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Crisis brews in Enugu Catholic church as Udi North rejects inclusion in proposed Catholic Diocese
Few weeks after the war of the Catholic Church over Ahiara Diocese, another war brews in Enugu as the people of Udi North comprising the Ojebeogene, Ezedike, Ugwunye and Eke clans have rejected moves by the Enugu Diocese to include them in the proposed Udi Diocese.
According to a leading member of the Laity in the zone, who is also the traditional ruler of Ukana, Igwe Ubaka, Eke was the first ever Catholic church in the whole of Enugu State, Ebonyi State, Kogi State and Benue State.
He said that those parishes which later became Diocese as Enugu, Makurdi Oturkpo, Abakaliki, Idah and Nsukka, all emanated from Eke. But strangely, Eke has remained a mere parish.
He said that they were shocked that when new deanaries were created as Udi, Awgu (which is now a diocese), Eke was omitted.
According to him, it did not matter to them if they remained a Deanary, but that would be as long as they are left in Enugu Diocese.
He said that in 2008 when the idea of making Udi a Diocese came up, they made it clear that they would not be part of it, and it was settled then.
However, he said, they were shocked to hear that the new Papal Nuncio has plans to go ahead with making Udi a Diocese to include Udi North Zone.
Udi North, he said, was too far from Udi, and there is an intervening territory, being Ngwo/Ninth Mile, which is part of Enugu. It would be wrong for them to pass through another Diocese to access their Diocese if they were included in Udi Diocese.
He said they since the arrival of the new Nuncio, all efforts they made to access him appeared to be blocked, hence the outcry.
“Our people will go to any length to have us properly located. All the main Udi North communities are contiguous with Enugu urban. Abor is part of the Trans Ekulu Enugu. Ukana and Awhum share common boundaries with Nike, Amoji, Ugwogo. It is the same case with Okpatu and Umulumgbe.”
He said that since Ngwo/Ninth Mile had asserted themselves and remained in Enugu, they are cut off from Udi and cannot be travelling far distance to reach their Diocesan headquarters.
Besides, Igwe Ubaka said, it was injustice that after its centenary over ten years again, Eke has remained just a parish while those other parishes it parented as Enugu, Idah, Abakaliki, Makurdi, Oturkpo, etc, had long become parishes with their Bishops.
“What did we so wrong to be so treated?” he queried.
A source among the Laity who chooses to be anonymous said that they were aware that Eke Deanary was created and signed by the former Bishop of Enugu, Anthony Gbuji, but somebody had sat on it and it has not seen the light the day.
Igwe Ubaka calls on sons and daughters of the Clans in Udi North to be prepared for the battle as they would leave no stone unturned.
“We must remain in Enugu Diocese until we are made a Diocese,” he declared.
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Naija Times celebrates 5th anniversary, launches nonprofit arm to promote quality journalism and social impact
Naija Times, Nigeria’s leading independent online newspaper, proudly celebrates its 5th anniversary.
To mark this milestone, the management is excited to announce the launch of Naija Times Journalism Foundation, its nonprofit arm, reinforcing its commitment to quality journalism and social impact.
Founded on September 15, 2020, by Ehi Braimah, a notable PR expert and media personality in Nigeria, Naija Times has delivered high-quality, unbiased, and informative content to its readers. Akpandem James and Jahman Anikulapo – two senior and highly respected journalists – are Braimah’s co-founding partners of Naija Times.
The newspaper covers politics, business, health, education, culture, and sports, while its regularly published editorials provide sharp insights into Nigeria’s pressing issues. The newly launched website, www.ntm.ng to mark the anniversary, offers a seamless, user-friendly experience, making it easier for readers to navigate the website and access Naija Times’ diverse content.
On its 3rd anniversary two years ago, Naija Times launched the book, ‘For a Better Society,’ a compilation of editorials published from September 2020 to July 2023 in Abuja, further solidifying its role in shaping public discourse.
Naija Times Journalism Foundation, accessible at www.ntjfoundation.org, expands the organisation’s mission by supporting investigative journalism on critical social issues, promoting media literacy to educate the public on evaluating information and combating misinformation, and empowering community development through initiatives that foster social cohesion and economic empowerment.
“We are proud to celebrate five years of delivering credible journalism to our readers,” said Braimah, founder and publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times.
“Five years ago, we launched Naija Times with the following goals in mind: build strong institutions, promote transparency and accountability in public spending, uphold the rule of law, and defend the public interest.
“Together with my colleagues, we remain committed to building an egalitarian society that is founded on equity, justice and respect for fundamental human rights. The launch of Naija Times Journalism Foundation represents a bold step forward in our mission to drive social impact and elevate journalism practice in Nigeria.”
