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  • Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi holds two virtual orientation events for new students

    ABU DHABI, 2nd September, 2021 – Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi held two virtual orientations for new undergraduates and postgraduates, hosting more than 700 students.
    The Undergraduate Students’ Virtual Orientation event, which started on 30th August and lasted for two days, was intended to help students successfully transition from school life to university life, provide clear information on the nature of each programme, introduce them to the university services, facilities, annual activities and teach them how to get in touch with guidance counsellors.
    In addition, both events comprised various activities that included virtual tour to explore 93,000 square meters of state-of-the-art campus and facilities, such as sports facilities, the library and the residences.
    Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Silvia Serrano, in her welcome speech addressed several topics including the university’s keenness in offering the very best of international higher education and its strategy that aims at maintaining the continuity of the educational process.
    While the Postgraduate Students’ Orientation event, which took place on 1st September, was intended to introduce all postgraduate students to the various services provided by the university, in addition to presenting speeches given by students from the Student Council, who shared their personal experiences and gave valuable tips to utilize the new joiner’s university experience.
    Prof Serrano highlighted the significance of pursuing a master’s degree in her speech as she said “With students’ decision to pursue a postgraduate degree at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, they will be gaining access to global resources, improving their employability, career prospects, and benefiting from Sorbonne’s 760 years of academic excellence.”

  • India reports 47,092 new COVID-19 cases, 509 deaths

    NEW DELHI, 2nd September, 2021 – India reported 47,092 new COVID-19 cases and 509 deaths in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.
    As many as 35,181 patients recovered across the country from the viral disease in the last 24 hours taking the total recoveries to 3,20,28,825, ANI reported.
    With 509 fatalities, the COVID death toll in the country reached 4,39,529.

  • Commentary: Importance Of High School Reunions

    The schools you attended as a young person are woven into your adult identity. Throughout their lives, people feel a sense of identity with their school. The formative years of adulthood are spent at school. It is where we meet our friends, are inspired by great teachers, and learn about a world beyond our experience. Bonds between strangers are formed on the basis that they attended the same school.

    Therefore, alumni members are brand ambassadors of their former schools. Their conduct, acts of omission and commission reflect on their schools. For some reasons, some people have mixed feelings about attending reunions.

    For such people, reunions bring up old memories of unpleasant experiences. Lack of achievements, low self-esteem and feeling of embarrassment of physical appearance are also some of the reasons why some people feel reluctant to attend reunions of their schools.

    School reunions also present financial and logistical problems.  However, there are many good reasons why alumni associations and reunions are important.

    After high school, chances are that you have not seen that friend in years and may even have totally lost contact. Even though that modern technology like mobile telephones, WhatsApp and Instagram offer opportunities for communication, but there is nothing more like physical contact. Thus, few events offer a great opportunity to re-connect with high school friends like reunions and chances are that you may never see them again if you miss attending.

    Again, dealing with gray hairs and fine lines is not psychologically easy, particularly for women. But when you arrive at a reunion and realize that everyone is getting older, it can make the experience less isolating. So attending reunions and mingling help you to come to terms with the fact that aging is an inevitable part of life.

    If you suffered through high school and have since built a wonderful and rewarding life, despite the unpleasant experiences in school, reunions offer you an opportunity to show off your success, perhaps, to the people that treated you badly.

    While some people had unpleasant experiences, some reveled in the experience. Reliving these old times and sharing jokes and laughs with high school friends can be very rewarding.

    Attending your high school reunion can afford you some networking opportunities that will help you professionally. Equally, attending with your spouse or fiancée is a great way to share an important part of your formative years. This makes for stronger bonding with your spouse.

    No doubt, Social media posts are not real conversations. Sharing pictures on social media are not the same as seeing physically and having real conversations and animating the room with hearty laughs.

    If you have wondered where that prankster or dullard in your class ended up and what has he or she done with his or her life, reunions offer you an opportunity to satisfy such curiosity. Furthermore, High school reunions offer you the chance to dance the night away. You would be surrounded by people of your own age, rocking to ‘old school’ songs you have not heard in years.

    Above all, alumni are a valuable resource to their schools. They help to build and sustain humanity through their schools in diverse ways. The school is what the alumni have in common and therefore plays a central role in ensuring that alumni keep in touch with what is happening in their school. Strong and active alumni body help to uplift the infrastructure in the school. The classic example of College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu is telling.

    People should, therefore, be proud of their past and reunite to relive their experiences and contribute their quota to their school’s growth.

    WRITTEN BY CHIEF TONY ONYIMA

  • PDP Commence Nationwide  e-Registration, CVR Drive In Anambra

    The nation-wide e-registration and continuous voter registration drive of the People’s  Democratic Party, PDP, has kicked-off in Anambra State, with the issuance of the party’s e-registration cards to members, including a former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi and the PDP flag bearer, Chief Valentine Ozigbo, by the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

     

    Chairman of PDP e-registration Committee and Edo State Governor, Chief Godwin Obaseki, in his remark at the launch of the programme, said the party hopes to register two hundred and fifty thousand new members in the exercise, adding that Anambra State was selected for the test-running of the e-registration and continuous voters registration drive in view of the November six governorship election in the State.

