By Cajetan Mmuta
Eminent personalities and entrepreneurs drawn from different professions and other fields of human endeavor have been honored with the Anambra Man of the Year 2021 awards for their outstanding contributions and selfless services towards the growth and development of the state, its people, and the country at large.
The award ceremony featured personalities from key sectors of the economy of the state and the nation, especially, in the areas of industry, politics, education, tourism, banking sector, entertainment industry, information communication technology (ICT), religion, and others.
The event held at the Stanel Some Awka the state capital coincided with the 30th anniversary of the creation of Anambra state and with the theme “The Next Anambra.”
This is as the federal government has assured of its resolve to deploy the best global practices in line with the policies and programs of the present administration in infrastructural development in the Southeast geo-political zone.
Managing director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, (NIWA), Chief George Moghalu stated this in his speech as the keynote speaker at the second edition of the Anambra Man of the year awards (for the year 2021).
Some of the awardees include the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate for the November 6 election in the state Chief Valentine Ozigbo (Anambra Man of the year), Chief Alexander Chika Okafor of Chikason Group Ltd (Anambra Man of the Year), the Deputy Managing director of Zenith Bank Plc Dr. Adaora Umeoji as Woman of the year, Rev. Dr. Edwin Obiora, (SAN) as Anambra Legal Person of the year, Alex Ejesieme (DAN), Mrs. Amaka Ezechiedo, Engr. Martin Agbii (Public Servant of the year), Nonso Okpala as the Rising Star/Inspiring Leader of the year, and many others.
They were specially recognized for their excellent services and roles in skills development, capacity building amongst youths, communities in the state, and the society at large.
However, the federal government said there was no going back in its determination to assist in making Anambra state reclaim its pride of place as the commercial hub of Africa considering its abundant economic and human potentials.
Moghalu pointed out that the government had broken the jinx of over 40 years of stagnation that trailed the waterways movement of batches from Onne Seaport to the Onitsha Anambra state end of the River Niger shortly after he assumed office as the helmsman of the authority.
He said the efforts were aimed at opening up the Southeast geo-political zone is its drive to advance the socio-economic and industrial benefits and growth of states and people as well as add to the nation’s gross domestic products, (GDP).
Moghalu stated that the government is working hard to link the country’s various ports with the collaboration of international bodies to boost trade, investments, and safer sea transportation among the other global nations in line with the best practices.
He said the event had allowed all the stakeholders to articulate the best vision of the state’s future and consider what needs to do to achieve that desired goals, adding that the state and its people are not where they ought to be.
According to him, “We have settled for politics that prioritizes personalities over institutions and a culture that elevates personal achievement over societal advancement. We have bought into the flawed idea that we can discard the rule of law and due process in government and still expect optimum outcomes.”
“We have allowed our state and our people to become caught up in the tyranny of low expectations that encourages us to set small goals and celebrate basic achievements. Worst of all, we have succumbed to the fallacy that the problems that bedevil us are beyond our collective capacity. This is where we are.”
“Now, to the question of where we ought to be; you see, Anambra state is a promise unfulfilled. We are a people of boundless capacity, with a history of excellence in every area of human endeavor. Our biggest challenge has always been the opportunity challenge: the absence of the social infrastructure necessary for individuals to achieve their highest ambitions.”
He posited that “the best vision of Anambra state’s future for me is that of a state where our children can dream big dreams and have the opportunity to achieve those dreams here at home and to the benefit of us all. And I believe that we can make this possible through the practice of principled politics.
The kind of politics that emphasizes caring for the sick, the afflicted; housing the homeless, and building ladders of opportunity that allow every citizen, regardless of the circumstance of birth, to achieve by the strength of their endeavors the best aspirations of the human spirit.”
He recommended the three critical pillars of education, economic opportunity, and rule of law for building a virile future of the people and the state, stressing that it requires us to invest in modernizing education infrastructure and to recruit, train, and adequately remunerate our teachers and determine that the goal of our education system must be to produce graduates who have the knowledge and confidence to write their destiny in an ever-changing world.”
He called for the restoration of the moral authority of government, and we do it by, amongst other things, modeling the best practices that allow people to believe that government can be a force for good in their lives.
Continuing, the NIWA boss said, “We have a responsibility to level the playing field by building the infrastructure of opportunity so that every person who chooses to work hard and play by the rules gets a fair chance to succeed for themselves and then contribute to the success of others who are coming up.
“We cannot do any of these things for as long as we practice a myopic politics focused on pursuing short-term gains, personal enrichment, and the service of ambition for its own sake. Whereas politics ought to be a means to achieving progress and more just society, in Anambra state, it has become the exclusive preserve of merchant politicians trading the common good for private profit.”
