By Stella Obi

The Association of Anambra State Development Unions (AASDU) has honoured 38 indigenes of Anambra State for their professional accomplishments and contributions to community development.

The award presentation took place on Nov. 7 in Lagos as part of the association’s 2026 Lecture and Award Dinner, which attracted community leaders, distinguished personalities and other indigenes of the state.

Among the dignitaries at the event was the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs Chinyere Esther Onyekesi.

In her remarks, Onyekesi urged Anambra indigenes living outside the state to maintain strong ties with their homeland and embrace the Aku Luo Uno philosophy by contributing to the development of their communities.

She also stressed the importance of parents communicating with their children in Igbo to preserve the language and cultural identity of younger generations.

The commissioner commended the unity among Anambra indigenes in Lagos and congratulated the award recipients on their recognition.

Delivering a lecture titled, “Leveraging Diaspora Assets for Sustainable Homeland Development,” Fwdr Eugene Ifeanyichukwu Nweke highlighted the importance of harnessing the financial, intellectual, professional and entrepreneurial resources of Anambra indigenes in the diaspora to promote sustainable development.

He urged AASDU to strengthen development partnerships through investment, knowledge transfer, innovation, skills development and institutional collaboration.

In his welcome address, the President of AASDU, Chief Amechi Ebeledike, disclosed that the association had embarked on the AASDU Mega City project at Mgbakwu, Awka.

He said the project aligned with the Aku Luo Uno philosophy, which encourages indigenes to invest in and contribute to the development of their homeland.

Ebeledike called on Ndi Anambra to support the initiative and congratulated the award recipients, commending their contributions to the development of their respective communities.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and President of Nigerians in Diaspora in the Central African Republic, Chief Enuma Obinwa, stressed the importance of collective participation and strategic partnerships in building a prosperous and sustainable Anambra State.

The event provided an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Anambra indigenes to their communities and encourage greater participation in initiatives aimed at advancing the development of the state.