By Ndife David, Awka.
The Youth Wing of Anambra State Association of Town Unions, (ASATU Youth) has revealed her plans to activate the union branches in all other 35 states of the federation and and other countries of the world.
The union disclosed this during the 2024 Anambra Community Youth Development Awards held at Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre in Awka, Anambra State.
In a welcome address, the ASATU Youth President-General, Comrade Ken Okoli, reiterated his plans to unify Anambra youths, regardless of location, under a shared vision for progress and development through extending the association’s vision and impact beyond the state by activating the Apex Union body in all the 36 States of the federation and in diaspora.
He pointed out that the program was primarily aimed at appreciating individuals who have been voluntarily contributing to community youth development in their various communities, especially through the Public Private Community Partnership (PPCP) model for an inclusive governance in service delivery, as was introduced by the Governor Chukwuma Soludo Administration in the state.
Comr. Okoli also announced the launch of Operation Know Your Constituents, an initiative to register all youth aged 18–45 years, both indigenous and non-indigenous, to foster inclusivity and strengthen grassroots engagement.
The ASATU Youth President General also unveiled 500 Million Naira Youth House Project, a landmark initiative aimed at providing a central hub for youth activities and empowerment programs in Anambra State.
He highlighted some of the organization’s plans and dreams for the year 2025, to include implementing the group’s blueprint programmes, providing quarterly leadership and capacity training for community youth leaders; launching of portal for registering every Anambra youth; embarking on massive mobilization, value orientation and re-orientation of the youths the book “I Believe in Anambra” as a template; building the ASATU Youth House; procuring of utility vehicles for effective and efficient operation of the youth activities, among others.
Comrade Okoli further appealed for the collective support of individuals and groups to realize the dreams, while also appealing to the Anambra State Government under Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo to resume the payment of stipends to the ASATU Youth Leaders.
Also speaking, the Anambra State Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Maazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu who was the chairman of the occasion while declaring the event open commended the ASATU Youth Wing for articulating the event, while also highlighting the significance of such initiatives in enhancing widespread development across the various communities. and urge youths to imbibe good values and live worthy lives capable of ensuring a brighter future for them and the generations to come, while also laying a solid foundation that guarantees a better society at large.
Amongst the 21 Start Role Models from the 21 local government of the State, the CEO Rove Luxury Hotel and Suites, Chief Sir David Nwankwo from Awka North and the MD/CEO, Princeton Hospital Awka, Dr. Amaechi Nwachukwu from Oyi local government area who received prestigious award as Role Model and Icon of Hope for the Youth in the maiden edition of the Anambra Community Youth Development Award (ACYDA) took turns to appreciate the Youth Body for the special award and recognition and noted that the initiative would serve as a great source of motivation to the youths and spur them to do more.
They unanimously commended Governor Soludo’s rapid transformation drive and used the opportunity to advise Anambra youths to shun and desist from any act that portrays or is capable of fueling insecurity or restiveness in the state, urging everyone to imbibe a sense of responsibility and hard-work.
Official unveiling and presentation of the Compendium of the ASATU Youth Role Models 2025, special dramatic musical performances by some serving members of the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra state formed the high points of the event.
The ASATU National President, Barrister Titus Akpudo was also present at the event.
