Umuaka Times Merit Award Winners 2022. (First phase.)
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1. Man of the Year/Royal Father of the Year: Winner, HRM Eze Justin Ezeala.
JUSTIFICATIONS: (Please see Eze Justin Ezeala the Journey So Far.)
2. Outstanding Diasporan Patriot of the Year: Winner, Dr Chris Nwachukwu.
JUSTIFICATIONS: For his numerous contributions and consultations towards ensuring lasting peace and justice amongst different divides in Nigeria. His numerous contributions and selfless expert opinions to the legal team handling the ongoing MNK matter to ensure justice is not only seen to have been done but must evidently be seen and felt by all interested bodies. And finally, for his pragmatic views and suggestions, advice to the Federal Government of Nigeria towards ensuring equity, justice and fairness in the country.
3. Most Outstanding Indigenous Investor of the Year. Dr. Ken Nnaka.
JUSTIFICATION: Hotel Plano which Dr Nnaka situated in Umuaka.
4. Njaba Pillar of Sports Awards. Winner, Dr Ikenna Fortune Duru.
JUSTIFICATION: Through his philanthropy in sports, especially football, he has strengthened inter community relationships among sportsmen and women in Njaba and many talents have been discovered through his football tournament legacy.
5.Peace and Justice Defender of the Year. Winner, HRH Eze Francis Okey Ahanotu.
JUSTIFICATION: HRH Eze Francis Ahanotu (a barrister at law) has used a highly organized systematic approach otherwise referred to as alternative dispute resolution theory to settle communal cases in his community Amiyi-Akah Autonomous Community.
6. Diasporan Philanthropist of the Year: Chief Johnson Ugo Anyiam.
JUSTIFICATION: Chief Anyiam has spent a lot of his personal resources over the years to uplift Akah Aborigines, a group of Akalites based in South Africa. He has also helped many Akalites living in South Africa in diverse ways. Currently, he is the Grand Patron of the group.
7. Outstanding Patriotic Akalite of the Year: Mazi Iwuaku Iwuchukwu.
JUSTIFICATION: Founded Umuaka Charity Foundation, donated the sum of N500,000 to it as a takeoff grant and paid for an office for the foundation in Afor Umuaka.
8. Exemplary Community Leader of the Year 2022. Dr Austin Agbahiwe.
JUSTIFICATIONS: Dr Austin Agbahiwe has displayed profile in courage, humility, calmness and wisdom in handling community instigated crisis in Umuaka with regards the face-off at the New Umuaka Project Initiative NUPI. Against all odds, Dr Austin Chidi Agbahiwe is a firm believer of selfless services to the development of Umuaka Municipal Council.
9. Most Outstanding Youth Politician of the Year: Winner, Dr TJ Ehirim.
JUSTIFICATION: Dr Ehirim has taken his gospel to change the face of Imo State to several countries of the world and has consulted with prominent stakeholders across Nigeria on how to make Imo a better place with the ideology of “let the best of us role the rest of us.”
Female Footballer of the Year 2022. Winner, Miss Chiamaka Okwuchukwu.
10. JUSTIFICATIONS: 17 year old Miss Chiamaka represented Nigeria in the Junior Female World Cup tournament in Costa Rica.
11. Medical Student of the Year: Winner, Dr Austin Chidera Agbahiwe Jr.
JUSTIFICATIONS: Dr. Chidera Agbahiwe won several awards as a student including, Founder’s Award for First Class in First Year Examinations (2015). Winner, Nigeria Medical Association Ekiti State Branch Intercollegiate Quiz Competition,(October 2016). Winner, Nigeria Medical Association and Nigeria Medical Students Association South-West/Lagos Zone Medical Quiz Competition, (September, 2017). Winner, Emeritus Professor Matthew Akinyemi Araoye Competition, (December 2019). Second Place, Emeritus Professor Matthew Akinyemi Araoye Memorial Inter-Collegiate Quiz Competition, (December 2020).Second Place, 10th Edition of GSK – Emeritus Professor O.O. Akinkugbe Inter-Medical School Quiz, (Western Region), 2021. Winner, Albert Einstein of the Year Award (Amsa 2021.) This award is exclusively given to a student with the highest CGPA in his class and college.
Editor’s note: Second phase of the award comes out in the first week of 2023.
