Archbishop commends Ugwuanyi on Child’s Rights Bill, as governor awards contract for road construction at Workers’ Estate

The Anglican Archbishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical Province and Bishop of Enugu Diocese of Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma,  has commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for signing the Child Rights Bill into law, which, according to him, has guaranteed the rights and welfare of children in the state.
He gave the commendation  at the “Sensitization Workshop for Stakeholders on Adoption and Adoption Process in Enugu State”, held in Enugu. 
The cleric, who is the chairman of the Enugu State Adoption Committee, expressed delight that governor Ugwuanyi  has provided the enabling environment for the committee to discharge its duties.              He  noted that the  governor’s disposition in ensuring that all illegal adoption of children are completely stamped out in the state is commendable and worthy of emulation.
      According to him, “based on the magnanimity of His Excellency, this committee has ensured that baby factories where babies are harvested for rituals do not exist in Enugu state”. 
     “The governor has assisted the state in the area of protection of the children through the engagement of
social welfare workers, training of the staff and supporting them in
partnering with some doctors and hospitals to ensure that the rights
of children are protected,  ” he said. 
        Declaring the workshop open, Ugwuanyi who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, explained that the delicate and sensitive nature of children have necessitated most countries including Nigeria to make laws and rules to ensure that adoption and fostering are not abused or used in such a manner that would be detrimental to the wellbeing of the affected children. 
       He disclosed that his administration has continued to take measures towards protecting the rights and welfare of the children in the state, such as prompt constitution of the committee on child fostering  and adoption, the enactment of the child rights act in 2016 as well as the establishment of 12 family courts by the state’s Chief Judge, among others.
       The Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Ngozi Emehelu, in her address , highlighted the roles of the judiciary in the dispensation of justice. She  commended governor Ugwuanyi for according the judiciary its rightful place in the scheme of things, assuring their unflinching commitment towards rendering quality services to the state. 
     Earlier in a welcome address, Commissioner for Gender Affairs, Princess Peace Nnaji, said that the establishment of the Adoption Committee by Ugwuanyi has distinguished him as “a dynamic leader that cares for the welfare of children”. She described legal adoption as a permanent placement of a child into a fit and proper home through the court of law.
           The workshop provided an opportunity for the stakeholders and the general public to know what adoption was all about and   the adoption process in Enugu state with a view to getting it right for the overall interest of the children in particular and society in general.    
Meanwhile, Ugwuanyi has awarded contract for the construction of access roads leading  to the 100 Housing units, workers’ estate  at Ede-Oballa, Nsukka local government area of the state. 
           The Housing estate’s project,  which was flagged off recently by Ugwuanyi, is being developed by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, in partnership  with the  Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress Nigeria, TUC, and Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association, NECA    This was made known  by the  State’s commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Greg Nnaji while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the  State executive Council’s meeting  held recently in Enugu.     He said that the award of the road contract which is at the sum  of  N315 million, was one of the State government ‘s contributions to the speedy actualization of the housing projects for the benefit of the workers.
     According to him , the state government had already commenced some vital works on the site ,such as site clearing which allowed access to the site during the ground breaking ceremony.
     He  explained  that the roads will provide access to both the federal government initiated housing project and the state government’s proposed site for construction of a mini secretariat that will serve as annex to main secretariat in Enugu.
    He assured that the project will be standard and would be delivered in a record time.
   Other contracts awarded were the extension of the construction of Achi-Akpa-Daughters of Divine Love road, Abakpa Nike, Enugu, (from the DDL gate to its Juniorate School) in line with the state government’s urban renewal programme.
    On the maintenance of potholes in Enugu Urban and intercity roads,  the commissioner for works and infrastructure  said that  the State government  has covered about  7,500 square metres stretching close to 1 kilometre , had a little break, to enable the Same government, assess the performances  of the contractors and make necessary inputs with the  aim of improving the output to serve the public better.Engr Nnaji assured that they will return to site soon, in his words,   “We will return to site very soon”.
     He also disclosed that  that road maintenance in Enugu State will now be a continuous process and that “new portholes were being identified while the team  is moving to other zones such as Emene, Abakpa Nike, Coal Camp, Awkunanaw,  for maintenance, while the exercise in the areas already started continues.
      On his part,  the commissioner for education, Prof. Uche Eze, disclosed  that the council accepted the draft law for the establishment of Enugu State College of Education, Ihe, Awgu local government area presented before it by the committee on the implementation of the University’s programme, with a view to viewing it critically for further action.
    Briefing also, Commissioner for Information, Ogbuagu Anikwe, disclosed  that the council approved the purchase of 17 tractors for the 17 local government areas of the State , at the cost of N2.15 million each.
   He said that it is  on trial basis and if it works well, the  State government will buy more tractors  to reduce the stress on farmers. Anikwe added that the State government will encourage individual farmers to buy the tractors when it is sure of the equipment.