The Member representing Onitsha South I Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Fred Chigozie Ezenwa, has congratulated the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, on his recognition as Anambra Person of the Decade at the fifth edition of the Anambra Man of the Year (AMTY) Awards.
Speaking with journalists after the award ceremony, Ezenwa described Archbishop Okeke as an outstanding spiritual leader whose selfless service to the Church and society has earned him widespread admiration and respect.
According to the lawmaker, the honour is a well-deserved recognition of the Archbishop’s exceptional contributions to evangelisation, education, healthcare, humanitarian services, youth development and socio-economic advancement in Anambra State and beyond.
Ezenwa said the award would serve as an encouragement for the Archbishop to continue his commitment to serving humanity.
“I thank God for this honour bestowed on the Archbishop. It will inspire him to continue doing even more for humanity. I also commend his humility, dedication and exemplary leadership in the administration of the Onitsha Archdiocese,” he said.
He noted that Archbishop Okeke’s influence extends beyond religious activities, stressing that his developmental initiatives have positively impacted countless lives across the state.
The lawmaker highlighted the Archbishop’s efforts in promoting education, healthcare, spiritual renewal, youth formation and humanitarian programmes, describing them as key factors that earned him the prestigious recognition.
Ezenwa also praised Archbishop Okeke’s intervention at the Onitsha Correctional Centre, where educational and skills acquisition programmes were introduced to equip inmates with vocational skills and aid their rehabilitation.
He further recalled that shortly after becoming Archbishop, Okeke fulfilled his pledge to establish more parishes across the Archdiocese, making Catholic churches more accessible to worshippers in different communities.
The legislator equally described the establishment of Shanahan University as one of the Archbishop’s landmark achievements, noting that the institution has already secured accreditation for programmes including Law, Medicine and other professional courses despite being relatively new.
He also commended the founding of Sapientia Radio and Television, as well as several other projects initiated under the Archbishop’s leadership.
Ezenwa concluded that Archbishop Okeke’s visionary leadership, commitment to human development and unwavering service to God and humanity have distinguished him as one of Anambra State’s most influential and respected leaders, making him a worthy recipient of the Anambra Person of the Decade award.
