AWKA — The Anambra State Town Union Council (ASTUC) Youth Wing has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining its Community Role Model Awards as a lifetime recognition, with plans to establish a platform that will maintain engagement with award recipients and promote the values underpinning the initiative.
The ASTUC Youth President, Comrade Ken Okoli, disclosed this during an award ceremony held at the Idemili South Local Government Area secretariat, where distinguished individuals from the council area were honoured for their contributions to community development.
Okoli explained that although the organisation would not subject recipients to daily monitoring, it intended to maintain contact with them, celebrate their achievements and investigate any reports of conduct that might contradict the values the award represents.
“The award is for a lifetime,” he said, stressing that any adverse reports concerning recipients would be carefully investigated before the organisation took appropriate action.
He further disclosed that ASTUC Youth planned to establish a platform for community role models across Anambra State to sustain the initiative, strengthen relationships among awardees and encourage them to uphold positive values.
According to him, the youth organisation has also prepared a bill for which it is seeking legislative sponsorship. The proposed legislation is aimed at promoting core values, encouraging responsible citizenship and providing a framework for institutionalising community role models across the state.
Okoli emphasised that sustaining an initiative was as important as establishing it, assuring that the award scheme would be reviewed and improved annually to enhance its impact on society.
He expressed optimism that the recognition would inspire young people to embrace positive values, contribute meaningfully to community development and aspire to become role models in their respective communities.
On the debate surrounding youth participation and the 18-to-35-year age bracket, Okoli said the organisation was studying the issue and would adopt a collective position after consultations with its members.
He disclosed that ASTUC Youth had visited the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, to present its position on the House’s motion concerning the age classification of youths.
He said the organisation would not rush into making a formal declaration without first consulting its members and adopting a collective resolution.
According to Okoli, ASTUC Youth operates a leadership structure across Anambra State’s 179 communities and is guided by its 2023 bye-law, which was developed by community youth leaders.
He also described the proposed legal formalisation of community governance as an opportunity to strengthen grassroots administration. He envisaged a framework under which traditional rulers, presidents-general, women leaders and youth leaders would have clearly defined responsibilities backed by law.
Okoli said a legally recognised community government could serve as an additional tier of administration alongside the federal, state and local governments, provided its functions, operational framework and funding arrangements were clearly defined.
The chairman of the occasion and former Idemili South Local Government chairman, Hon. Ifeanyi Anakuba, described the council area as a centre of empowerment, noting that the ceremony offered an opportunity to celebrate individuals whose achievements and contributions could serve as inspiration to others.
Anakuba urged young people to learn from the lives of the award recipients, observing that youths were often associated with violence and restiveness. He said recognising individuals who demonstrated exemplary conduct could encourage greater responsibility and positive engagement among young people.
He noted that young people remained in their productive years and could benefit from the experience and achievements of the honourees. He cited the immediate past chairman of Idemili South, Amaka Obi, as an example of a leader who consistently explored ways to create employment opportunities for youths.
The former council chairman also reminded youth leaders that their conduct could influence younger generations and help shape the future of their communities.
Those honoured at the ceremony were Mr. Chinedu Okonkwo of Ojoto; Chief Emeka Okonkwo of Awka-Etiti; Chief Chidi Ogbuefi of Alor; Engr. Nwamara Joackin of Nnokwa; Chief Ifeanyi Onwupenata of Oba; Mr. Boniface Chukwu of Akwu-Ukwu; Chief Ogochukwu Chukwuneke of Nnobi; and Chief Ikenna Iyiegbu of Oba.
The ceremony formed part of ASTUC Youth’s broader initiative to identify and honour individuals whose contributions to their communities can inspire responsible citizenship, promote positive values and encourage young people to play active roles in community development.