Soludo Hails Ekwunife, Onunkwo, Umeadi As 2025 Anambra Community Role Models

Gloria Anaeze

Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo of Anambra State has congratulated Very Rev. Fr. Basil Ekwunife, HRM Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo, and High Chief Dr. Chinedu Umeadi on their emergence as the 2025 Anambra Community Role Models, honoured by the youth wing of the Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC).

The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, delivered the commendation on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at the ASTUC Secretariat, Old Government House, Awka, where he served as the Chief Guest of Honour.

Soludo praised the honourees for attaining success through legitimate, transparent, and hardworking ventures at a time when many resort to kidnapping, internet fraud, ritual practices, and other criminal shortcuts to wealth. He urged them to remain steadfast while encouraging Anambra youths to emulate their values and discipline.

He noted that the lives and achievements of the award recipients reflect the fourth pillar of his administration’s Solution Agenda—good governance and value reorientation.

Earlier, ASTUC Youth President General, Comrade Ken Okoli, explained that the selection process began in 2024, guided by the council’s core values, including fear of God, patriotism, self-reliance, discipline, truth, justice, community spirit, dignity of labour, tolerance, and love.

According to him, youth leaders across Anambra’s 179 communities nominated individuals who best embodied these principles.

The list was later streamlined to one representative per local government area, before final voting at the senatorial district level. High Chief Dr. Chinedu Umeadi emerged winner for Anambra Central, Very Rev. Fr. Basil Ekwunife for Anambra North, and HRM Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo for Anambra South.

Okoli, who congratulated the trio, said they stood out not only for excellence in their professional callings but also for philanthropy, humility, and commitment to community development.

Responding after receiving his plaque, Dr. Onunkwo—an APGA frontline contender in the August 2025 Anambra South senatorial by-election—commended ASTUC Youths for institutionalising value-based leadership recognition.

He pledged to sustain youth empowerment, scholarships, housing support for widows, and honest wealth creation.

Fr. Ekwunife encouraged young people to embrace diligence, reject quick-money temptations, and make productive use of available opportunities to curb crimes often linked to youths.

Represented by his younger brother, High Chief Umeadi promised to continue upholding the virtues and integrity that earned him the honour.