Alvan Ikoku College of Education Now University of Education

Nigeria's Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the conversion of four Federal Colleges of Education to full-fledged universities.

The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, who briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, listed the Colleges that have been upgraded.

They are Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri (now Alvan Ikoku University of Education, Owerri), Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo (now Adeyemi University of Education, Ondo); Federal College of Education, Zaria (now Federal University of Education, Zaria); and Federal College of Education, Kano (now Federal University of Education, Kano).

Mr Shekara also said that the Colleges were part of the 21 Federal Colleges of Education that had been awarding degree programmes in the last three decades under the close supervision of the different universities they were affiliated to.

The council also approved the establishment of the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo, Benue State.

Until the approval, the university was said to be the College of Medical Health Sciences, under the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

Chukwumerije as a Christian Marxist

Described as a spiritual person, Chukwumerije’s quest for the knowledge of God saw him taking up a Diploma course in Theology at the Faith Bible College, Otta, Ogun State between 1991 and 1992. He was in fact, in the middle of a degree programme in Theology when he was appointed Federal Minister of Information in 1993.

It is on record that the late Uche Chukwumerije placed his fellowship with other Christian legislators in worship of God above all other contributions he made to the corporate life of the National Assembly.

For four years, he was the President of Christian Legislators Fellowship, a non-denominational organization that networks the worship programmes of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the State Assemblies. This organization hosts annually the national prayer breakfast.

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Senator Chukwumerije had pioneered the steady growth of membership of the Fellowship. Today, all Christian legislators are members of the Fellowship. The group’s plan to build its own place of worship in the precincts of the National Assembly Complex had reached an advanced stage before Chukwumerije’s death.

As we bid this great Igbo icon farewell, it would be proper to understand his place in history. He was a man who would not be deceived by dishonest political posturing and grandstanding. He was not intolerant yet, he refused to suffer fools gladly. He was resolute, but not reckless explaining

Chukwumerije As Conscience of the Legislature

Sen. Ben Obi (left), Sen Pius Anyim & Sen. Chukwumerije

Besides Senator Chukwumerije’s primary commitment to the concerns of Abia North Senatorial district, the major areas of his public interest were strengthening of Nigeria’s democracy, the sanctity of human rights, and socialization of wealth, especially with regards to penury of workers and plight of the unemployed. In fact, it is on record that most of the over sixty-five motions, contributions to debates, and bills sponsored or co-sponsored by him, dwelt on these themes.

Little wonder his commitment to the sanctity of democracy prompted his gallant fight against former President Obasanjo’s third term plan, his single-handed battles against declarations of state of emergency in Anambra, and Plateau States. In fact, the fight against Obasanjo’s tenure elongation, led to the formation of the semi-ideological platform, the 2007 Movement, aimed at mobilizing Senators against the former President’s elongation scheme.

It was Senator Chukwumerije’s passionate concern for the voiceless that inspired his bills an

Chukwumerije: Strong Voice of Ndigbo

Chukwumerije, flanked by Prof ABC Nwosu (left) & Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa (right)

Chukwumerije cannot be said to be a tribalist because of his strong belief that the Igbo nation must be accorded her due recognition in the project called Nigeria. He never stood idly by and watched an Igbo man or indeed any other Nigerian robbed of his or her right.

Though Senator Chukwumerije’s primary assignment at the Senate was to represent the good people of Abia North Senatorial zone, his uncommon love for the Igbo nation had seen him fight more for the cause of Ndigbo than he did for his senatorial zone. For the greater part of his sojourn here on mother earth, Chukwumerije championed the cause of the Igbo nation with unmatched commitment and passion.

This perhaps explained why political analysts and close watchers of the evolution of contemporary Nigerian nation hold this strong belief that at the very critical moments of this evolution, Uche Chukwumerije had made some bold interventions. Before he took politics as a career, he had in the past, taken some principled positions that had portrayed him as a man of his own.

