THE NATION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2014
34
THE SOUTHEAST REPORT
House 13-yr-old built ‘
T 13, he knows exactly what he wants to be in life: an architect. Before he earns a certificate, though, Master Chidera Nwamili is happy to dream, design and build dummy structures. A storey-building he constructed with hard paper is drawing all sorts of attention, and from the highest places in Anambra State. The work of his creative hands and mind has stunned many in the state, chief of whom wife of the governor, Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano. Chidera visualised the house he wanted to build, designed it on paper and gathered his materials, which included thick paper, wires and whatever else he thought necessary. He set to work. When he finished, a beautiful one-storey building stood before him, complete with all the features and fittings. The young builder hails from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State but lives and schools in Anambra, at Ojoto Boys Secondary School in Idemili South Local Government Area. Ojoto, is the home town of one of the top politicians in the state, Senator Annie Okonkwo. The 13-year-old boy lives with his foster mother Mrs. Augustina Azie in the same community and he is in junior secondary school (JSS 3). He probably never knew that one day luck would so shine on him, but that was just what happened. The governor’s wife has taken note of the child prodigy. Chidera dazzled everyone, including Mrs Obiano, when he also electrified the house. The governor’s wife has promised to keep an eye on the young boy, while directing that information about his progress be made available to her all the time. It was during her thank you visit to all the local government areas in the state that equally took her and her entourage to the local government that the young
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When our teacher is teaching and flips through our (JSS 3) General Mathematics book, I feel the pictures of the houses in the book and I say to myself that I can construct it. I gathered cartons, wires and broken glass and at the end of my trial project, I came to this, and people started shouting and praising me From Nwanosike Onu, Awka
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boy was discovered. Following his creativity, the son of the peasant farmers who left Ebonyi to Anambra is likely to be the cynosure of all eyes any moment from now. The governor’s wife in appreciation of the boy’s creativity also, doled out some cash to the JSS 3 pupils. Speaking with the Nation, Master Nwamili, who wants to be an architect when he grows up, said he was motivated by the drawings he saw in his general mathematics book. According to him, “when our teacher is teaching and flips through our (JSS 3) general mathematics book, I feel the pictures of the houses in the book
•The boy and his house
and I said to myself that I can construct it” ”I gathered cartons, wires and broken glasses and at the end of my trial project, I came to this, and
people started shouting and praising me”. “So, my foster mother said, this is good, let’s go and show it to the chairperson for art work to
present on the day the governor’s wife will visit. So, she came and she really liked it.” •Continued on page 35
Imo communities send SOS to state, Fed Govt
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•Pa Egbunanne with other pardoned prisoners
Freedom for 94-year-old prisoner •Continued from page 33 full and can’t admit you.” One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Austin Chukwuemeka who was serving life imprisonment out of which he had spent 17 years, wrote a book while in prison. The book was entitled Stay Afloat in Righteousness while in Prison. He said the news of his pardon
came to him as a shock. “I was shocked when I was told that I have been pardoned by the governor. It was not my own making, but I am convinced that God saved me from the jaws of death for a greater assignment. “My confinement has proved to be a blessing because it has brought me closer to God and I will serve Him all the days of my life.”
Another beneficiary, Mr. Chinedu Ogbonnaya also serving life imprisonment but had spent 16 years said his vision is to carry out enlightenment campaign to educate youths on the consequences of crime. He advocated the teaching of Nigerian Constitution in all institutions of learning to keep the youth abreast of the dangers of crime.
HAT tops this community’s list of needs? Is it food, shelter or security? Whatever comes first, the people of Umukabia in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State know that roads are among their priorities. The residents want help from the state and federal governments. Umukabia does not only need good roads; they also require healthy water and electricity. Umukabia community, made up of 14 villages, is divided into two: Umukabia Ancient Kingdom, governed by HRH Eze Levi Anyaogu (Abia II of Umukabia) and Eze Virginus Onuoha (Imo 1 of Amaimo-Umukabia). These agrarian villages are known for their yam cultivation. They produce cassava, palm oil and livestock, among others. The Nation gathered that traders from all parts of the state and neighbouring Abia used to patronise the two most popular market days (Ekeala and Eke Umuodu) in the two communities to buy their farm produce. The community has produced great men such as the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) boss, Dr. Maurice Iwu and his younger brother Sir
From Sunny Nwankwo, Aba
Cosmos who was once the Secretary to the Imo State Government (SSG), Sir Desmond Agu, (Bayelsa State Civil Defence Commandant), Chief Johnson Ekpunobi (Ehime Mbano PDP Chairman) among others. But what they need urgently now is state and federal government’s help to breathe life into it and restore the years of the locust and cankerworm. They say they will be happy if Minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina who is promoting food security through farming will assist Umukabia farmers. The Nation reliably gathered that the agrarian Umukabia communities are gradually losing their dominance as one of the food baskets of Imo State due to bad road especially during these rainy days. Spokesman of the communities, Mr. Celestine Ike told our reporter that Umukabia Road, a major link to several other communities, has remained in a sorry state, full of pot-holes and dangerous gullies. Many call it a death trap. Said Ike, “Our people have suffered neglect since the defunct East •Continued on page 36