senator Darlington Nwokocha, who is also Secretary of the National Caretaker Committee. “The recent actions of Julius Abure amount to a desperate overreach by someone unwilling to accept the end of his tenure,” the lawmakers said. “Rather than contributing positively to the party’s growth since the 2023 elections, Abure has presided over what can only be described as a series of political missteps and internal conflicts.”

Highlighting what they called a string of electoral failures under Abure’s leadership, the legislators cited poor performances in Kogi, Bayelsa, Ondo, and even Abure’s home state of Edo. They also accused him of financial impropriety, claiming he ran the party “like a criminal enterprise,” exploiting aspirants for money in exchange for tickets. “The so-called suspension is an act of desperation by someone clinging to relevance. The Labour Party should be focused on its constitutional role in advancing democratic ideals, not embroiled in personality-driven feuds,” they added.

The lawmakers concluded their statement by expressing hope that the party would move past the current leadership crisis and focus on institutional growth and integrity. The Labour Party has yet to issue a formal response to the lawmakers’ claims as of press time. 

Leo XIV urged the Catholic Church to “desperately” counter a lack of faith in his first homily as pope Friday, a day after the modest cardinal largely unknown to the world became the first US head of the 2,000-year institution. Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost on Thursday became the 267th pope, spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics and successor to Argentina’s Pope Francis, after a secret conclave by his fellow cardinals in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

In today’s world, Leo warned in his homily to assembled cardinals, there are places or situations where “it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied”. “Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed,” said the new pope, 69, standing at the Sistine Chapel altar with Michelangelo’s famed fresco of “The Last Judgment” behind him.

The former missionary deplored “settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent” and, in an echo of his predecessor Francis, said people were turning to “technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.”

“A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society,” said Leo in Italian, wearing a white papal robe trimmed in gold as he addressed the seated white-robed cardinals. 

Justice Nwite adjourned the hearing after listening to addresses by the prosecution and defence counsels on the prosecution’s move to initially cross-examine the witness, a position that was rejected by the defendant’s Lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN.

At the day’s proceeding and continuation of cross-examination, counsel to the defendant asked the witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, an Internal auditor with American International School Abuja, if he had testified in other courts with respect to the issue of school fees paid by the Bello family to AISA, he answered positively. He, however, said he could not mention the exact courts. Justice Nwite adjourned the hearing after listening to addresses by the prosecution and defence counsels on the prosecution’s move to initially cross-examine the witness, a position that was rejected by the defendant’s Lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN.

At the day’s proceeding and continuation of cross-examination, counsel to the defendant asked the witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, an Internal auditor with American International School Abuja, if he had testified in other courts with respect to the issue of school fees paid by the Bello family to AISA, he answered positively. He, however, said he could not mention the exact courts. He admitted testifying in a similar charge involving Ali Bello but added that he never said anything adversely against former Governor Yahaya Bello just as he had not said anything negative or adversely against him in the instant charge.

Shortly after the defence concluded the cross-examination of the witness, Nicholas Ojehomon, the EFCC’s lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, moved to also cross-examine the Commission’s witness on Exhibit 19. He told the court that he was not re-examining the EFCC’s witness, but cross-examining him because the document was admitted in evidence. The Defendant’s lawyer, however, drew the court’s attention to the fact that the prosecution counsel’s position was unknown to law, in line with the Evidence Act.