When Giving Becomes a Calling, The Story of Nonye Soludo

First Lady of Anambra State Nonye Soludo

By Daniel Ezeigwe

Let me begin by clarifying that this piece is not intended to offer undue patronage or propagate emotional or sentimental views. You are about to engage with an argument grounded in verifiable facts. Critique it,by all means but with facts.

We live in a society where doubt and distrust have regrettably become embedded in public service. These feelings are cold,worse still when political discussions arise. The painful truth is that a deep, almost instinctual distrust exists between the people and those who govern them. So much so that anyone in a position of political influence is rarely trusted to exhibit complete honesty, accountability, or transparency. That’s how dire the situation has become, particularly in Nigeria, where public accountability is often disregarded and wrongdoing routinely overlooked.

In today’s Nigerian political landscape, we are plagued by a culture in which public officials, entrusted with the collective wealth, boldly privatize not only the resources but the very systems and narratives that govern their distribution. In such a climate, it becomes exceedingly rare,almost unthinkable to encounter someone, not necessarily a politician, who is given a responsibility to serve and actually fulfills that responsibility in full.

Yet, in my not-so-young lifetime, I have encountered one such person. Her name is Dr. (Mrs.) Nonye Soludo, the wife of the Governor of Anambra State. I’ve worked under the leadership of two governors’ wives in Anambra one in the immediate past administration (though from a less involved position), and now, in the current administration. I am also well-read on the public lives of other First Ladies who came before them.

But it is my firsthand experience with these two First Ladies that has significantly shaped my worldview on the role of governors’ wives in governance. True, life gives different people different strokes, but I prefer to root my opinions in what is right and progressive. And by any measure be it character, composure, performance, or service delivery,Nonye Soludo, without question, stands out as the best First Lady in the history of Anambra State. Yes, I know eight years haven’t passed. Set that aside.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo has now been in office for over three years. His wife, who began her public role as a relatively understated figure, has risen to such prominence that political analysts are already projecting a higher political career for her. Yet, she remains grounded, exuding an aura of simplicity and authenticity. This sincerity has perhaps earned her a rare bond with Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, who despite political differences holds Nonye Soludo as one of the most trusted and admired members in her circle.

Nonye Soludo’s affability is innate, but it is her ability to transcend controversy and defy the negative stereotypes associated with First Ladies that truly sets her apart. Among her most exceptional virtues is honesty a trait that often invites dislike in a political environment conditioned to favor sycophancy, evasion, and half-truths. She addresses issues directly, without recourse to manipulative patronage. It doesn’t matter if you gave her the world a minute ago truth, for her, remains truth.

She attributes this unwavering integrity to her late mother a respected teacher and disciplinarian. Perhaps it explains her conscious detachment from politics and preference for roles centered around family and business.

Earlier this year on February 27, 2025,Mrs. Soludo empowered over 200 people through the Renewed Hope Agricultural Support Program. These beneficiaries, drawn from across all regions of Anambra State, underwent free training and were later equipped with high-quality tools to launch their chosen agricultural ventures. The program’s budget, which ran into millions, was distributed evenly to First Ladies across the 36 states and the FCT. For many, it was just another opportunity to divert funds. But not for Nonye Soludo.

True to her character, she went beyond expectations. She funded a two-day training session, provided full logistics and welfare support for all participants, and used the entire budget to procure top-tier equipment. Not only that each beneficiary received additional funds to help them transport the equipment home. This was unprecedented in Anambra State’s history.

So remarkable was her execution that during one of the governors’ wives’ meetings, Senator Oluremi Tinubu showcased a video of the event and called on the other First Ladies to give Nonye Soludo a standing ovation. She was widely applauded not just for her transparency, but for the depth of her passion and ingenuity.

To give generously when entrusted with resources is a noble virtue; to give beyond expectation is the mark of something greater,perhaps saintly.

And just days ago, on August 6, 2025, during the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Nonye Soludo did it again. The program’s original intent was to provide ₦50,000 each to 500 female petty traders to support their businesses. But in characteristic fashion, she expanded the scope, adding another 500 beneficiaries raising the total to 1,000.

That wasn’t all. She offered free medical checkups, took care of the participants’ welfare, and gave each of the 1,000 women an additional ₦7,000 for transportation ensuring they wouldn’t need to dip into their grants for logistical costs.

In a world where good people are in short supply, Nonye Soludo has emerged as a beacon of hope and integrity. Governor Soludo was not exaggerating when he once said that if, on the Last Day, he failed to see his wife in heaven, he would question whether heaven exists at all.

Nonye Soludo is not just a governor’s wife. She is, quite simply, a living saint.