     

    Chief Obaseki, who expressed delight that, using the Edo State governorship election as a test case, rigging of election is now a very difficult task, called on PDP members to work hard to achieve success in the Anambra governorship election, stressing that the situation in the country is worrisome and the return of the party to power in 2023 is the hope of Nigerians.

     

    In their contributions, Governors Seyi  Makinde of Oyo State and Ikpeazu of Abia State described the e-registration exercise as a demonstration to Nigerians about the way to go and the need to migrate to the digital platform, pointing out that mobilizing the youths for the PDP is key to the attainment of success in the both state and national elections.

     

    On his part, the PDP flagbearer, Chief Ozigbo, commended the Edo State Governor, for the role his deputy, Mr. Philip Shaibu, played in ensuring the success of the party’s governorship primary election in the State, and charged party members to focus on the grassroot, while efforts are on-going to bring party faithful as one united family.

     

    In a vote of thanks, a former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Obi, said the time for the party primary is over and now is the time to face the challenges of the election, which he said the party is ready for.

     

    Senator representing Anambra Central, Uche Ekwunife, Board of Trustees member, Iyom Josephine Anenih, National Organizing Secretary of the party, Retired Colonel Austin Akobundu, Vice National Chairman, South East, Chief Ali Odefa, State Chairman, Chief Ndubisi Nwobu, six PDP members of the Anambra State House of Assembly, as well as running mate of the PDP flagbearer, Mrs. Azuka Enemo, were among stakeholders that graced the occasion.

  • Abagana Community Celebrates New Yam Festival

    In appreciation to God for a bountiful harvest season, Abagana Community in Njikoka Local Government Area over the weekend celebrated its 2021 New Yam Festival showcasing their cultural heritage.
    The Prime Minister of the community, Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze flanked by the member representing Njikoka one Constituency in the state Assembly, Honourable Pete Ibida, the traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Mbamalu Okeke and the transition committee chairman, Njikoka Council Area, Mr. George Ozo performed the cutting and eating of the new yam for his household and kindred.
    Correspondent Chibuzo Obidike reports that traditional Prime Ministers from different communities across the state among other groups, individuals, friends and well-wishers, who witnessed the cutting of the new yam by Dr. Anakwenze, later presented him, with some gifts.
    Meanwhile, Igwe Okeke had earlier kick-started the celebration by performing the Iwa Ji  followed by the traditional Prime Minister and down to the entire community.
     Dr. Anakwenze , a US-based surgeon, revealed that l culture of Ndigbo pays respect to yam because it is considered as a generous crop during harvest.
    He noted that as part of efforts to ensure sustenance of the culture, Ndi Igbo in the diaspora have instituted an Igbo village with schools that focus on all aspects of Igbo culture and values including the new yam festival.
    The traditional Prime Minister reminded all that the festival was aimed at celebrating hard working farmers, promoting agriculture and encouraging young people to involve selves in legitimate businesses.
    For Honourable Ibida and Mrs. Flora Ilonzo, the festival of individuals cutting the new yam in their various homes is the commencement of the eating of the new yam in individual homes.
    A Nollywood Actor and producer, Mr. Ugezu J Ugezu  urged Nollywood producers   to showcase the culture, tradition, values, norms and language of Ndịgbo.

  • Obiano Reechoes Call For Anambra Residents To Get COVID -19 Vaccination

    Governor Obiano has flagged off the first dose of phase two COVID-19 vaccination in Anambra State.
    The event, held at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, attracted government officials, Ndi Igwe, medical practitioners among others.
    Inaugurating the exercise, Governor Obiano, who disclosed that he has taken the vaccine, appealed to the residents of the state to endeavour to get their jabs to be free from the disease and keeping observing all COVID-19 preventive protocols at all times.
    The Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala, revealed that Anambra State had recorded one hundred and one cases of new infections as at last two weeks, and urged the people to get the vaccine, as COVID-19 Delta variant is spreading across the globe.
    Delivering her address, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Chioma Ezenyimulu, who said that they had already vaccinated over sixty-two thousand Ndi Anambra, noted that the state received fifty eight thousand, one hundred doses of Mordena vaccines and thirteen thousand, seven hundred and ninety-two AstraZeneca vaccines for the phase two vaccination.
    Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Obiano on Disability Matters, Barrister Chuks Ezewuzie reiterated the importance of taking the vaccine and urged their members in the state to participate in the exercise.
    Correspondent Chibuzor Okoye reports that the official flag off of the vaccination, by Govermor Obiano formed the highlight of the event.

  • Sports Minister Dare Extols Prospects Of Aisha Buhari Female Football Championship

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has assured that the maiden edition of the Aisha Buhari Female Football Championship, would boost female football development in Nigeria, Africa and globally.
    Mr. Dare gave the assurance in his office at Abuja, when he received in audience the Local Organizing Committee of the Aisha Buhari Cup Competition.
    He commended the work done so far by the organizing committee towards having a successful event, describing them as miracle workers.
    Mr. Dare described the theme of the competition, “Playing for Good” as being in line with the vision of the Aisha Buhari Foundation, which encourages the girl child to excel.
    The Minister assured all necessary support to make the competition a huge success adding that it will excite, inspire and unite people.
    In his remark, the chairman of the committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi thanked the Minister for his support adding that the importance of the competition is underscored by the interest shown by the six top female football playing nations to the minister to assist in accelerating the issuance of entry visas to the teams.

