Their Vision: Our Vision

We had loads of activities to make the year remarkable, we equally saw lots of challenges that will keep the year in our minds. 

SBP's Creative Lead is part of this wonderful cohort of women who crafted this vision for a green equitable society 

Moving to our New Website soon

You want a sneak peek into our back end?... see it here....

HelloWorld!

EASTER, #Earthrising with the Lord of Hosts while #lockdown lasts

Easter this year is a special one. We focus on #stayingsafe, as we commemorate the rising of the Lord. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging parts of the world we are encouraged to #earthrise in the example  of  the saviour of the world, our  Lord Jesus whose ressurection prompts this yearly Easter celebration.

We have a lot to grapple with but unlike other years, since the first #Earthday, which incidentally was the same year I was born... We have the opportunity to focus truly on only the most important thing(s). These things for me includes myself (spirit, soul and body), my family (ies), friends and the #earth.

April is agog with activities and as soon as the Easter celebration ebbs,  #Earthday2020 events,

which are already on all over the world will take up more of our focus @sculptedbasketproject. You need to #Earthrise with us...ask me if you don't stan the #earthrise idea the way I explain it here...

Happy Holidays.

Here is wishing all a very Merry and Green Christmas ... from all of us at SBP

No Away Really

Sculpted Basket Stand at University of Nigeria's 59th Founder's Day celebration Exhibition

The Vice Chancellor listening  to and appreciating our work

The VC Prof. Charles A. Igwe and council members appreciating the Sculpted Basket Waste Separation Unit for schools as the Lead Artist Dr. Amuche Nnabueze explains futher

New works out of pieces of clothes collected from tailor's shops. 3 Rs of Waste Re-duce, Re-Use, Re-Cycle... and the newer word Upcycle.

Utilising throw away stuff for art and learning

For a decade 2007 till date I have been pondering the way we go with wastes, things we no longer need that end up in very close to home landfills and infest us with diseases unknown. Creating art seem to be one of the things I have always thought about. Below are photos of me working with the kids and some of the Art I created made with them:

 

WELCOME BACK ... Fresh foods, fresh foods and more fresh foods.

Welcome back, its been a while, a long while indeed, however, Sculpted Basket is back and will strive to serve you better information and news from the University campus, from around town and from the whole world.

It has been a while, a long while indeed. But I'm happy SBP is back online and going to be running blogging. October is here and the year is almost coming to an end, you can be sure of loads and loads of news from the University Campus, from around Nsukka town, Ukehe, Enugu and the world over and it is out 10th year anniversary at SBP and activities are loading.

Today however I just want to welcome you all wonderful followers (supporters, enthusiasts, readers) back and maybe share some of my most recent salad exploits. I hope you find them interesting. You can always ask for the recipe.

Amidst the many challenges facing the world, news of wars and drums of war, floods, Harvey, Irma etc, the unreported floods in our Nigerian cities,  land and mud slides in Africa, we all daily face a uniform challenge of feeding appropriately. One agreed good food seems to be the one made up of fresh uncooked food which is  available as salads, acclaimed to bring and restore health as God commanded in Genesis 2.
I sever you a variety of my salads to inspire your own cooking and you can ask for recipes.

Sweet Corn, carrot and Egg salad

Banana and groundnut fruit salads as starters

Igbagwu (local pudding) with lettuce and carrot salad

Enjoy, Bon Apetit

Just Photos

Took some nice shots these few days and will just share without boring you with long grammar.

I ran into my friend Nnenna Dike in Enugu recently, always looking pretty

Xtabel's adorned hair in class

US Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. James F. Entwistle visits UNN

Ambassador James F. Entwistle, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria visited University of Nigeria with him were the United States Consul General in Nigeria, Jeffrey Hawkins and other staff of the US Consular Office in Abuja. The Ambassador in an interactive session with the university community extolled the rich cultural history of Nigeria. He also talked about how the future of Nigeria depended more on the youths and what they make of it. In his own words "though an over used cliche, the youths are the leaders of tomorrow".  He outlined a number of avenues the US partners with the Africa and Nigeria especially through the Fulbright fellowship programme and the US President Youth empowerment programme https://youngafricanleaders.state.gov/washington-fellowship/

Read More at unn.edu.ng

VC gifts the Ambassador

...and in a one good turn gesture the Ambassador gives a gift to the VC from the US

The Vice-Chancellor, Ambassador Entwistle (right) and his entourage

Hope Rising: New Vice Chancellor Prof. B.C. Ozumba Inaugurated

Amidst the clamour for change, unusual if we should go by the notion that people are known to resist change, the newly elected Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Prof. B.C. Ozumba, seasoned gynecologist is inaugurated in a solemn celebration reminiscent of an academic environment.

