Social issues
- Health
Nnewi hosts a number of institutions and places of learning and healing, which include Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) and a number of international agencies. The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, is at the forefront of providing excellent health services to the nation. The hospital and its annexes since inception had provided specialized and comprehensive medical care to the immediate community and beyond. Its mandate also includes undergraduate and postgraduate medical and paramedical training as well as research. These services had grown from strength to strength through the years fueled by comprehensive annual plans approved by the Federal Government.
- Education
The ancient city of Nnewi hosts a number of traditional and formal learning institutions and places of learning, which include a Medical University: Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) Government secondary schools: Okongwu Memorial Grammar School, Maria Regina Secondary School, Nnewi High School, Ichi Technical School (Ichi Community), Ichi Girls, Akoboezemu Community Secondary School, Anglican Girls Secondary School, Nnewi-Ichi Community Secondary School e.t.c. Private schools: Summit International School, The Good Shepherd School, New Era School, Dr Alutu’s College of Excellence School e.t.c. ,
- Crime
Crime rates are low[clarification needed] but civil disputes such as land ownership and family inheritance exist. In more recent times, the market square and banks have experienced well-publicized and organized criminal attacks that have been allegedly linked to the local police. There are now open debates on reinstating a local vigilante crime-fighting group called the Bakassi Boys,[13] who had a multi-year stint in Nnewi in the late 1990s when the crime was on the increase. This group had a modus operandi that many considered barbaric but necessary – convicted thieves were killed in public by dismembering their body parts with a sharp machete and burning them alive. The activities of this group of men which had the permission of the Governor of the state was seen by the Human rights activists and civil right movement as a violation of human rights and campaigned against their practices. Recently, Nnewi is relatively peaceful except for isolated occurrences of the kidnapping of prominent local citizens for large ransoms.
Transportation
Transportation is very vital to the development of any commercial centre. Historically, with the development of road networks in Nigeria, Igbo businessman many from Nnewi came to play a major role in the commercial transportation of goods and people from various locations in Nigeria to another. The first owner of a vehicle in the city was the Igwe and the major road was the Uzo wire Rd which followed a communication line.
The demand for commercial transport grew with the rise of palm produce export and intraregional trade needs. The transport entrepreneurs from the town branched out to various urban cities of the federation and by early 1980s, over 50% of the entrepreneurs were working out of Nnewi. Transporters from Nnewi were known for their un-orthodox South to North migration patterns jettisoning the fashionable North to the south pattern.
Nnewi ranks first among other towns in the aspect of economic development. Nnewi is well known as the home of several transport and logistics businesses since the end of the second world war. Philip Odumegwu Ojukwu was one of Nigeria’s first transporters and since then, many more transporters have emerged from Nnewi.
Some of the Nnewi owned transport firms in Nigeria are:
- Chi Di Ebere Transport Ltd
- Ekene Dili Chukwu Nig. Ltd.
- Ijeoma Motors Nig. Ltd.
- Ekeson Motors Ltd
- Izuchukwu Nig. Ltd.
- Nsoedo Transport Ltd
- Orizu Transport Limited
- Bluebase Transport Solutions
- Izu Okaka Anaedo Ltd
- Ojukwu Transport
- D, D Onyemelukwe Transport
Despite these major steps in the right direction, Nnewi people are still striving to improve their community in terms of good roads, living quarters, and educational facilities. Nnewi organizations
Facebook Comments