Asagba Azinge Mobilises Investors, Police, Youths to Drive Asaba’s Development

The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Professor Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, OON, has intensified efforts to reposition the Delta State capital through strategic engagements with investors, security agencies, entertainment practitioners, sports administrators and youth leaders.

The monarch’s recent activities reflect a development agenda focused on attracting investment, strengthening public safety, empowering young people, improving infrastructure and raising Asaba’s profile as a destination for entertainment, tourism and business.

His engagements have included calls for Asaba to host the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), appeals for funding for Asaba City Football Club and the Asaba Marathon Race, and advocacy for stronger partnerships between the community, government institutions and private investors.

The initiatives form part of a broader vision in which traditional leadership serves as a platform for mobilising stakeholders and resources to improve the welfare of the people.

Asaba Targets Greater Recognition in Nollywood

One of the monarch’s major ambitions is to secure national recognition for Asaba’s contribution to Nigeria’s film industry by encouraging efforts to host the AMVCA in the city.

Receiving a delegation of the Delta State chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), led by its chairman, Prince Kevin Ughogho Uvo, Azinge urged practitioners to champion Asaba’s bid to host the prestigious awards.

He noted that the city had become an important production centre for Nollywood, attracting actors, producers, directors, technicians and other professionals who contribute to its creative economy.

“Nollywood has become one of Nigeria’s greatest exports, and Asaba occupies a significant position in its growth story,” the monarch said.

He argued that hosting the awards could attract visitors, stimulate business activities, create opportunities for local entrepreneurs and strengthen the city’s reputation as an entertainment and tourism destination.

The AGN delegation acknowledged the importance of Asaba’s peaceful environment to film production and the wider economic contributions of the industry.

Azinge also cautioned content creators against portraying the city negatively for social media engagement, urging them to recognise its contribution to the entertainment sector.

Securing the AMVCA would, however, require sustained engagement with award organisers and other industry stakeholders.

Football Club, Marathon Seek Corporate Support

The monarch has also appealed to corporate organisations, sports enthusiasts and well-meaning individuals to support Asaba City Football Club and the Asaba Marathon Race.

Receiving members of the Asaba Sports Committee at his palace, Azinge described the football club as a personal ambition he was determined to realise during his reign.

He said the club could provide a platform for discovering and nurturing football talents from Asaba and neighbouring communities, while creating employment opportunities for players, coaches, administrators and other sports professionals.

Hon. Tony Pemu informed the monarch that preparations for the club’s take-off had been made but that inadequate funding remained a major obstacle. He appealed for support to enable the club to commence full operations before the end of 2026.

The monarch also expressed concern about sponsorship difficulties confronting the second edition of the Asaba Marathon Race, attributing some of the challenges to late preparations.

He urged the organisers to begin planning earlier and approach potential sponsors more proactively.

The committee’s consultant, Dr Moses Nwanze, disclosed that MTN Nigeria had indicated willingness to assume full sponsorship of the marathon from 2027, subject to observing the second edition and assessing its organisation.

He added that the committee had approached other prospective sponsors, including Coca-Cola and Nigerian Breweries, and was awaiting their responses.

Azinge called on businesses operating in Asaba and across Delta State to support both initiatives, stressing their potential to promote youth development, physical fitness, tourism and economic activity.

Monarch Urges African Youths to Embrace Responsible Leadership

Beyond infrastructure and economic development, the Asagba has emphasised the importance of character, integrity and leadership preparation among young people.

Receiving Nigerian and other African participants attending the fifth Social Innovation and Leadership Bootcamp Africa (SILBA), convened by Ambassador Elvis Akpobi, Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Youth Development, the monarch urged participants to become “inner-directed rather than other-directed.”

He challenged them to develop independent judgment, integrity and the discipline to make responsible decisions rather than simply follow popular opinion.

Azinge also highlighted the need for effective leadership succession across Africa, advocating early preparation of young people for positions of responsibility.

He called for nursery and primary school teachers, alongside religious leaders, to be included in leadership development programmes because of their influence in shaping children’s character and values.

The monarch further criticised poor work ethics, including lateness, lack of commitment and cutting corners, urging greater professionalism, diligence and accountability.

The delegation included Mallam Hamzat Lawal, founder and chief executive officer of Connected Development, and Hon. Karishma Pelham-Raad, a former Liberian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Akpobi sought the monarch’s continued support for youth development, particularly efforts to address youth restiveness and expand opportunities for meaningful participation in society.

Azinge expressed readiness to support the initiative through advocacy and collaboration.

Private Investment Targets University Infrastructure

The monarch’s development agenda also includes attracting private investment to improve educational infrastructure and student welfare.

During a meeting with Chief Dr Bishop Onyekachukwu Nzekwesi, chief executive officer of Pineleaf Estate and Properties, and his delegation, Azinge commended the company’s partnership with Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba.

The planned projects under the public-private partnership arrangement include undergraduate and postgraduate hostels, an event centre, recreational facilities, internal roads, drainage, street lighting, power infrastructure and water supply.

The monarch stressed that such investments should also benefit the host community through local employment, skills development and opportunities for indigenous businesses.

