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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Luck smiled on a physically challenged woman who won a Venza car on the purchase of a raffle ticket at the Ogidi Building Materials International Market, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The President General (PG) of the market, Chief Jude Nwankwo, who made the disclosure to newsmen on Monday as part of activities marking the end-of-year programme of the biggest building materials market in Anambra, said this was not the first time someone had won a car in the market, adding that “this year 2025 alone, more than 50 people have won cars and other mouth-watering gift items in the market.
“For the two tenures (eight years) and one year as caretaker, making my stay nine years, people have won more than 300 cars in this market and we design the programme to assist people.
“Just like in our land estate programme, we have enriched most of our members. The estate programme is designed also in such a way that non-members purchase a plot of land at ₦1.5 million while members purchase at ₦1 million. So if a member brings a non-member to buy land, that ₦500,000 that makes it ₦1.5 million automatically goes to the member that brings him and in so doing some members bring as many non-members as possible, thereby making their millions,” he stated.
Chief Nwankwo, who was the former treasurer of the market for eight years, expressed satisfaction that his administration was able to enrich most of the traders who are presently landlords, car and shop owners.
“The market women are not left out. I bought plots of land for the women and presented them with bags of rice and cash to celebrate the Yuletide.
“After my second tenure, the traders wanted me to continue but I have told them that after serving as the caretaker committee head, which I have stayed for one year now, that I will not return as elected chairman so that others should be given opportunity to serve.”
Nwankwo disclosed that today peace has been restored in the market and the opposition has embraced peace having seen the achievements recorded.
“During our crisis time there was no place we did not get to—courts, different police formations, and military facilities, among others—over power tussle.
“We have 4,250 plots of land at Ukuru Awkuzu and Nando-Awkuzu area, 350 given out and more than ₦1 billion given to members through estate revenue generation.
“To mark the end of this year ₦500,000 was shared to 50 indigent people, excluding the amount of money I personally gave out.
“What we realised from raffle draw, ₦350,000, I added my personal money and gave out to more of the needy,” he further explained.