  • Anambra State Govt Holds A Day With Education Builders Today In Awka

    Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Basic Education is set to appreciate education builders in the state.
    The programme tagged Anambra State at thirty: A Day with Education Builders”, will hold today, Thursday in Awka, to appreciate those, who have contributed to the development of Education in Anambra State.
    Correspondent Njideka Okoye reports that the event is first of its kind in the history of Anambra State as over sixty people would be appreciated for their contributions in the development of the education sector.
    Speaking on the event,  the Anambra State Commissioner for Basic Education, Professor Kate Omenugha said that the event will also showcase students’ parliament for the first time in Anambra State as well as project what the ministry has achieved in education over the years.
    Commissioner Omenugha also noted that the ministry will during the event, present a book titled, “Guide to Public Private Initiative and Intervention in Anambra State Schools”.
    The Chairman, House Committee on Basic Education and member representing Anaocha Two Constituency at the state Assembly, Honourable Ejike Okechukwu stressed the importance of involving philanthropists in tackling the challenges in education as government cannot do it alone.
    He noted that the event will serve as a motivator to those that have done well and as a wake-up call to others to invest in education.
    Also commenting, the Deputy Chairman, Post Primary Schools Service Commission and member in charge of Awka Educational Zone, Lady Pat Offia said government partnership with individuals, groups and philanthropists in education has been very fruitful and rewarding, noting that Anambra State is now a reference point for excellent performance in education.
    A former Director of Education, Sir Ogo Ezeonu commended Commissioner Omenugha for ensuring that the dreams of Governor Willie Obiano for the education sector are actualized.

  • Amichi Community, Nnewi South Council Area Celebrates New Yam Festival

    The ninth lunar month is considered as one of the best months in Igboland as it marks the full harvest season.

    Based on this, Amichi Community in Nnewi South Council Area, has  celebrated its 2021 new yam festival in a grand style as one of the sons gifted their traditional ruler, Igwe Alphonsus Ezeoke with a brand new Sienna car.

    ABS Nnewi Bureau Chief, Chimezie Umeh, reports that the festival started with a procession by the traditional ruler in company of his cabinet members followed by paying of homage by villages and well-wishers while masquerade displays and cultural dances added glamour.

    In his prayers, Igwe Ezeoke, thanked God for the understanding, harmonious co-existence, his blessings and favour to the people of Amichi, asking Him to keep flourishing the town with good harvest.

    Speaking shortly after the event, the President General Elect, Amichi Development Union, Mr. Chukwuemek Udogu thanked God for His love and blessings to Amichi people and urged the people to live in the spirit of brotherhood so that more development will be achieved.

    In his speech, a philanthropist, Mr. Remy Ogboroaha expressed delight and satisfaction over the development and progress brought so far by Igwe Ezeoke and prayed God to give him sound health of body and mind as he leads the people of the community.

    A member of the royal family, Chief Marvelous Ezeoke also felicitated with Igwe Ezeoke asking God to continue to bless Ndi Amichi, both at home and in diaspora.

    Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were Igwe Chidi Ezenwugo of Uga, the Managing Director Anambra Rice, Chief Aka Egwuọnwụ  and  Chief Oscar Egwuonwu.

  • Mass Communication Students  NAU Awka Visit ABS On Facility Tour

    The Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS Awka has remained a practical learning field for students within and outside the state especially for the mass communication students.
    The accomplishment, enthroned by Governor Willie Obiano, through the construction of the state of the art three ‘D’ digital studio, also earned the station, one of  the best online media establishment in Nigeria.
    Based on these accomplishments, students of Mass Communication Department of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, in a space of three months, have visited the ABS for a facility tour to enable them  have a practical knowledge of their course of study.
    The students, led by their lecturers, Dr. Njideka Ezeonyejiaku and Mr. Anthony Okeke, are all final year students of the department.
    On arrival at the establishment, ABS Administration Tour Guide, Mr. Afam Obidike, took the students to various departments and units, where officers in charge gave them practical teachings of the various facilities.
    Addressing the students after the tour, the Director of Programmes Department, Mrs. Nneka Ekwunife  explained to them  that for one to excel in the media industry such a person must be knowledgeable, must have a good voice and passion for the job, good diction, and open to learning every day.
    In her remark, their lecturer, Dr. Mrs. Ezeonyejiaku explained that  they brought the students to the ABS  to have a practical experience of what they are taught in the classroom even as she commended the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the ABS, Dr. Uche Nworah and the management and staff for allowing them to visit at no cost and for impacting on  Anambra and Nigeria in general.
    Some of the students, including Mr. Patrick Offor and Miss Valentina Chukwujekwu, expressed delight in the facility tour and commended the state-of – the-art- facilities in ABS.