He urged companies operating in Asaba to embrace corporate social responsibility and contribute to the welfare of residents.

Nzekwesi said the visit was intended to brief the monarch on the university partnership and seek royal blessings for the projects.

Azinge assured the company of the community’s support, expressing optimism that the investment would benefit both the university and Asaba.

Asagba Seeks Stronger Police-Community Partnership

Security has also featured prominently in the monarch’s recent engagements.

During a courtesy visit by the newly deployed Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel Erale, Azinge commended the police chief’s intervention over security concerns around the Koka Flyover.

He called for stronger cooperation between the police, traditional institutions and community security structures, including the revival of a committee established to promote intelligence sharing and regular communication.

The monarch also raised concerns about vulnerable and destitute persons allegedly transported from other parts of the country and abandoned at locations including Koka Junction, Cable Point and Mile 5. He urged the police to investigate the circumstances and work with local security groups to address associated public safety concerns.

On land disputes, Azinge, a professor of law, cautioned against the criminalisation of civil and commercial disagreements, urging law enforcement authorities to distinguish genuine criminal offences from matters that should be resolved through civil proceedings.

E rale acknowledged the role of traditional institutions in maintaining peace and said the command had made progress in tackling cultism and drug-related offences.

He also disclosed that Koka Junction had been cleared of miscreants and destitute persons as part of efforts to restore order.

The discussions highlighted the importance of public cooperation, intelligence sharing and appropriate handling of disputes in building confidence in law enforcement.

Urban Renewal, Public Health Remain Priorities

Asaba’s physical appearance and public health have also featured in the monarch’s development drive.

The water fountain at Kanebisi Roundabout became fully operational on October 14, 2026, following a beautification project sponsored by Providus Bank.

The project forms part of efforts to improve the city’s appearance and create a more welcoming environment for residents and visitors.

Azinge’s broader vision includes sustaining improvements to public spaces through investment, maintenance and responsible urban management.

On public health, the monarch received Rotarian Chibueze Anthony Olikagu, District Governor of Rotary District 9141, and commended the organisation’s humanitarian work.

He urged Rotary to intensify its End Polio advocacy in hospitals across Delta State and Nigeria, expressing concern about the continued public health challenges posed by the disease.

Olikagu briefed the monarch on planned End Polio Week activities in Asaba and sought support for vaccination campaigns targeting eligible children aged zero to six years.

Azinge also questioned whether a one-year leadership tenure was sufficient to deliver substantial projects, suggesting that Rotary consider a longer term to strengthen continuity in planning and implementation.

The meeting underscored the importance of partnerships between traditional institutions and humanitarian organisations in promoting preventive healthcare.

Monarch Welcomes Rehabilitation of Niger Bridge Road

The Asagba has also highlighted the importance of regional infrastructure to Asaba’s economic prospects.

On October 15, 2026, the monarch, accompanied by palace chiefs, attended the reopening of the rehabilitated First Niger Bridge Road in Onitsha.

Speaking on behalf of Asaba Kingdom, he commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, for the intervention.

The bridge is a critical transport link between Delta and Anambra states, facilitating the movement of people, goods and services between the South-South and South-East.

According to the report, the rehabilitation included solar lighting, CCTV cameras, median barriers and security observation posts.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, also commended the intervention.

For Asaba, which lies on the western bank of the Niger, the bridge represents an important connection to markets, businesses and communities across the river.

Turning Development Vision Into Lasting Results

Across the different engagements, Azinge has sought to bring together public institutions, private investors, community leaders and civil society around shared development priorities.

His appeal for Asaba to host the AMVCA requires cooperation from entertainment practitioners and award organisers. The football club and marathon need sustainable financing, sound management and corporate partnerships, while university infrastructure projects must translate into functional facilities and opportunities for local residents.

Similarly, improvements in security depend on effective police-community relations, while youth leadership, public health and urban renewal require sustained participation from multiple stakeholders.

Since ascending the throne, the monarch has promoted educational infrastructure, health interventions, youth empowerment and urban beautification. Projects associated with the agenda include additional classrooms and solar facilities at Akwuose School, health support initiatives and a hospitality academy offering free training to Asaba indigenes since September 2026.

The beautification of Kanebisi Roundabout is another example of efforts to improve the city’s physical environment.

However, the long-term impact of these initiatives will depend on effective implementation, reliable funding, accountability and continuity beyond individual engagements.

Asaba has several advantages, including its status as Delta State’s capital, its strategic location along the Niger, its established role in Nollywood and the presence of educational institutions.

Harnessing these assets will require more than goodwill. It will depend on converting proposals into measurable improvements in employment, education, public safety, healthcare, tourism and business opportunities.

Ultimately, rebranding Asaba goes beyond changing its physical appearance or improving its public image. It requires strengthening the institutions, partnerships and economic opportunities that shape residents’ daily lives.

Through his engagements with actors, sports administrators, youth leaders, police officers, investors and humanitarian organisations, Asagba Azinge is using the influence of his throne to encourage collective action towards that goal.

The central challenge now is to turn that mobilisation into lasting results that make Asaba a safer, more attractive and economically vibrant city.