VC Prof B. C. Ozumba (2nd right) his wife and some principals officers of the UNN

The amiable University Orator, Dr. Edith Nwosu compering the event

Pupils from the University staff School also came to cheer our new VC, (they came with banners
bearing the inscription "Daddy we love you")

Mrs Odum, Mrs Echezona and friends at the reception which came after the inauguration

The Chief Medical Director (UNN Medical Center) Dr. Onwura (iPad in hand) arriving the event.

We pray for the best administrative tenure!

This is Nsukka

Nsukka of whom Chimamanda writes

Nsukka

home of the fearless writers

nsukka

home of the Igwebuike Onahs

 Azikiwes

the Achebes

the Adichies,

painters of life with words

the Anatsuis

painters of life with wood and detritus

home of the foremost citadel of knowledge

alma mater to the fearless lions

grazers on grasses of knowledge

Nsukka of soft green hills

now home  also

to putrid crumbs

jumbles of our individual essence

vast mess

bits and pieces of our essence

laid out like

beaches of

despicable sight

oozing out rivers of stench

turn and stear the stomach

war with guts of our organs

….amas 2014

Yes, Matriculation!

It was the 40th Matriculation ceremony at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Due to the frenzy that followed that matriculation, I was sort of made to recall my own Matriculation in a previous post, though sketchy, I felt like asking few of the matriculating students, what matriculation meant to them.
For Chidindu, it means a dream come true; Chinagolu had previously attempted JAMB for four times, which means his mates are already out of the university and some out of the National Youth Service year. For him it meant a fulfillment of years of hard work, anxiety and dashed hope for each time he failed to cinch the admission to the university his hopes waned but this season is a season of hope and a call to duty and harder work.

The Adeze, it means an elevation to a higher ground, she has left some of her mates behind and are running alongside some while others are already ahead. However she is greatly thankful to God almighty who have finally given her her dream of becoming a student of the prestigious UNN.

For Chinenye, she is happy but not totally elated as she was not offered the choice of her choice which is pharmacy but she plans to run her course with so much determination so that she can confortably change to her choice department -pharmacy after the first year.

For me however I advice each to take the matriculation as a time of reflection and determination to do justice to the academic and moral call which is bestowed by this process as is seen in the University's announcement for the matriculation which goes thus:

"1.     General Information 

The 40th Matriculation Ceremony of the University of Nigeria will hold on Saturday, March 08,  2014 to admit freshmen formally to full membership of the University. All freshmen are expected to solemnly and publicly make a declaration of loyalty to the University of Nigeria on that day.

 The ceremony will take place in the various faculties at both the Nsukka and Enugu campuses of the University at 10.00a.m. 

Full participation in the ceremony is mandatory for all freshmen. It is also mandatory that every matriculated student who is fully cleared will sign the Matriculation Register. Any freshman who fails to participate in the ceremony loses the chance of being formally admitted into the University community. Consequently, he or she will be regarded as not having fulfilled the requirements for full studentship in the University. 

2.    Matriculating Students 

The following categories of students are required to matriculate: 

(i)    All regular freshmen and transfer students registered for first degree courses; 
(ii)    All regular fresh postgraduate students who are not graduates of the University of Nigeria;  
(iii)    Other regular undergraduates and postgraduate students in (i) and (ii) above who had not previously matriculated in the University of Nigeria. 

The following are not required to matriculate: 

(i)    Postgraduate students who are graduates of the University of Nigeria; 
(ii)    Freshmen who have not been fully cleared 
(iii)    Freshmen registered for diploma and certificate courses; 
(iv)    Occasional students. "

Gogo Paul-Onyia's Matric with Chinny Winny and myself (Ama Nnabueze)

Santhus Tochukwu with a friend during their matriculation at Enugu

Anticipating Matriculation!

Since my matriculation in 1989 its been 2 decades and I am once again wondering how it feels. I remember my own matriculation, the first time because I did that twice, the second time I was a bit more matured and could handle it, still even at that I could never envisage the end, that is graduation from my matriculation. That was a big oversight which I believe younger ones should be helped to overcome. We made rice and drank soft drinks. I think it stopped at that. I watched all the merry making. Whatever they meant for each person is what I did not not know. This Saturday I will bring you what matriculating students anticipate and what anxiety they face from UNN's 40th matriculating students.

www.unn.edu.ng

Ije'Duru fetes 50 undergraduates and all.



The Ije'Duru couple Prof. Pat & Hon. Princess Stella with the50 Undergraduates - recipients of the Bursary Award.

