AMTY Awards: Ezenwa Salutes Archbishop Okeke’s Person of Decade Honour

By Polycarp Ifeanyi

The member representing Onitsha South I Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Fred Chigozie Ezenwa, has congratulated the Archbishop of the 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 presentation, Hon. Ezenwa described Archbishop Okeke as an outstanding spiritual leader, visionary administrator, and devoted servant of God whose exceptional contributions to the Church and society have earned him widespread admiration and recognition.
He said the honour was a fitting tribute to the Archbishop’s remarkable accomplishments in evangelisation, education, healthcare, humanitarian services, youth empowerment, and socio-economic development, all of which have significantly impacted lives across Anambra State and beyond.
“I thank God for this well-deserved award bestowed on the Archbishop. It will further encourage him to continue doing even more for humanity. I also commend him for his humility, selfless service, and unwavering dedication in the discharge of his responsibilities as the Archbishop of the Onitsha Archdiocese. He has performed exceptionally well,” Hon. Ezenwa said.
The lawmaker noted that Archbishop Okeke’s influence extends far beyond the Catholic Church, stressing that his contributions to the development of Anambra State and the welfare of its people have been profound and enduring.
Hon. Ezenwa particularly highlighted the Archbishop’s intervention at the Onitsha Correctional Centre, where he initiated transformative programmes, including educational opportunities and vocational skills acquisition schemes designed to rehabilitate and reintegrate inmates into society. According to him, these interventions have restored hope and dignity to many inmates while promoting meaningful correctional reform.
He further recalled that shortly after his episcopal consecration, Archbishop Okeke fulfilled his commitment to expanding the Onitsha Archdiocese by creating additional parishes, thereby bringing the Church closer to the faithful and making access to places of worship more convenient for Catholic communities.
The lawmaker also identified the establishment of Shanahan University as one of the Archbishop’s landmark achievements.
He observed that although the institution is relatively young, it has already secured accreditation for programmes in Law, Medicine, and several other professional disciplines, reflecting its commitment to academic excellence and quality higher education.
Hon. Ezenwa further commended Archbishop Okeke for establishing Sapientia Radio and Television, describing the media platforms as effective instruments for evangelisation, education, moral formation, and public enlightenment.
He added that the Archbishop has also spearheaded numerous infrastructural and developmental projects that continue to benefit both the Archdiocese and the wider society.
Reaffirming his admiration for the Archbishop, Hon. Ezenwa stated that Archbishop Okeke’s visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to human capital development, passion for evangelisation, and lifelong dedication to the service of God and humanity have distinguished him as one of Anambra State’s most influential, respected, and transformative leaders.
He added that the Anambra Person of the Decade honour is a well-earned recognition of Archbishop Okeke’s enduring legacy of faith, service, and development, expressing confidence that the award would inspire him to continue his remarkable contributions to the spiritual, educational, and socio-economic advancement of society.