By Jude Atupulazi
Architect Okey Ezeobi, has been nominated as the 2025 Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra Council Man of the Year Award. This came after a painstaking external and internal selection process involving many others.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “The Media and Our State, Anambra: Reportage in Election Year”. The keynote speech will be delivered by the First Lady of Anambra State and Founder of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, Dr Mrs. Nonye Soludo.
The Guest Speaker is Prof Angela Nkiru Nwammuo, Member, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Governing Council and Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations Anambra State Chapter.
Some discussants expected to elaborate on the theme to reflect the mood of the state ahead of the Gubernatorial Election include: Hon. Sly Ezeokenwa, National Chairman, APGA; Christopher Molokwu, MD/CEO ABS Radio and TV Awka; as well as Rev. Fr. Dr Francis Michael Okechukwu Enyosiobi, Parish Priest, St Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, Awka.
The Man of the Year winner, Arch. Okey Ezeobi, is the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Bureau of Public Procurement. Before assuming public office, he was the Chairman, Dwellins International Ltd, an architectural firm.
Since the coming on board of Comrade Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu-led Administration in NUJ Anambra State Council, prominent personalities who have won the Man of the year Award are: Dame Dr. Ada Umeoji, MD/CEO Zenith Bank (2022 NUJ Anambra Woman of the Year);
HRH Igwe Pharm. Alex Uzo Onyido, the traditional ruler of Ogidi kingdom (NUJ Anambra Man of the Year, 2023).
The reigning Man of the Year is Dr Anthony Chinedu Umeadi, a renowned Canada based medical practitioner, who emerged the winner in the 2024 NUJ Anambra Man of the Year edition.
Dr Umeadi will hand over the reins to Arch. Okey Ezeobi who emerged winner of the 2025 NUJ Anambra Man of the Year Award on Thursday, 28th August, 2025.
Winners of other NUJ Awards for 2025 in other categories are: Princess Dr. Jessie Ifeoma Udoka, Founder, CEO, Queentovah Helping Services and Queentovah Cares Foundation, winner, 2025 NUJ Anambra Philanthropist of the 21st Century Award; Hon. Ikechukwu Okafor, CEO, Prince Iyke Construction Company, winner, NUJ Anambra Most Inspiring Youth Leader Award, 2025; HRM Dr. Ebuka Onunkwo, Chairman/CEO, Seahorse Lubricants Industries Ltd., winner, 2025 NUJ Anambra Humanitarian Personality of the Decade; High Chief Dr. Prince Uche Oduche, CEO/Founder, Life is Faith Motors Ltd, Udemezue Oil and Gas, Prince Empire and Properties, winner, NUJ Anambra Businessman of the Year, 2025.
Others are; Hon. Dr. ThankGod Chibuike Anago (Mayor, Awka North LGA), winner, NUJ Anambra Most Outstanding Mayor of the Year, 2025; Right Hon. Chukwuma Pius Okoye, Deputy Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, winner, NUJ Anambra Outstanding Legislator of the Year, 2025.
According to a statement from the organizers as signed by the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Anambra State Council, Comrade Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, JP, the NUJ Anambra Man of the Year Awards is the biggest award ceremony of any organized Union in not only Anambra and South East but in Nigeria.
Comrade Odogwu congratulated the winners for their outstanding performance in the external and internal selection process and urged them to continue in the service of humanity with their talent and treasures as the essence of the award was to recognize their good deeds and encourage them to do more for humanity.
He announced that the award ceremony would hold on the grand finale of the 2025 NUJ Anambra Press Week activities on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the International Convention Centre, ICC, Awka.
The Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, is expected to declare the event open, while the former Chief of Staff to former Governor Willie Obiano, Chief Primus Odili, will chair the event.
The Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Somtoochukwu Udeze, and other lawmakers; captains of industry, government officials; Chief Judge of the state; other judges and businessmen; as well as Union leaders across the country, are expected to grace the event in grand style.
The Commissioner for Information, Anambra State, Hon Law Mefor, PhD, will be the special guest at the event.
Odogwu said the Nigeria Union of Journalists was in a celebration mood owing to its 70th Anniversary, termed Platinum Jubilee.
‘The Anambra State Council of the NUJ is thus celebrating this year’s awards ceremony as Platinum Man of the Year Awards,’ Odogwu stated, adding that the annual Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna Award on ‘Ethical Journalism’ would be part of the highlights of the occasion.
The National President of the NUJ, Comrade Yahaya Alhassan, and the National Secretary of the NUJ, Comrade Achike Chude, are also expected to lead other Union leaders to the event; while the Anambra State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Humphrey Emeka Nwafor, will lead Labour leaders to the event in which Comrade Nwafor is expected to give a goodwill message.
