By Ukpa Ewa
The Anambra State Town Union Council Youth Wing (ASTUC Youth) has honoured ten role models from Awka North Local Government Area to promote responsible citizenship and the 12 core values of Onye Anambra.
The event, held on Oct. 18 at Agogu Primary School Field, Mgbakwu, attracted community leaders, youths and award recipients.
The President of ASTUC Youth, Comrade Ken Okoli, said Awka North was the 16th local government area visited under the organisation’s campaign to celebrate community role models and promote shared values.
Okoli said the initiative began on June 16, 2026, with the message that Ndi Anambra were the light of the nation. He said the ten awardees, drawn from ten communities, were recognised for their contributions and demonstration of the values being promoted.
He urged youths to spread the message across their communities and embrace responsible citizenship and transformative leadership. Okoli also presented the awardees with books inspired by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s vision for Anambra and called on them to meet every Aug. 27 to celebrate their contributions to the state’s development.
The Chairman of the occasion and President-General of Isuaniocha Community, Mr Ifeadi Afam, said the initiative aimed to promote good behaviour, moral discipline and positive conduct among youths while discouraging illicit drug use.
Afam urged the awardees to lead by example in education, business and politics, noting that young people looked up to them for guidance and inspiration.
He called on the role models to invest in youth development through skills training, provision of work materials and other opportunities to discourage social vices. He also urged the government to sustain grassroots programmes that would encourage youth participation in community development.
In his welcome address, the Youth Mayor of Awka North, Comrade Davidson Egwuonwu, described role models as pillars of society whose courage, hard work, integrity, perseverance and service to humanity could inspire younger generations.
Egwuonwu said the event went beyond an award presentation, urging youths to embrace positive values, acquire skills, pursue education and shun social vices.
One of the awardees, Chief Tony Onyeagolu, urged role models in Awka North to educate young people on respect for elders, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition. He warned against the dangers of hard drugs and commended ASTUC Youth for the initiative.
Onyeagolu also called for unity, teamwork and inclusiveness in promoting youth empowerment.
Mr Michael Mmadumelu, who represented Mr Chukwunonso Obichebe of Mgbakwu, said the award recognised Obichebe’s contributions to community development.
He cited Obichebe’s renovation of a classroom block at Central School, Mgbakwu, which had been in a dilapidated state for more than ten years, assistance with fencing Community Secondary School, Mgbakwu, and donation of two motorcycles to support community security operations.
Mmadumelu added that Obichebe had organised charity programmes for widows and orphans for more than five years, distributing rice and clothing. He said Obichebe was also partnering with the community to build nurses’ quarters at its health centre and had donated a duplex for use as a community hall.
He described the award as recognition of Obichebe’s sustained commitment to community development.
Ukpa Ewa is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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