Anambra State Government Holds Maiden Investment Summit, Signs MoUs with Thirteen Organizations
The Government of Anambra State hosted the world at its maiden Investment Summit.
The Summit which was held at Anambra International Convention Centre, Awka witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding, MoUs between the state government and thirteen organisations.
The organisations include, Universal Elysium Ltd for the development of Onitsha River Port, Birsa Water Ltd and Neni Development Union for the development of Neni Water Scheme, OMAA Global Engineering and Tech for the development of AUU Automative Industrial Park and Nko Farms Ltd for the development of Nko Agro Park.
Other MoUs were signed with GVE Projects Ltd for the development of Green Village Electrification, Sundry Markets Ltd for the development of Awka Shopping mall, CPCs Transcommunication Ltd for delivery of master plan for Anambra Intra-City Rail, connecting Awka, Ekwulọbịa, Nnewi and Onitsha, Mahendra Consulting Engineering Ltd for Ikenga Mixed-Use Industrial City and Afrexim Bank.
For the development of Anambra Pharmaceutical Hub at Ogboji, the government signed MOUs with Nimet Pharmaceuticals, Dozzy Group, Green Life Pharmaceuticals and Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria.
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo pointed out that Anambra State is open for business and is eager to attract investors from all over the world.
He highlighted the state’s many advantages, including its strategic location, large population, and young and educated workforce, revealing that Anambra State is on the move and the journey is on course with an economic size of 20 billion dollars.
He said that it was important that the world knows that Anambra state has the highest population density per square kilometer after Lagos.
“We have boundaries with Kogi, Delta, Enugu, Abia, and Imo states; have the largest market in West Africa and have fifteen major higher education institutions.
“Anambra is ranked first out of the seventeen states in Southern Nigeria on ease of doing business and seventh out of 36 states in the country.
“Security, law and order is improving. We are addressing our infrastructural deficiencies. We have signed an MOU to address power. We have gas pipelines being planted to enhance Anambra’s electricity market. Our rail feasibility study and master plan is on course.
“We are installing a 2000-kilometer fiber optic duct to give people access to cheap internet. We are breaking the decade-old jinx about the availability of rural and pipe-borne water schemes. We are building industrial parks and cities, export emporium, and agricultural regeneration projects, and others” the Governor said.
He reeled out other efforts of his government to transform the state economy, such as turning importers into producers and exporters, the sports economy, leisure, entertainment, the Solution Fun City and Entertainment Leisure City, among others.
“We are intentional and deliberate about the sports economy, leisure, and entertainment in Anambra. At the next summit, we will take you around the Solution Fun City and Entertainment Leisure City.
“Our goal is to turn Anambra from a departure lounge to a destination. In a few years, any visitor who has not been to Anambra has not been to Nigeria.
“We are prioritizing our human capital. Our greatest resource is human capital. In Anambra State today, a Certificate of Occupancy can now be obtained within 3-5 days.
“Our biggest existential threat is the environment. We are planning towards a green, clean, and sustainable environment and having organized markets.
“We are the world’s capital of gully erosion and we are putting in a few billions to fix that. We have come with a comprehensive agenda and laws for the environment and we are waiting for the State House of Assembly to rescue our environment,” the Governor noted.
The Governor made it clear to potential investors that Anambra State is firing on all cylinders and that the summit is unlike any other.
“It is different because it is not about talking, but symbolically signing some deals in a few minutes’ time.
“We have acquired 106 hectares of land in Ukpo Ukwulu, to create an export free trade zone. We are encouraging the emergence of MSMEs in the state, from project development to execution. We are investing in project development, taking it to the point of bankability.
“We have also acquired 7000 hectares of land, which will be developed into a complete industrial city. A master plan for it is being developed.
“A pharmaceutical industrial hub and an automotive industrial park are also on the way. We are forging productive partnerships with investors, financial institutions, and the federal government.
“We will have ANSIPPA enlarge its scope and to establish a financial arm, if necessary, to help propel our aim; if we are not getting the kind of partnerships we are expecting.
“The EEDC Metering company in Oraifite is ready for commissioning. We have a long list of industries to commission, so long as they are made in Anambra,” Soludo said.