Since his fanatic plunge into ideological evangelism, a zealot in defence of scientific

The Passage of Dike Ogu Ndigbo

Recently, the Nigerian nation and indeed, the Igbo ethnic nationality lost an illustrious son, a dogged fighter for social justice and equity. The whole world is today mourning a man widely acknowledged as an icon of immeasurable status. In the following analysis, ROMMY IGBOANUGO-IMAH looks at the life and times of Comrade Senator Uche Chukwumerije who recently died at the age of 75.

 

Perhaps, William Shakespeare had him in mind when he wrote that “When beggars die, there are no comets seen; the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.” Today, the whole world is mourning the death of a great man, an icon, a dogged fighter, an advocate of social justice and equity, and a firm believer in the equality of men. 

Like his son wrote while announcing his death, “His life is many volumes, which can only be told with care and time, of dedication and focus, integrity and discipline, and an unbroken love for the highest ideals of our shared humanity.” It will be herculean talking about Uche Chukwumerije’s life and times in few pages of a magazine. But something must be said about a man that dedicated the larger part of his sojourn here on earth fighting for the emancipation of his people-Ndigbo.

Comrade Uche Chukwumerije lived as an avid organizer and leader of movements. And that was why as far back as 1960, he was Founder-President of the Pan-African Volunteers for Protection of Lumumba, the Congolese patriot who was betrayed and murdered by the likes of Tshombe, Kasavubu, and Joseph Mobutu, later known as Mobutu Sese Seko, etc.

His philosophy in life saw him leading various other bodies, among which are: Movement for African Union 1962 – 1965; Socialist Agit-Prop Group 1964 – 1966; Progressive Thinkers

BREAKING: Anenih Resigns as PDP BOT Chair

Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, on Wednesday said he stepped down from his position so that President Goodluck Jonathan could emerge the new BoT chairman. 

In a one-page letter he signed and sent to President Goodluck Jonathan dated May 20, 2015 and titled: “Notice of my decision to step down as Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party”, Anenih said his decision would enable President Jonathan to effectively assume the chairmanship of the BoT.

The letter reads: “Your Excellency will recall that in a conversation I had with you a few weeks ago, I had offered to step down from the office of the Chairman of our party’s Board of Trustees

Mu’azu Resigns as PDP Chairman

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, since it lost the general election took a turn for the worst on Wednesday morning when the national chairman of the party, Adamu Mu’azu, tendered his letter of resignation, according to Thisday reports.

His resignation took effect immediately.

Also , it was reliably gathered that President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the chairman of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Anthony Anenih, to resign. But it is not known whether Anenih has accepted to resign or not.

NEWS ANALYSIS: Biafra’s UN Invitation: Path to Imminent Global Recognition?

By Rommy Igboanugo-Imah

Two remarkable things have happened within a space of six months in the struggle for the actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra. And these are positive signs that after all, Biafra may still be without going through the shooting of guns.

In December 2014, following a recent admission of the Indigenous People of Biafra to the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union, AU, the Supreme Council of Indigenous People of Biafra was among other countries invited as members to attend the General Assembly of the African Union in Nairobi, Kenya.

Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Indigenous People of Biafra and former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, disclosed in Nnewi then that the delegation was expected to spend five days in Nairobi, Kenya for the meeting.

“We received our invitation from Addis Abbaba the way others received theirs to be part of the meeting. And this means we are getting international recognition and opportunity

EDITORIAL: Ndigbo Must Produce Another Chukwumerije

The news of the death in April of Senator Uche Chukwumerije was one that shook the foundations of the Igbo nation. His death, coming on the heels of that of the chief prosecutor of the Biafran war, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, is a big blow to the Igbo race. His death marks the end of the vibrant era of the fearless duo.

Only last year, while giving his scorecard in his almost 12 years stint in the Senate, Chukwumerije reiterated that he was going to use the rest of his political life to protect the Igbo nation from being truncated. Unfortunately, he fell to the cold hands of death and could not live to fulfill this promise.

A highly gifted speaker, prolific and erudite writer, Chukwumerije had enjoyed a compelling style of advancing his points in both written and spoken English. It was this same style that made his write-up on what the South-East has lost in terms of revenue and appointments