By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
The Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, today joined the Omenughas on their dual celebration. First, the commemoration of the 70th birthday of Dr. Mike Omenugha (Ichie Obama) and the thanksgiving outing on the appointment of Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha, his dear wife, as the substantive and first female Vice-Chancellor of Anambra State-owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. The event, which commenced with a mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Nnobi, was presided over by Bishop Felix Femi Ajakaye, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese. In his homily, Bishop Ajakaye emphasized the need for collective responsibility in moving communities forward.
The well-attended event has family, friends, and well-wishers from across the country and beyond, who joined to felicitate with the Omenughas. Delivering her vote of thanks, Professor Kate Omenugha thanked everyone who came to celebrate with them. Specifically, she thanked the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, calling him “the pacesetter.” According to Professor Omenugha, “Our gratitude is immense,” she said while thanking the Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
Speaking, the Governor, Professor Soludo, who stayed through the homily, thanked Bishop Ajakaye for such a timely homily, emphasizing the prime importance of collective responsibility in achieving societal goals. Congratulating Dr. Mike Omenugha, the governor said that the event is in line with the prevailing values in Anambra State today. “We have come to celebrate life. In Anambra, we celebrate befitting living…we celebrate people when they are here. Happy 70th,” Professor Soludo said. However, the Governor also observed, relying on Genesis 6: 3, that at 70 years, Dr. Mike Omenugha is only in his midlife. “I am here to celebrate Obama at midlife. God will keep you, and you will continue to serve as a public-spirited person, which I have known you and your family for,” Governor Soludo said.
On the appointment of Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha as the Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Governor Soludo said that Omenugha was the most qualified for the job. “You became the Vice-Chancellor because you were the best,” Professor Soludo said to Omenugha, emphasizing the need to enthrone merit in appointment if the country must move forward. Narrating how he (Governor Soludo) arrived at the fact that Professor Kate Omenugha was the best for the job, he said he checked the names submitted by the former University Council on Google Scholar and Scopus and saw that Omenugha dwarfed all the names previously submitted to him with eight hundred and something citations while others had thirty-something. Recalling Omenugha’s meritorious service as Commissioner for Education and how she shut down 486 miracle centres, Governor Soludo said she was distinguished. “You are a professor. A woman of distinction, and that is why you were appointed,” Soludo said, telling Omenugha that she is the best and should keep being the best.
Speaking on the environment, which he said is Anambra’s existential threat, Governor Soludo reiterated the need to take ownership of our environment. “Anambra belongs to us all, and it is our collective duty to make it better. If we all contain the rainwater from our homes, we won’t have floods overrunning our streets,” Soludo said. However, he regretted that today, people connect their water collectors to the road without asking where the water goes when it hits the streets. According to the Governor, he has a water collector in his home in Anambra. He also revealed that in his village, Isuofia, it is a rule that no home should allow its rainwater to flow to the street. The Governor also frowned at dumping waste inside the drains by residents.
On the Anambra State Aerotropolis, the Governor said it was an error of judgment to plan with only the present in mind. “The time to plan for the next 100 years should have been 60 years ago. The next best time to plan for the next 100 years is today,” Governor Soludo said, emphasizing that “we are not planning for today alone,” but also for the next decades. With the growing Anambra population, Professor Soludo maintained that Anambra requires more than one airport and that the plan and structures must be put in place today. The Governor encouraged Ndi Anambra to embrace collective effort. “Everybody has something to do to move this place forward. Everybody has something to do to preserve society,” Professor Soludo concluded.
Governor Soludo felicitates Dr. Mike Omenugha at 70 Years
By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D
The Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, today joined the Omenughas on their dual celebration. First, the commemoration of the 70th birthday of Dr. Mike Omenugha (Ichie Obama) and the thanksgiving outing on the appointment of Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha, his dear wife, as the substantive and first female Vice-Chancellor of Anambra State-owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. The event, which commenced with a mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Nnobi, was presided over by Bishop Felix Femi Ajakaye, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese. In his homily, Bishop Ajakaye emphasized the need for collective responsibility in moving communities forward.
The well-attended event has family, friends, and well-wishers from across the country and beyond, who joined to felicitate with the Omenughas. Delivering her vote of thanks, Professor Kate Omenugha thanked everyone who came to celebrate with them. Specifically, she thanked the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, calling him “the pacesetter.” According to Professor Omenugha, “Our gratitude is immense,” she said while thanking the Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
Speaking, the Governor, Professor Soludo, who stayed through the homily, thanked Bishop Ajakaye for such a timely homily, emphasizing the prime importance of collective responsibility in achieving societal goals. Congratulating Dr. Mike Omenugha, the governor said that the event is in line with the prevailing values in Anambra State today. “We have come to celebrate life. In Anambra, we celebrate befitting living…we celebrate people when they are here. Happy 70th,” Professor Soludo said. However, the Governor also observed, relying on Genesis 6: 3, that at 70 years, Dr. Mike Omenugha is only in his midlife. “I am here to celebrate Obama at midlife. God will keep you, and you will continue to serve as a public-spirited person, which I have known you and your family for,” Governor Soludo said.
On the appointment of Professor Kate Azuka Omenugha as the Vice-Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Governor Soludo said that Omenugha was the most qualified for the job. “You became the Vice-Chancellor because you were the best,” Professor Soludo said to Omenugha, emphasizing the need to enthrone merit in appointment if the country must move forward. Narrating how he (Governor Soludo) arrived at the fact that Professor Kate Omenugha was the best for the job, he said he checked the names submitted by the former University Council on Google Scholar and Scopus and saw that Omenugha dwarfed all the names previously submitted to him with eight hundred and something citations while others had thirty-something. Recalling Omenugha’s meritorious service as Commissioner for Education and how she shut down 486 miracle centres, Governor Soludo said she was distinguished. “You are a professor. A woman of distinction, and that is why you were appointed,” Soludo said, telling Omenugha that she is the best and should keep being the best.
Speaking on the environment, which he said is Anambra’s existential threat, Governor Soludo reiterated the need to take ownership of our environment. “Anambra belongs to us all, and it is our collective duty to make it better. If we all contain the rainwater from our homes, we won’t have floods overrunning our streets,” Soludo said. However, he regretted that today, people connect their water collectors to the road without asking where the water goes when it hits the streets. According to the Governor, he has a water collector in his home in Anambra. He also revealed that in his village, Isuofia, it is a rule that no home should allow its rainwater to flow to the street. The Governor also frowned at dumping waste inside the drains by residents.
On the Anambra State Aerotropolis, the Governor said it was an error of judgment to plan with only the present in mind. “The time to plan for the next 100 years should have been 60 years ago. The next best time to plan for the next 100 years is today,” Governor Soludo said, emphasizing that “we are not planning for today alone,” but also for the next decades. With the growing Anambra population, Professor Soludo maintained that Anambra requires more than one airport and that the plan and structures must be put in place today. The Governor encouraged Ndi Anambra to embrace collective effort. “Everybody has something to do to move this place forward. Everybody has something to do to preserve society,” Professor Soludo concluded.
