Realists are of the view that excellence is not an act but a habit. To them, excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. Martin Luther King Junior once said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well”.

 

 

 

Suffice it to say that Governor Chukwuma Soludo is a great man of excellence. When he was sworn-in about nine months ago, he assured that his administration would build youths for the future. Charlie Nwa Mgbafor declared that he would champion massive youth empowerment, job and wealth creation to accelerate economic growth and development in the state.

 

 

 

Days later, Professor Soludo flagged off an intensive empowerment program tagged “One Youth, Two Skills” at the Anambra International Convention Center, Awka. The programme was aimed at proffering solutions to youth restiveness and crimes by ensuring that youths acquire skills and are positively engaged. While flagging off the programme, Professor Soludo said that his agenda was to have one youth that had at least two skills and could become employer of labour.

 

 

 

Furthermore, on Friday, December 2, 2022, at the same International Convention Centre, Awka, the Governor broke new grounds as he delivered on his pro-people manifesto and electoral promises with the historic hiring of 5,000 primary and secondary school teachers. The formal unveiling of the newly employed teachers brought massive excitement to Ndi Anambra.

 

 

 

It is cheering that Mr. Governor could take such critical progressive policy action amidst limited resources and competing demands, which had compelled many states to downsize. It is more joyous to note that the recruitment came after eight years that last

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

teachers’ recruitment took place in Anambra State. The climax of the event was when the youth and education-friendly governor announced to the stunned and cheering of the newly recruited teachers that they would be given five thousand naira each for their transport; paid December salaries and other perks when they had barely started teaching. This is an excellent demonstration of a governor of excellence, who truly cares for the people.

 

 

 

Apart from providing a sustainable means of dignified livelihood to these new teachers, Mr. Governor has pulled over 5,000 out of idleness, which they say is the devil’s workshop. Governor Soludo practically showcased that it is better to teach people how to fish for themselves instead of giving them fish. The animated ovation, song and dance, tears of joy and even prayers by the new teachers that rented the air conveyed the significance of what had taken place. And it was obvious that the excitement resonated beyond the International Convention Centre, Awka where the event held.

 

 

 

Youth empowerment is not all that the man of excellence has done for his people. Roads construction and reconstruction are going on rapidly and simultaneously in all the three political zones in the state. In fact, recently, Prof. Soludo had to terminate the contract of one of the contractors who was moving at snail pace.

 

 

 

In addition, Anambra will be different this Christmas season. Every nook and cranny of the State will be illuminated this Yuletide because Governor Soludo has directed immediate switch over to solar power, which is more cost effective energy for illuminating the streets. Hence, all-in-one solar street lights have been introduced to replace the former diesel-powered street lights. This calls for celebration that all-in-one street lights are rapidly springing up in all the three senatorial zones of Anambra State, thereby changing the night skyline. All these are providing food on the tables of a lot of families in the state.

 

The governor has equally put all necessary measures in place to ensure a hitch-free and water-tight security during the yuletide.

 

Indeed, solution is here!

 

Written by                 DR NNAMDI NWADIOGBU/