Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, will conclude its annual press week with a grand ceremony on Thursday, August 28, 2025, during which it will honour several distinguished individuals.
The event, which marks the climax of the weeklong activities that began on August 7, will see Architect Okechukwu Ezeobi receive the prestigious 2025 NUJ Man of the Year Award.
Ezeobi, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State Bureau of Public Procurement, is a renowned humanist and philanthropist. He follows in the footsteps of past recipients, including Dr. Anthony Chinedu Umeadi (2024), HRM Igwe Alex Onyido (2023), and Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji (2022).
In addition, the NUJ will celebrate several other personalities for their contributions to society. Among them is Princess Dr. Jessie Ifeoma Udoka, Founder and CEO of Queentovah Helping Services and Queentovah Cares Foundation, who will be named the 2025 NUJ Anambra Philanthropist of the 21st Century. Hon. Ikechukwu Okafor, CEO of Prince Iyke Construction Company, will receive the NUJ Anambra Most Inspiring Youth Leader Award, 2025; while Hon. Dr. ThankGod Chibuike Anago, Mayor of Awka North LGA, will be honoured as the NUJ Anambra Most Outstanding Mayor of the Year, 2025.
Others to be honoured include Dr. Nelson Obinna Omenugha, Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Empowerment, who will receive the Most Outstanding Youth Leader of the Year Award; High Chief Emenike Anthony Nwakaeze, former President-General of Awba Ofemili Town Union, who will be decorated with the 2025 Outstanding Community Service Award; as well as the winners of the NUJ indoor games held on Wednesday, August 27, and the club that won the Novelty Match held on August 25.
The 2025 Winner of the Professor Chinyere Stella Okunna Award for Ethical Journalism will receive N150,000, while the second and third runners-up will go home with N50,000 and N30,000, respectively.
The award ceremony will take place at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Awka, starting at 10 a.m. The event will be chaired by Chief Primus Odili, while the Governor’s wife and Founder of Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, Dr. Nonye Soludo, will deliver a keynote address.
The event, themed “The Media and Our State Anambra: Reportage in Election Year,” will feature Professor Angela Nkiru Nwammuo, Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Anambra State Chapter, as guest speaker.
The Chief Host and NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, along with other national and zonal leaders, will welcome the Guest of Honour, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo.
