Security, skills, infrastructure and opportunity take centre stage under the 14th Asagba
By Joy Omagha Idam
Asaba is changing, and at the centre of that transformation is His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge, SAN, OON, the 14th Asagba of Asaba.
Since ascending the throne in 2024, Prof. Azinge has brought a distinctly development-focused approach to traditional leadership, placing security, youth empowerment, infrastructure, rehabilitation and economic opportunity high on his agenda.
His vision is simple but ambitious: build an Asaba where people feel safe, young people can earn a living, businesses can thrive and development benefits the people.
One major area of concern has been infrastructure. The Asagba recently commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s intervention on the deplorable Asaba-Benin Expressway, while also welcoming the ongoing rehabilitation of the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway.
For Asaba, better roads mean more than smoother journeys. They mean improved commerce, easier movement, stronger regional connections and greater opportunities for investment.
Security is another major pillar of the palace’s agenda.
Through the “Know Your Neighbour” philosophy and community-based security initiatives, the Asagba has encouraged residents and landlords to take greater responsibility for knowing who lives within their communities and reporting suspicious activities.
His concerns over neglected spaces, including the area beneath the Koka Flyover, further demonstrate his position that public infrastructure must not become a breeding ground for criminality.
But perhaps the most compelling dimension of the Azinge agenda is its emphasis on opportunity rather than punishment alone.
The palace’s collaboration with relevant agencies on drug rehabilitation, including support for the Asaba Drug Rehabilitation Centre, reflects an approach that sees substance abuse not only as a security problem but also as a human-development challenge requiring treatment, counselling and reintegration.
Then comes the Asaba Hospitality Academy, which is expected to commence training in September 2026.
The free programme will equip Asaba indigenes with practical skills in culinary arts, hospitality, event management, tourism, housekeeping, cosmetology, fashion and other related fields.
Explaining the vision, Prof. Azinge said:
“We want to prepare our youths to be gainfully employed in the blossoming hospitality industries that litter our landscape.”
That philosophy goes beyond vocational training. It is an investment in the future workforce of Asaba.
A skilled young person can secure employment, establish a business and eventually create jobs for others. In a rapidly expanding city, that can make a significant difference.
The broader picture is clear: security creates confidence; infrastructure drives commerce; skills create opportunity; rehabilitation restores lives; and partnerships turn ideas into sustainable action.
The Asagba cannot fix every challenge alone, nor does the palace control the highways, police, hospitals or national drug-control system. But through advocacy, mobilisation and partnerships, the traditional institution can influence how those challenges are addressed.
That may ultimately become one of the defining features of Azinge’s reign.
The real test, however, will be impact — safer communities, skilled and employed youths, successful rehabilitation, better infrastructure and stronger local participation in Asaba’s growing economy.
For now, the direction is unmistakable.
Asaba is rising, and the palace is increasingly speaking the language of the future.
The crown remains rooted in tradition, but the agenda is looking firmly ahead.