Ije'Duru handing the package to a recipient

Collaborating with the Catholic Women Organisation, Home and Abroad, Ukehe in what many termed one-of-its kind ceremony in Ukehe town, the Ije’Duru Foundation presented 50 indigent undergraduates of the town with bursary awards. The undergraduates were drawn from all the villages that make up Ukehe and from different higher institutions of learning including UNN, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and IMT, Enugu. 

The event which had Dr. Evaristus Afiadigwe a Consultant ENT and an amiable Ukehe man as its Chairman, was well attended. The Chairman in his speech eulogized the Foundation for the forthright initiative aimed at uplifting the youth, who several noted were not given the social priority they deserve as future of our generation.  He noted that bursary is a financial support meant to alleviate some pressing educational needs of the recipients. He then appealed to the recipients and youths in general to buckle-up and shelve all atrocities.  He further advised that the beginning of the receipt of the award demands that recipients inform their guardians about the bursary so that it can be properly channeled in solving the most pressing academic need they may be facing at the moment. Their role, he stressed is to dedicate their time and energy to their studies and the best way to appreciate the award is to extend a helping hand where and when it arises to those in need, imbibe the character of humility and uprightness, quoting the writer who said that “what one does for oneself may die but what we do for others remain immortal.” He encouraged all to do well in the appreciating the provider of the Award.

In her own address Prof. Mrs. Lizzy Ngwu,  President of the CWO, Home and Abroad, Ukehe collaborators in the award presentation thanked the presenters of the award Hon. Princess Stella Ngwu and her husband Prof. Pat Ngwu through their Ije’Duru Foundation  for responding to the clarion call made recently in a workshop organized for the youths  to all well meaning Ukehe people, politicians, philanthropists to support the cause for youths which she pointed out has become a major concern for the women who incidentally are the mothers of these youths.  She thanked all the benefactors of the organization and appealed to all sons and daughters of Ukehe to answer to the call in order to give the youths a sense of belonging and responsibility and make Ukehe greater.

In her own speech the Hon. Princess Stella Ngwu, Member Representing Igbo-Etiti and Uzo-Uwani  Constituency at the Federal House of Representative thanked the youths and all that attended the event which she noted is as a result of the clarion call made by the women to aid the youths. She specified that the interest is in helping the youths and all others in her Constituency for empowerment which she noted is one of her campaign promises –empowerment through education-  which stems from her endowment  as a teacher and a mother, thus the first teacher of her children.  She further described Ije D’uru as an outreach NGO through which her development initiatives will be powered, noting that the motto of the Foundation is Touching Lives.

In his speech during the occasion, Prof. Pat Ngwu presented the Ije’Duru Newsletter which was titled letters to Ukehe Youths. He said the present publication had letters written by seven outstanding Ukehe men and women to Ukehe youths to encourage them in their various endeavours in life. The letter was authored by; Santhus Aroh, founder and CEO of Visocom Limited an ideas and innovation company based in Lagos, Rev. Fr. Emeka Isife a Catholic priest and a school Principal, Barrister Bertran Ngwu an attorney-at-Law and the Executive Secretary, Enugu State Council on Privatisation and Commercialisation,  Godwin Iloabuchi Ngwu a writer and an Agric Economist, Hon. Princess Ngwu her self and her husband Prof. Pat. Ngwu. The seven letters wove into a resounding guide for the growing ones which if they followed will lead them to the greatness all craved.

Other guests including Architect Obi Efungwu were full of praises for the initiator and encouraged her to do more. The students who gave the vote of thanks through one of them expressed their joy and promised to do their best.  The students were given a copy of the “Letter to Ukehe Youths”, a certificate of recept and a follow-up form that will help the foundation keep up with their progress. 

Roll Call:

 In attendance included Ezinne Mrs Christiana Ngwu (Obi na Mma) Ozor Ofoeleatunwagu Donatus Akwolu and his brother Fabulous Akwolu and wife, the indomitable Ukehe man, Ozor Ego-eje late APC Aroh, Mr. & Mrs Chidi Nweloke, Ezinne Mama Daddy Aroh, Hon. Daddy Aroh himself, Chief Matthias Ngwu, Barr. Bertrand Ngwu, Chief Christian Itanyi, Arch. Obi Efungwu, Mrs Ifeoma Ogbaji, Mrs. Joe Nwoba (Ring Oba), Mrs. Mary Carmel Ugwu, Ezinne Mama Fr. Agujiobi and Miss Afoma Odo, Dr. Greg Odo, Area Commander Mr. Eze, Dako Ugo and a lot more people.