Naija Times Journalism Foundation is a knowledge production and journalism innovation hub dedicated to strengthening democratic governance and promoting inclusive development and accountability by empowering a vibrant and free press in Nigeria, Africa and Black Diaspora.
The Foundation’s Programmes Officer is Hart Onoboh, a seasoned programmes and communications professional with over five years’ experience, driving impactful development projects in Nigeria.
Hart has a robust background in strengthening democratic governance, combating misinformation, and facilitating community-based interventions.
Previously a fact-checker and visual communications officer at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), he led initiatives to counter misinformation and promote electoral integrity, training over 25 fact-checkers across four states in Nigeria.
Hart is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Information Management at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and he brings technical expertise, creative communication, and field experience to the Foundation’s advocacy and governance initiatives.
The Chief Executive Officer of Sujimoto Luxury Construction Limited, Sijibomi Ogundele, is under intense interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged diversion of ₦5.7 billion paid by the Enugu State Government for an ₦11 billion contract.
Ogundele, who had earlier been declared wanted, turned himself in to EFCC Abuja headquarters and was grilled for more than 10 hours on Tuesday. His personal and company accounts have been frozen, and his passport seized to restrict his movement.
According to investigators, Ogundele convinced the state to release 50% of the contract sum—₦5.7 billion—after promising speedy delivery. However, state officials allege that work done so far is worth no more than ₦750 million, accusing him of abandoning the project.
The Enugu State Government’s petition triggered EFCC’s probe, which may see Ogundele spend more time in custody as investigations continue.
In a tearful online video, Ogundele denied any wrongdoing, framing the matter as a contractual dispute: “I’m not a thief, I’m not a fugitive. This is between my company and the Enugu State Government. It’s not criminality.”
…Unveils Selection Panel
The Nigeria Digital PR Summit has officially opened nominations for the second Nigeria Digital PR Awards, a prestigious platform that recognizes excellence, innovation, and impact in digital public relations across Nigeria.
Honourees will take the spotlight at the Nigeria Digital PR Awards Gala; a premium evening celebrating the individuals, organizations, and campaigns that defined digital PR in the past year, marking the 10th Nigeria Digital PR Summit. Adding flair to the night is the Digital PR Fashion Runway; a bold fusion of fashion, technology, and communications that promises an unforgettable experience.
This year, 19 award categories will honour campaigns across four classes including Campaign Excellence Awards, Sector Excellence Awards, Innovation and Technology Awards, and Individual & Professional Excellence Awards.
The Summit also unveiled a three-member Selection Panel responsible for reviewing entries and shortlisting winners.
The panel is chaired by the Founder and CEO, Fernhill Digital Consulting, Datari Ladejo, and includes the former Senior Business Program Manager, MarComms, Africa Development Center (ADC – West), Microsoft, Oluwamuyemi Orimolade; and Founder/Lead Partner, PuzzleCraft PR and Communications, Beatrice Okpara.
Nominations are open to agencies, corporate communication teams, NGOs, startups, and individual practitioners whose work has delivered measurable results and demonstrated creativity in leveraging digital platforms.
Nominations run from September 1 – 8, 2025. Shortlisted nominees will be announced during the Awards Gala on October 16, 2025, at the Conference Centre, Naval Dockyard, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. For entry guidelines and submission details, visit: https://forms.gle/cM2oFQTnSSqL51EC9.
Founder, Nigeria Digital PR Summit, Segun McMedal, said, “We are excited to launch this year’s call for nominations and to welcome such distinguished professionals to the Selection Panel. This panel reflects the breadth of expertise driving digital communication in Nigeria, and its stewardship will ensure a fair and transparent evaluation process.”
The seven categories in the Campaign Excellence Awards include Best Overall Digital PR Campaign, Best Brand Advocacy Campaign, Best Crisis Communication in Private Organisations, Best Crisis Communication in Government, Best Public Affairs Campaign, Youth Impact Award for Social Change, Outstanding Influencer Collaboration, and Best Use of Content Marketing.
Categories in the Sector Excellence Awards include Excellence in Public Service Digital Campaign, Digital PR Excellence in Telecom Services, Digital PR Excellence in Financial Services, and Sustainability and ESG Communication Excellence.
The Innovation and Technology Awards category include Innovative Use of Technology in PR, Best Digital Engagement with Citizens, Outstanding Digital Customer Experience, and Creative Use of Short-Form Video in PR. The Individual and Professional Excellence Awards include Emerging Digital PR Professional of the Year and Digital PR Professional of the Year.
Naija Times celebrates 5th anniversary, launches nonprofit arm to promote quality journalism and social impact
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