Yesterday was yet another very fruitful busy day for me. I attended 2 events in Imo State and 3 in Anambra State that reinforce the importance of values, virtues and character to national transformation.

The 1st was the celebration of 50 years of priestly ordination of Rev. Fr. Godfrey Izamujo, a renowned priest whose passion for development led to the formation of Songhai Farms in Cotonou, Benin Republic. It was also the 40th Anniversary of the Songhai Farms international, the largest farm and the second biggest employer of Labour in the Benin Republic after the government. I visited his facility when I was Governor and he supported me in starting Masdevan farm in Orum, in Awka North LGA. The Church mass was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Umuawuka, Emii, in Owerri North LGA of Imo State.

The 2nd event in Imo State was a condolence visit to the family of Dr Basil Nnanna Ukegbu, a foremost nationalist, educationist and First Republic parliamentarian who, at the age of 29, built the famous Owerri Grammar School, OGS and the Ngor High School in the quest for human capital development in the old eastern Nigeria. Dr Ukegbu established the first private university in Africa, the Imo Technical University, which was unfortunately proscribed by the military in the 1980s. He was a pioneer of private universities and had a vision of social and economic transformation of the black race through techno-industrial development. He is fondly remembered for his message of economic miracle through the agrarian revolution. I expressed my condolences to the widow and the bereaved family.

The 3rd event is at Nnewi Anambra State, His Royal Highness Igwe Dr Kenneth Nwafor Orizu 111, CON, celebrating his 100 years and 62 years on the throne. He has lived by character and integrity and contributed immensely to a better Anambra as Chairman and Patron of the Anambra State traditional council.

The 4th was the 90th Birthday celebration of Mr Boniface Anaedum, a famous teacher at the School of Rehabilitation, Oji, in Enugu State, who taught many physically challenged, blind, dumb and deaf.

The 5th was the 90th Birthday celebration of my former teacher, MrAnthony Onyechi Ibeziako, at Onitsha, who was our Vice Principal and teacher at Christ the King College, Onitsha. He was a disciplinarian moulding character and generations.

These 5 events reinforce my commitment that we have the resources, natural and human, to transform our economies and enhance peace and stability in our society.

Truly, a new Nigeria is POssible. -PO