By Izunna Okafor, Awka
It was a moment of enlightenment, reawakening, and renewed sense of purpose in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, on Thursday, as youth leaders from various communities across the state converged for the maiden edition of their leadership training workshop.
Held at the ASATU Hall, Government House, Awka, the two-day capacity-building event, themed “The Role of ASATU Youth in Deepening and Consolidating Leadership, Security, Governance and Value System for Community Development in Line with the Solution Agenda of the Soludo Administration”, was organized by the Anambra State Association of Town Union Youth Wing (ASATU Youth), in collaboration with the Office of the Accountant-General of Local Government and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Awka. The workshop also received strategic institutional backing from the State Ministry of Youth Development, as well as the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs.
Declaring the event open, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, described the workshop as timely and apt, especially given the growing need to strengthen leadership values at the grassroots. He harped on the virtue of integrity as a non-negotiable hallmark of true leadership, which, according to him, means “doing the right thing even when no one is watching.”
Dr. Ibezim emphasized the necessity for youth leaders to be self-driven and to uphold moral standards even in an environment that may not always reward uprightness. He encouraged them to consciously model ethical behavior and civic responsibility, stressing that transformational change begins with individuals making the right choices, regardless of public attention.
The Deputy Governor also highlighted numerous ongoing reforms and projects of the Soludo administration across sectors, despite lean resources and prevailing economic difficulties. He echoed the Governor’s sentiment that “even if just 5 percent of the people key into the ongoing transformation, the ripple effect will be overwhelming.” He conclusively urged the youths to align with government efforts and contribute their quota as agents of progress within their respective communities.
On his part, the State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, hailed Governor Soludo for his unwavering support for youth development and empowerment through several dedicated initiatives, especially those driven by his Ministry.
He noted that the Governor’s youth-centered programs — such as the flagship ‘One Youth, Two Skills’, the Solution Innovation District (SID), and others — have greatly helped in curbing restiveness, discouraging criminality, and fostering self-reliance among the youths. According to him, “Governor Soludo has proved to be intentional about youth development in Anambra State, and what the Governor cannot do for Anambra youths is obviously not within the reach of government.”
Hon. Agha Mba advised the youth leaders to embrace continuous mentorship and knowledge-seeking as a foundation for impactful leadership. He stressed the need for them to prioritize mentorship, consult with community elders, professionals, and relevant institutions to enhance their service delivery and also be independent and self-sufficient even to the point of being able to champion their own cause. While also stressing that charity begins at home, he further encouraged them to domesticate and internalize the ASATU Youth Shared Values within their communities and be true ambassadors of their hometowns by proudly wearing their community youth kits, rather than always donning ASATU attire, which is symbolic of the state body.
Recalling his journey from being an ASATU Youth President to Council Chairman and now a Commissioner, Hon. Agha Mba reaffirmed his belief in the capacity of Anambra youths to rise to greatness, provided they remain focused, responsible, and positive-minded.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President General of ASATU Youth, Comrade Ken Okoli, described the workshop as a long-anticipated milestone aimed at repositioning youth leadership in the state through robust training, orientation, and resource exposure. He urged participants to leverage the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge, deepen their community engagements, and raise their leadership effectiveness.
Highlighting the five cardinal pillars of the Soludo administration, Comrade Okoli noted that the ASATU Youths had already taken the lead in championing the first pillar —security, law and order—at the grassroots level. He reassured participants of the readiness of ASATU Youth to continue driving development, security, and civic reorientation in alignment with the Solution agenda.
On his part, the Anambra State Commissioner for Lands, Prof. Offornze Amucheazi (SAN), who spoke on “The Land Use Act and Other Relevant State Laws That Regulate Land Administration and the Role of Community Youths in Protecting Communal Land for Peaceful Co-Existence and Progress of the State”, unpacked the provisions of the Land Use Act and expounded on Governor Soludo’s deliberate efforts to digitize, sanitize and reposition land administration in Anambra State for maximum transparency and efficiency. He enumerated recent achievements under his Ministry, including digital land registration, structured land acquisition processes, and the elimination of racketeering.
Prof. Amucheazi, however, decried the growing trend where some misguided community youths are increasingly becoming agents of land speculation and profiteering — selling communal lands for quick gains, frustrating industrial development, and resisting government-approved developmental projects due to selfish demands for “settlements.”
“Such culture of short-sightedness and land monetization is alien to Anambra’s heritage and must be curbed,” he warned, lamenting that such unhealthy habit of demanding monetary ‘settlements’ from developers or resisting industrial projects often contradicts the long-term interests of the communities, drive away investors and stall community development. He emphasized that the youth leaders have a critical role to play in preserving communal lands, educating their peers, promoting peaceful co-existence, and safeguarding their community’s future against avoidable land disputes.
Prof. Amucheazi also noted that the Soludo administration’s “One Youth, Two Skills” program was created not only to empower the youths economically, but also to redirect their energy from destructive tendencies such as land tussles, to constructive and self-sufficient livelihoods. He urged the youth leaders to ensure that masterplans are followed, and to join in monitoring and enforcement activities in their localities, warning that any deviation from sustainable land governance would ultimately hit back at the youth themselves, more than anyone else.
“We should collaborate to ensure that our land is judiciously used, and also play active roles in sensitization, monitoring, and enforcement,” he said, urging the youth leaders to support the Governor’s efforts and avoid being lured by temporary financial gratification.
In a goodwill message, the President of the Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC), Sir Vin Dike, who spoke on “The Position and Role of Presidents-General in Community Development vis-à-vis the Igwe, Women Leaders, and Youth Leaders,” urged them to remain adaptive and resilient, noting that leadership success requires leaving good legacies that outlive one’s tenure. He further urged them to endeavour to carry everyone along in the youth leadership of their various communities.
Earlier delivering a keynote lecture titled “The Key Roles of Citizenship Institutions in Building a Society for the Common Good,” the Majority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly and member representing Anaocha II Constituency, Hon. Sir Ejike Okechukwu, dissected the theme of the event and defined citizenship institutions as organized structures that regulate and promote civic participation, protect citizens’ rights, and nurture community belonging.
He challenged the youth leaders to individually and collectively examine their contributions to society, further urging them to start impacting their communities intentionally, as youth leadership is a direct extension of civic responsibility.
Other key speakers at the event included Social Development Specialist, Hon. Chudi Mojekwu, who delivered a paper on “Community Development: Prospects and Challenges”; the Accountant-General of the Local Government, Dr. Nneoma Geraldine Nwogbo; Area Manager of ITF, Awka, Mrs. Ekwurike Gloria; the Leader of Civil Society Organizations in Anambra, Prince Chris Azor; and the pioneer PG of ASATU Youth, Hon. Osita Ozereagba, among others.