The Governor noted that out of dozens of MOUs to be signed, he has symbolically chosen a few.
“We are deliberately creating a land bank for industrialization and investment. We will provide gas and power there.
“We will do everything to encourage our investors to help their businesses prosper and to de-risk their investments in Anambra,” he stressed.
Governor Soludo further appreciated his predecessor, who conceptualized and built the international convention center and assured that he will complete the airport which his predecessor started.
“Though I have not discussed it with him, we will rename this magnificent edifice to be the Willie Obiano International Convention Centre if he accepts.
“And we will celebrate several of our prominent ndi Anambra who deserve it. We will be deliberate in celebrating our best. We will honor those who invest in Anambra to create jobs. The young ones will see that hard work, enterprise, and those who make contributions to society are rewarded. If you are about that, I will be your chief marketer,” the Governor remarked.
In a keynote address, Dr. Benedict Oramah, the President of the African Export-Import Bank, who was represented by its Executive Vice President, Kanayo Awani commended the Governor for setting the stage for this transformational journey.
According to him, the vision of a smart megacity is not just about infrastructure, but also about creating an ecosystem that uplifts and fosters prosperity using financial and non-financial capacities.
“Our bank has identified the emergence of industrial parks and free trade economic zones because they will provide employment and drive economic scale. We are ready to support Anambra as we are doing in Ogun and Abia states. Peace and security is gradually returning to the state,” he stated.
The summit which was attended by a wide range of potential investors as well as representatives from the government, the private sector, and civil society had participants discuss the opportunities for investment in Anambra State and the challenges that needs to be addressed.
Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, members of the diplomatic corps, captains of industry, the Resident Coordinator of United Nations in Nigeria, Mr. Mathias Schmale, World Bank Country Director, Shubham Chaudhuri, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. CUI Jianchun, Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, Chairperson, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi Chapter, Lady Ada Chukwudozie, Members of Anambra Executive Council, Transition Committee Chairmen, Traditional Rulers, among others, attended the summit.
It had the theme; “Laying the Foundation for a Prosperous and Smart Mega City.”
Politics
Yahaya Bello: Court fixes further hearing February 5,6
Crucially, the witness reiterated that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in any of the local government transactions under investigation – neither as sender nor recipient of funds.
During the hearing today, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joseph Daudu, lead counsel to Yahaya Bello, told the court that the ongoing trial of his client is politically motivated rather than a genuine money laundering case.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned the money laundering trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, to February 5 and 6, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
EFCC Witness Confirms Ex-Governor’s Name Not Linked to Transactions
During the hearing today, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joseph Daudu, lead counsel to Yahaya Bello, told the court that the ongoing trial of his client is politically motivated rather than a genuine money laundering case.
Daudu made the assertion during proceedings in the N80.2 billion money laundering case filed against Bello by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The statement came in response to remarks by EFCC lead counsel, Kemi Pinheiro SAN, who described the mode of payments from Kogi State local government areas as “stealing by disguise.”
During cross-examination of the seventh prosecution witness (PW7), Olomotane Egoro – a Compliance Officer with Access Bank Plc – Daudu SAN elicited key admissions that bolstered the defense position.
Egoro, subpoenaed from Access Bank, confirmed under oath that Yahaya Bello never served as chairman of any local government in Kogi State.
He further stated that the contracts in question were awarded by local government chairmen to various contractors, as reflected in the bank statements of companies tendered and admitted as exhibits.
Crucially, the witness reiterated that Yahaya Bello’s name did not appear in any of the local government transactions under investigation – neither as sender nor recipient of funds.
Addressing Exhibit 33(11) – the statement of account for Keyless Nature Limited – Egoro agreed that the entries were consistent with normal banking transactions.
Daudu SAN then asked: “You drew my lord’s attention to a litany of payments from the 21 local government areas, for example, on 11th October 2022, into Keyless account.
Do you know the purpose of those entries or transactions?”
The witness replied: “No, my lord.”
Egoro also admitted he had no knowledge of the records of any business or contractual relationship between the local governments and Keyless Nature Limited.
