Old Anambra state, comprising the present Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, was created in 1976 by late General Murtala Mohammed. On August 27, 1991, General Ibrahim Babangida carved out another nine states to the then existing twenty-one. The states are: Anambra, Abia, Adamawa, Delta and Jigawa. Others are Kebbi, Kogi, Osun and Taraba states.

Agitation for state creation then arose mainly from the desire to spread the gains of development. Hence, Anambra State, since its creation, twenty-nine years ago, has lived up to its sobriquet; Light of the Nation. As the eight most populous state in the federation and second most densely populated after Lagos, Anambra has lived up to its billing as a state with immense resources, characterized by people who carry on a most animated business and other relationship with people who come across them.  Indeed, the highly industrious and resourceful people of Anambra State have justified the need for a state of their own by the remarkable developmental strides they have recorded in all parts of the state.

Currently, Anambra has the lowest poverty index in Nigeria, the highest growth rate of manufacturing outfits in Nigeria and the highest growth of import substitute in rice and vegetable production in Nigeria. Today, Anambra is the state with the lowest loan exposure and the state with Lowest Unemployment Rate in Nigeria. Anambra and Lagos are currently the only states involved in the building of new cities planned to meet the standard of any modern city in the world. Anambra recently won an award from the federal government as Best state that supports MSMEs in Nigeria.

Educationally, Anambra is a centre of excellence.  Literacy rate is comparatively high.  Primary and secondary school enrolments in the state are one of the highest in the country.  Today, Anambra State is global champion in world Technovation challenge and bronze medalist in another World Festival of Engineering.

Umu Anambra, apart from being the first and second best in the 2020 JAMB examinations, are about the highest number of Joint admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) candidates going after the limited number of spaces in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. In fact, Anambra State, since the 2011/2012 academic year till date, has made wonderful results in both WAEC and NECO conducted Senior and junior Secondary School exams.

In politics, Anambra’s history has remained awesome, weird and unique.  It is a state with a long history of firsts. Despite its relatively small land mass, Anambra has produced a fair number of outstanding individuals. For instance, the only Igbo man that has been President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, is from Anambra.

The only Igbo man that has ever attained the exalted office of elected Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, is from Anambra. An Anambra son, Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, is the only Igbo man to have been referred to as Head of state of the Republic of Biafra. Of all Igbo states, none has produced two Senate presidents, Dr. Nwafor Orizu and Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, except Anambra.

No Igbo state is yet to beat the record of Anambra in producing two speakers of the House of Representatives, namely: Chief Edwin Umezuoke and Chief Agunwa Anaekwe. Professor Kenneth Dike, first Nigerian Vice Chancellor, is from Awka. The first black man to ever attain the position of Vice Chancellor of Leeds Trinity University, United Kingdom, Professor Charles Egbu, is from Abatete. The first female governor in Nigeria, Dame Virgy Etiaba, is onye Anambra. That the history of the country was rewritten, paving way for staggered governorship elections in the country is as a result of the case study of Anambra.

In the international political arena, the only Nigerian that has occupied the office of the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth is from Anambra state, Chief Emeka Anyaoku. In all fields of learning and enterprise, Anambra’s distinction is unparalleled. In ICT, Philip Emeagwali; in Literature, Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, and Chimamamda Adichie stand out significantly. In the whole of West Africa, Anambra prides as the only state that manufactures vehicles, Innoson Motors, and many more names in commerce and other fields.

Anambra, today, has the best network of roads in Nigeria.  The current administration, under the leadership of Gov. Willie Obiano, has reeled out policy initiatives that have restructured development in the state with an amazing rapidity. Night life is back, security is superb, streets are dazzling at night, while investors are trooping to the state.

Anambra at 29 is indeed the light of the nation. 29 hearty cheers to Anambra.

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