“Most troubling of all, a new generation of younger politicians are emerging who have known no other style of politics and believe that this desperate and depraved style of politics is the only way there is. A politics rooted in the corruption of due process and the violation of the rights of people can never yield any good outcome.”
He said, “Umu nm Ndi Anambra, our future is not set in stone. It is the product of our decisions today and the priorities we pursue together as one people. We have it in our power to build for ourselves and our children a state that is at peace, where people can dream big dreams and achieve grand ambitions by the effort of their hands and the grace of the Almighty God.”
“Our state and country are only ultimately doomed when all of us stop trying to make it work. As long as there are men and women of good conscience and evident ability thinking about solutions to our problems and working to implement those solutions in the areas where they can, there is hope for Anambra state, and there is hope for Nigeria.
Chairman of the passion Major General A. E. Ejemba (rtd) said the award would encourage Anambra youths to work hard and become responsible in the future stating that becoming a responsible man means to work hard and to be a model.
He barked the need for wealthy and prospecting citizens to invest at home to bolster the growth and development of the state and the geopolitical zone.
We are, on one hand, an Anambra, the ‘Home of the Most Billionaires in Nigeria’, but on the other hand, we are also home to thousands of out-of-school children. We are Anambra, the land of a proud and prosperous people, we are also the land where a sad majority of our women cannot access the vital healthcare they need to stay alive when they are pregnant.
Chief Valentine Ozigbo said, “We are Anambra, the home of the globally celebrated business tycoons, doctors, academics, professors, world champions; we are also a hotbed for criminal behavior because we have a youth population stripped of their dreams, their hopes, and their belief in self because of the lack of opportunity.”
He stated that “It is this tragic paradox, the gaping gap between our reality and our potential. The divergence between our dreams and our achievements. The contrast between our limitless possibilities and our present state.
It is the tragic paradox of what is Anambra of our dreams and the present-day Anambra that pulled me into politics. It is what led to my joining the race for governor of our dear state.”
According to him “political power is not a means in itself, but a platform to use in changing the lives of our people positively. We thank God for the race we ran for governor and the outcome of the election.”
He said, “As long as the tragedies of poor leadership remain, I will not give up on Anambra or my people. I will continue to do what is necessary to raise the political consciousness of our people, to raise our people to a new mind, to do what is necessary to correct the errors of the past, and to open the doors to a brand new future of enormous possibilities. Ka Anambra Chawapu.”
On his part, the convener of the event and managing director of TourNigeria Communications, Chief Chikezie Chiedu in his welcome address said the Anambra Man of the year award was conceptualized to celebrate the outstanding feats by individuals, brands, and corporate organizations and as a medium to inspire the society, encourage hard work, industry, and excellence.
Chief Chikezie explained that “These are important because it affords our youngsters a platform to spot the kind of role model they need to emulate if they want to reach for the stars in different areas of human endeavor.”
He noted that the state is blessed with abundant natural resources of gas, crude oil, bauxite and ceramics, one hundred percent arable soil; a GDP of $10 billion, and a per capita income of about 2, 000 dollars and which prides itself as the commercial hub of the country.
He said, “Beyond natural resources, trade and commerce, Anambra state parades the most celebrated and vast human resources and as a home to the legendry personalities such as Chinua Achebe, literary icon- Chimamanda Adichie, Francis Cardinal Arinze, Nwafor Orizu, Nigeria’s first president- Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first auto manufacturer- Innocent Chukwuma, Cosmas Maduka, Malison Ukatu – the first local manufacturer of tiles in Nigeria, the Nollywood icon- Pete Edochie, John Mikel Obi, Chukwuemeka Anyaoku- the first black man to head the commonwealth, Peter Obi, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Louis Ojukwu- the first Nigerian millionaire
Other is Dr. Alexander Chika Okafor- Anambra’s biggest employer of labor and Prof Stella Okunna, the first female professor of mass communication in Africa, and several others.
He lauded the awardees for the positive impact made by these individuals and brands for the year 2021, describing it as most profound, adding that they shouldn’t rest on their oars but strive to surpass their standards with great efforts.
He stated that what best represents the Next Anambra must be seen from the fact that “Ndi Anambra have done exceedingly well in their private capacity in various fields of human endeavor. However, this has not particularly translated to the light of the nation, while it is important to acknowledge the numerous achievements, economic growth, massive real-estate development and many more in the past 30 years.’
He wondered why the state that controls over 60% of the county’s transportation and logistics sector and other key areas still struggles with a very functional transportation system in their state.
According to him, “There is so much work to be done. The next Anambra should be a reflection of innovative ideas, a functional and efficient society, sustainable economic growth, and vast economic opportunity for young people.”
