News
As the Nation Cries of Hunger, Soludoo Takes Action
…Introduces Game-changing Agricultural Initiative
*By Christian ABURIME
In a prompt, decisive move that comes as a strategic response to the simmering unrest of hunger gripping much of Nigeria right now, the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, is launching a new, timely and potentially game-changing agricultural initiative.
As protests over food inflation and skyrocketing prices of necessities rock the nation, Governor Soludo’s “Operation Farm to Feed” programme offers a grassroots sustainable solution to a crisis that threatens to engulf Africa’s most populous country.
The pertinent question on the mind of Governor Soludo seems to be: how can a nation, a people, so enviably blessed with fertile, arable land mass and clement weather conditions be struggling with hunger?
This has spurred the governor to swing into action with his new initiative, set to be unveiled tomorrow Saturday at AMANSEA, in order to galvanise Anambra’s citizens into embracing agriculture on personal and family levels.
From sprawling rural homesteads to the modest backyards of urban dwellers, Governor Soludo envisions a state where every available plot of land becomes a bastion of food security.
Of course, Nigerians can not afford to be waiting for Manna from heaven or from Abuja.
As much as the government must take certain steps to address the rampant food inflation in the country, it is Governor Soludo’s belief that the long-term solution to our food crisis lies in the rich soil beneath our feet and the strength of our own hands.
The timing of Governor Soludo’s initiative could not be more critical. As galloping inflation ravages the Nigerian economy, food prices have become the most visible and painful indicators of the nation’s economic challenges.
Individuals and families across the country are grappling with impossible choices, forced to decide between putting food on the table and meeting other basic needs. There is, indeed, no easy choice.
But Governor Soludo’s plan is refreshingly pragmatic. The state government will be advocating planting of cassava stems, maize seeds, short-duration crop seedlings, and so on, to help even novice gardeners turn the patches of earth in their backyards into productive micro-farms.
The focus is on fast-growing, nutrient-rich crops that can provide quick relief to struggling families. This is not about creating commercial farms overnight, but it is about empowering our people to take control of their food supply, one household at a time.
Some critics may dismiss the initiative as a mere band-aid on a gaping wound, but those involved in its implementation can argue that it represents a fundamental shift in thinking.
Meaning, the Anambra State government is not abdicating its responsibilities to citizens, but is simply rewiring people’s mindsets to start contributing to solutions by growing what to eat. In essence, let us all in Anambra and Nigeria start choosing to till the soil of self-reliance.
The “Operation Farm to Feed” programme also addresses a deeper, more insidious problem: the growing disconnect between Nigerians and their agricultural heritage.
In a nation that was once the breadbasket of West Africa, urbanisation and the allure of white-collar jobs have led to a dangerous dependence on imported and processed food. Our grandparents knew the value of the land, and it’s time we remembered their wisdom and went back to the land.
As the first seeds of Governor Soludo’s vision take root in Anambra’s soil tomorrow, the rest of Nigeria may be watching with a mixture of hope and scepticism.
Can a return to basic farming principles really make a dent in a crisis of this magnitude? Only time will tell. But in a nation hungry for solutions, Anambra’s “Operation Farm to Feed” initiative offers a ray of hope – and perhaps a blueprint for other states to follow.
We may not be able to change the whole country overnight, but we can certainly change our little corner of it, one garden at a time. And the harvest, when it comes, may well be bountiful beyond measure.
A new documentary on the life and political struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola is set to premiere in Nigerian cinemas in October.
Titled MKO, the 108-minute film is directed by Ose Oyamendan and produced with American documentary filmmaker Mark Jonathan Harris. It explores the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as free and fair, Abiola’s subsequent detention, and the controversial circumstances surrounding his death in custody in 1998.
The documentary features interviews with key figures including former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Abiola’s running mate Baba Gana Kingibe, members of the Abiola family, journalists, and diplomats.
Oyamendan, who worked as a young journalist during the June 12 crisis, has described the film as an investigative documentary that examines Nigeria’s unfinished democratic journey. It had its world premiere earlier this year at the Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian cinema release is scheduled for early October, with some reports linking the premiere to Independence Day on October 1.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of underage candidates for viewing.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB defined an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as any candidate who will be less than 16 years old as at September 30, 2026.
Benjamin said the results were released primarily to enable candidates and their parents or guardians to know their performance in the examination. However, he stressed that the release does not confer eligibility for admission on all underage candidates.
According to him, the results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose, except by candidates who satisfy the stringent requirements prescribed for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card with which they registered for the UTME.
JAMB reiterated that only underage candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity will be considered for admission through a rigorous, multi-stage assessment process. Key requirements include a minimum UTME score of 320, at least 80 per cent performance in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects where applicable, satisfaction of the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions, and a final assessment conducted by experts.
Veteran journalist Mr. Ohi Odiai and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai, today mark their 17th wedding anniversary, a milestone that highlights an enduring partnership built on mutual support, professional excellence, and family.
Mr. Odiai serves as Deputy Head of News at Arise News TV, one of Nigeria’s leading television networks. He is also the CEO and Chief Editor of Ohibaba.Com, the online news platform he founded and continues to steer as a key voice in digital journalism. His career spans years of impactful reporting, newsroom leadership, and media innovation.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai is the owner and founder of Bukbeth Concepts Classic, a business reflecting her entrepreneurial drive and creative vision. Together, the couple has built a home grounded in shared values and quiet strength.
The family is blessed with three children — two boys and a girl — who form the heart of their journey.
Friends, colleagues, and well-wishers describe the Odiais as a model of resilience and partnership in both public and private life.
As they celebrate 17 years of marriage today, September 5, 2026, the couple is receiving warm congratulations from across the media and business communities. Their story stands as a reminder that lasting unions thrive on commitment, respect, and the everyday work of building a life together.
Happy anniversary to Mr. Ohi Odiai and Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai.
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