By Ayomide Otitoju
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the newly constructed Government House and Lodge in Awka, Anambra State, built by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, describing the development as a testament to visionary leadership and a rising Anambra.
The new complex includes the Governor’s residence, Deputy Governor’s lodge, Governor’s Office, 24 additional structures, a world-class amphitheatre and auditorium, and the Solution Fun City—an expansive recreational hub. Also inaugurated was an eight-lane expressway named after Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General and a native of the state.
The commissioning ceremony, held at the Soludo-renovated Alex Ekwueme Square, was attended by a high-profile gathering of state and national figures, including governors from the Southeast, Edo, Ogun, Borno, and Yobe States, federal ministers, senators, business leaders, traditional rulers, and political groups.
President Tinubu was also conferred with the chieftaincy title “Dike Simba” by Anambra’s traditional rulers in recognition of his support for the Southeast, particularly the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and key federal appointments of Anambra indigenes.
Addressing the gathering, President Tinubu lauded Governor Soludo for his transformative efforts across multiple sectors, stating: “Anambra is rising. What I have seen today shows that Soludo is building the foundation for the Dubai-Taiwan-Silicon Valley vision.”
He praised Soludo’s record in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and digital governance. Notably, the Soludo administration has constructed numerous roads and flyovers connecting communities, equipped new general hospitals with telemedicine technology, launched smart schools with free education, and employed over 8,200 teachers. The state’s judiciary has also undergone digitization.
Additional achievements include improved urban planning with modern drainage systems, expanded access to clean water, robust security operations under Agụnaechemba and Operation Udo Ga-Achi, and various youth empowerment programs.
Reflecting on his new title and the warmth received from the people of Anambra, President Tinubu expressed deep appreciation. “This is historic. I am now a bona fide son of the soil. I’ll request a plot of land to build my retirement home here,” he joked.
Governor Soludo, in his remarks, thanked the president for his support and appointments of notable Anambra indigenes, such as Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu and Mark Okoye, as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and MD of the SEDC, respectively. He affirmed that the state’s APGA-led administration aligns with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
