By Michael Nnebife
The Anambra State Town Union Council, ASTUC, Youth Wing, has honoured the Vice Chancellor and Health Coordinator, Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese, Rev Fr Dr Basil Ekwunife, alongside two other prominent personalities of the state, High Chief Dr Chinedu Umeadi and Dr Ebuka Onunkwo, as its Mega Star Role Models for 2025.
The ceremony, held on Saturday, November 22, at the ASTUC Secretariat in the state’s Old Government House, Awka, attracted the presence of the state Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, traditional rulers, community leaders and youth delegates from all the 179 communities of the state.
The ASTUC Youth President-General, Comrade Ken Okoli, explained that the Role Models initiative aimed to promote excellence, rebuild moral standards and inspire responsible leadership across Anambra.
The President General noted that the selection process for the initiative began in 2024 as part of efforts to spotlight individuals who embodied principles such as honesty, patriotism, hard work, justice, tolerance, community service and reverence for God and humanity.
He said that each of the 179 communities was asked to nominate one person whose lifestyle reflected those values.
‘This list was later reduced to one representative per local government area, before youth delegates from the three senatorial districts elected one representative for each zone.
‘Those finally selected were: High Chief (Dr) Chinedu Umeadi, for Anambra Central; Very Rev Fr Dr Basil Ekwunife, for Anambra North, and Dr Ebuka Onunkwo, for Anambra South,’ Comrade Okoli said.
He praised the three honourees as individuals whose records of service, humility and discipline stood out and urged young people to draw lessons from their examples of hard work, generosity and integrity.
The State Governor, represented by the State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, commended the Anambra Youth for choosing people who built their success through diligence rather than criminal shortcuts.
The Governor stressed that at a time when some youths embraced fraud, ritual practices and other harmful paths, it was crucial to highlight those who had achieved progress through honourable means.
He encouraged the recipients to stay true to the values that earned them the recognition, and urged young people across the state to emulate what he described as the admirable qualities that set Rev Fr Ekwunife, Chief Umeadi and Chief Onunkwo apart, adding that their conducts reflected the fourth pillar of his Solution Agenda, which, he said, sought to strengthen values and promote good governance.
Responding, Fr Ekwunife, widely regarded as a model of integrity, discipline and innovation, reiterated the need for youths to avoid get-rich-quick temptations.
The Catholic priest maintained that hard work was the only reliable route to success, adding that many vices, such as kidnapping and ritual activities, would reduce if young people embraced honest effort and made good use of available opportunities.
He expressed gratitude to the youth for the honour, and noted that investing in the youth was investing in the state’s future.
For his part, Chief Onunkwo, a businessman, philanthropist and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, frontline aspirant for the 2025 Anambra South Senatorial by-election, also thanked the youth for the honour.
Onunkwo said the recognition would motivate him to continue supporting young people through employment opportunities, scholarships, widows’ assistance and other charitable interventions.
He encouraged the public to treat every opportunity as a platform to uplift others.
Also, Chief Umeadi, represented by his brother, expressed gratitude to the youths for recognizing his contributions, particularly in education.
Noting that many people worked quietly without seeking attention, Umeadi said the award served as a reminder that meaningful efforts did not go unnoticed.
He encouraged citizens to become the change they desired, emphasizing that true progress began with personal responsibility.
