By Polycarp Ifeanyi
A member representing Onitsha South I Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Fred Chigozie Ezenwa, has congratulated the Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, on receiving the prestigious Anambra Person of the Decade award at the fifth edition of the Anambra Man of the Year (AMTY) Awards.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the award, Ezenwa described Archbishop Okeke as an exceptional spiritual leader and servant of God whose remarkable contributions to the Church and society made him deserving of the honour.
He said the award was a fitting recognition of the Archbishop’s outstanding achievements in evangelisation, education, healthcare, humanitarian services, youth development and socio-economic transformation.
“I thank God for this award bestowed on the Archbishop. It will encourage him to continue doing even more for humanity. I also commend him for his humility and dedication in the discharge of his responsibilities as Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese. He has performed exceptionally well,” Hon. Ezenwa said.
According to the lawmaker, Archbishop Okeke’s impact extends beyond the Church, noting that his contributions to the development of Anambra State and the well-being of its people have been immense.
Hon. Ezenwa also highlighted the Archbishop’s intervention at the Onitsha Correctional Centre, where he said Archbishop Okeke transformed the facility through the establishment of educational programmes and skills acquisition initiatives aimed at rehabilitating inmates.
He further recalled that shortly after his episcopal consecration, Archbishop Okeke fulfilled his promise to expand the Archdiocese by creating more parishes, making it easier for Catholic faithful to access places of worship.
The lawmaker also cited the establishment of Shanahan University as one of the Archbishop’s landmark achievements, noting that although the institution was established only a few years ago, it has already secured accreditation to offer programmes in Law, Medicine and other professional courses.
He further commended Archbishop Okeke for the establishment of Sapientia Radio and Television, alongside numerous other developmental projects that have positively impacted the Archdiocese and the wider society.
Hon. Ezenwa reaffirmed that the Archbishop’s visionary leadership, commitment to human development and dedication to the service of God and humanity have distinguished him as one of Anambra State’s most influential and respected leaders.
