President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for his remarkable achievements as he commissioned several transformative projects in Anambra State on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

The President inaugurated the newly built Government House and Lodge in Awka, which includes the Governor’s residence, Deputy Governor’s lodge, Governor’s Office, 24 additional structures such as a world-class amphitheatre, auditorium, and the sprawling Solution Fun City, designed to serve as a recreational hub for residents.

Also commissioned was an eight-lane road named after Emeka Anyaoku, the former Commonwealth Secretary-General and an illustrious son of the state.

“What I have seen in Anambra shows that Anambra is rising,” President Tinubu declared. “The numerous projects already completed will trigger the Dubai-Taiwan Silicon Valley dream, transforming the state into an industrial and economic hub.”

The President praised Soludo’s focus on infrastructure, saying the state’s development trajectory showcases the governor’s long-standing intellectual excellence.

“Governor Soludo’s transformation of vital sectors of the state’s economy demonstrates his intellectual excellence, which was evident during the banking consolidation era as the erstwhile Governor of the Central Bank,” Tinubu said. “When people thought Soludo’s consolidation plan would be futile, he delivered to the admiration of government, business owners, and the citizenry, as articulated in a book written to his credit titled The Power of One Man.”

In a symbolic gesture, traditional rulers across Anambra jointly conferred the chieftaincy title of Dike Simba on President Tinubu in appreciation of his policies, especially the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC). The commission, with an Anambra indigene, Mark Okoye, as the pioneer Managing Director and CEO, is seen as a pivotal federal intervention for the Southeast.

Reflecting on the honour, President Tinubu said:

“This is not only historic, but it is what I will treasure for the rest of my life. I am now a bona fide son of the soil.”

He added lightheartedly, “I will request a plot of land to build my retirement home here.”

Soludo’s Projects Reshape Anambra

Under Governor Soludo’s leadership, Anambra has recorded significant improvements in:

Road infrastructure linking communities

New general hospitals equipped with telemedicine and trained personnel

Smart schools with free education and 8,200 newly employed teachers

Digitised judicial system

Urban renewal and modern drainage to combat flooding

Expanded access to pipe-borne water

Security via Agụnaechemba and Operation Udo Ga-Achi, restoring peace

Youth empowerment initiatives

At the commissioning event held at the renovated Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, attendees included State Assembly members, governors from the South-East, Edo, Ogun, Borno, Yobe, federal ministers, senators, business leaders, and traditional rulers.

In his address, Governor Soludo expressed appreciation for the federal government’s support.

“Thank you, Mr President, for your love for Anambra. Your appointment of Ndi Anambra like Mrs Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Mr Mark Okoye as MD of the SEDC is deeply appreciated,” Soludo said.

“The mutual relationship between the Tinubu-led federal government and Anambra State will lead to stronger ties,” he added. “APGA’s progressive credential aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of your administration.”

The Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has deepened collaboration with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) as part of a renewed push to attract foreign direct investment into Nigeria.

Mr Tegbe recently received Ms Aisha Rimi, Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the NIPC, in Abuja to advance their shared objective of creating a robust investment framework that supports seamless entry and operations for Chinese enterprises in the country.

This development marks a significant step in the evolving partnership between the NCSP and NIPC, both of which have, in recent months, intensified efforts to make Nigeria a more attractive destination for foreign investors—particularly from China.

According to officials, the partnership is aimed at unlocking new economic opportunities and reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to industrial growth.

The initiative is a strategic response aligned with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which targets economic growth, employment generation, and inclusive national development.

“The collaboration between NCSP and NIPC will serve as a catalyst for greater economic integration, fostering mutual prosperity between Nigeria and China,” said Mr Tegbe. “We are committed to not just attracting capital, but also facilitating technology transfer, skill development, and long-term partnerships that will benefit the average Nigerian.”

Ms Rimi also affirmed the Commission’s readiness to support Chinese businesses seeking to establish operations in Nigeria. “The NIPC is working closely with NCSP to ensure that investors find Nigeria a compelling and competitive investment destination,” she said.

With the current emphasis on increasing the flow of Chinese foreign direct investment, the NCSP and NIPC are set to focus on sectors that can drive diversification, including manufacturing, technology, and agriculture.

Officials from both sides described the meeting as a productive engagement that paves the way for expanded bilateral economic cooperation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a landmark National Action Plan to End Violence Against Children, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding the rights and future of its young citizens.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the First Regional Meeting of Africa’s Pathfinder Countries on Thursday, May 8, 2025, held at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Tinubu urged African leaders to shift from rhetoric to tangible results.

“The real hope lies in action, concrete, deliberate action,” said the President. “We cannot protect the child by merely reciting the anthems of their struggles or romanticising their vulnerability.”

The newly unveiled strategy, part of Nigeria’s broader child protection framework, emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and institutional reform. It is anchored on a Costed National Plan of Action, which outlines measurable targets around prevention, accountability, and support systems for vulnerable children.

President Tinubu said the plan is both timely and strategic, building on global momentum from the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá.

“That moment in our shared history gave rise to a global campaign united by a singular purpose: to secure the safety, dignity, and future of every child,” he said.

He further explained:

“Our commitment must run deep, reaching into the very architecture of our education and health systems. This is the soul of our human capital development strategy.

That is why our national strategy also embraces prevention and early intervention. We are strengthening families and communities through programmes that promote positive parenting, challenge harmful social norms, and provide targeted support to vulnerable households.

Our dedicated duty-bearers, beginning with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, are being equipped with the training and resources to champion the cause of child protection across all levels of government.”

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is central to the implementation of the plan. Its Minister, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, fsi, has been applauded for her advocacy and coordination of the initiative.

In her address, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim announced a significant budgetary boost for child protection.

“We have recorded a 1,000% increase in the 2024 budget allocated to child protection initiatives,” she revealed. “Violence against children is not just a moral failure, it is an economic and security crisis. We must build systems that not only protect but empower.”

She also disclosed the re-establishment of the Child Protection Knowledge and Data Centre, aimed at serving as a national hub for data-driven interventions and policy formulation.

With Nigeria reaffirming its status as a Pathfinding Country under the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, the President reiterated the administration’s focus on protecting every Nigerian child under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Nigeria is leading by example, proving that with the right vision, coordination, and political will, a safer future for every child is within reach,” the President said.