Onunkwo, Nwachukwu, others Bag Anambra Community Youth Dev’t Award

By Lawrence Nwimo, Awka 

Awka, the capital city of Anambra State was agog yesterday as the Youth wing of the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) bestowed awards to deserving individuals for their varying contributions to community development.

The event was held at the Prof Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, drawing youthful stakeholders from nooks and crannies of communities that make-up the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.

Former governorship aspirants, Johnbosco Onunkwo, High Chief Chinedu Umeadi; a former House of Representatives aspirant, Dr Amaechi Nwachukwu; Chief Poly Emenike, and Rev Fr. Emmanuel Obimma popularly known as Fr Ebube Muonso were all honoured as ASATU Star Role Models.

Also conferred the awards were Nnamdi Okonkwo, Bar Emmanuel Chibuzor, Orumili Ibegbu, Winston Eqwuatu, Sir Amobi Ogum, Chief Ifeanyi Ekwulugwo, Sir Ambrose Orjiako, Pharm Chibueze Ezeukwu, and High Chief Izuchukwu Ozo.

Others are HRM Dr Chukwuebuka Onunkwo, High Chief Jimmartins Nwabueze, Rev Dr Basil Ekwunife, High Chief Christopher Ndubuisi, Chief Sir David Nwankwo, Sir Ikenna Okafor,  High Chief Chukwudi Obiorah and Chief Franklin Okeke, respectively.

Speaking during the awards ceremony, President General of ASATU Youths, Comrade Ken Okoli, said the recognition was to appreciate the individuals for their voluntary contributions to community development.

“ASATU youths introduced the Anambra community youth development award to celebrate our role models. We embarked on this journey in 2023 when we found the need to deepen the value system as articles of faith that will guide us in the Anambra development project.

“The awardees are faces we use to symbolize the values. They are people who have distinguished themselves in community development activities. Not those who we are not sure of their source of wealth. They have been voluntarily doing good work without asking for rewards. 

“In order to appreciate these individuals, we have decided that every year, we single out one person from each community to honour and celebrate. Recipients of such awards will become ASATU Youths Patrons and Patronesses as well as recognized as role models and icons of hope to the youths.

“From the 179 communities that make up Anambra, we selected 179 persons as community role models while at the local government level, 21 individuals were nominated for recognition as Star Role Models.”

Noting that the entire selection process was purely on merit Okoli explained that the 179 models were nominated by the 179 communities, while the 21 Star Role Models were nominated by a screening committee. 

He said the annual event is geared towards promoting peace, progress and security of various communities in the state to be coordinated at various 21 LGAs of the state and supervised at the 3 Senatorial zones of the state.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth wing who chaired the occasion, commended ASATU for the historic event. He said the initiative will revive the value of role models, moving away from the current trend of conferring titles primarily motivated by money. 

On his own, President General of ASATU, Barr Titus Akpudo, emphasized the importance of recognizing individuals who contribute to the development of their communities. According to him, the awardees selected are those who have made significant impacts in their communities, and inspire the youth to emulate their good deeds.

Akpudo also stressed the need for collective responsibility in addressing issues such as security and electing good leaders. He commended the governor’s efforts in moving the state forward and urged everyone to work together to make the state livable and prosperous. 

Reacting after receiving their awards, Dr Amaechi Nwachukwu, a medical practitioner; and Chief Johnbosco Onunkwo said the recognition will motivate them to contribute more to the development of their communities.

Highpoints of the event was the unveiling of the compendium, award presentations and cultural display, among others.