He further confirmed that a customer has the right to spend money as they wish unless fraud is involved, and that Access Bank had no court order or fraud report concerning the transactions in Exhibit 33(11).
On inflows into Fayzade Business Enterprise (or similar entities), the witness identified a May 6, 2022 transaction from Okene Local Government Area, noted as “supply of reading materials.”
Other payments from local governments such as Ogorimagongo, Okehi, Omala, and Yagba included purposes like education materials (N4.4 million), medical items (N7.5 million), sporting equipment (N10.8 million), and medical consumables (N12.2 million), among others ranging from agrochemicals to farm inputs.
Daudu SAN pressed: “Do you know if this defendant (Yahaya Bello) is a local government chairman and which local government in Kogi State?”
The witness responded: “No, the defendant wasn’t a local government chairman.”
Major Nigerian media and journalism organizations have issued a strong call to the Federal Government (FG) and the National Assembly (NASS) to take immediate legislative and regulatory action against what they describe as an existential threat posed by Big Tech companies to the country’s information sovereignty and media industry.
In a joint statement released recently, leading press bodies—including key associations representing publishers, editors, and journalists—warned that unchecked dominance by global technology giants such as Google, Meta, and others is eroding Nigeria’s control over its digital information ecosystem.
They highlighted how these platforms dominate digital advertising revenue, divert traffic from traditional news sources, and increasingly use Nigerian-generated content to train artificial intelligence models without fair compensation or permission.
The groups emphasized that the situation risks surrendering Nigeria’s information sovereignty to foreign entities, potentially undermining national security, cultural values, and the economic viability of local media houses.
They pointed to declining revenues for publishers, with some facing up to 90% drops in traffic due to AI-generated summaries and algorithmic changes on search and social platforms.
The press bodies urged lawmakers to enact robust regulations, including frameworks for content remuneration, data usage restrictions, algorithmic transparency, and mechanisms to ensure fair competition in the digital space.
They called for urgent collaboration between the executive and legislature to address these challenges before irreversible damage occurs to Nigeria’s media landscape and democratic discourse.
This appeal comes amid broader global debates on Big Tech accountability and follows Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its digital economy governance, including recent pushes toward comprehensive AI and data regulations.
Stakeholders view the statement as a pivotal moment for protecting indigenous media in an era of rapid technological disruption.
The Federal Government and National Assembly have yet to issue an official response, but the call aligns with growing concerns over digital monopolies and their impact on developing economies.
Media experts anticipate intensified discussions in the coming weeks as Nigeria navigates its position in the global tech landscape.
Armed bandits launched a brutal overnight attack on the remote village of Woro in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing at least 35 people and setting homes and shops ablaze, according to local authorities and residents.
The assault occurred late Tuesday evening, around 6-7 p.m., when heavily armed gunmen stormed the community, shooting indiscriminately as panicked residents fled into surrounding bushland.
The attackers also torched buildings, including shops and reportedly the traditional ruler’s palace, leaving the king’s whereabouts unknown at the time of reporting.
Hon. Saidu Baba Ahmed, the lawmaker representing Kaiama in the Kwara State House of Assembly, confirmed the death toll had reached 35 by Wednesday morning, with many more residents still missing after escaping into the bush during the chaos.
Some sources described the attackers as terrorists possibly linked to groups spilling over from neighboring Niger State, amid rising insecurity in the border region.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the incident as a “cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells” in response to ongoing counterterrorism operations in parts of the state.
Authorities have noted that the attack marks one of the deadliest incidents in Kwara this year, highlighting the persistent threat of banditry targeting isolated farming communities with killings, arson, and displacement.
Security forces are said to be reinforcing presence in the area, though initial reports indicate some discrepancies in early casualty figures, with some local accounts initially lower before bodies were recovered overnight.
The incident underscores the escalating violence in north-central Nigeria, where armed groups continue to exploit rural vulnerabilities despite government efforts to curb banditry and terrorism.
Yahaya Bello: Court fixes further hearing February 5,6
Nigerian Press Urges FG, NASS to Act Swiftly Against ‘Big Tech Threat’
Bandits Kill at Least 35 in Deadly Raid on Remote Kwara Village
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