Eze Udo Continues Winning Streak With Anambra State’s Grand Commander Medal -By Isaac Asabor

Why do people accept political appointments? For money? For success, fame, honor, self-realization? For the good life? In trying to find answers to the foregoing questions, it will be crystal clear that each politician or technocrat is driven by an entirely different set of compulsions.

But one thing is certain. Some political positions or offices are meant for those who want to make money and some, for those who want to leave quality leadership footprints on political sands of time. Take the profession wherein this writer is affiliated to, you will realize that Journalists are clearly not those who enter the profession in search of money, though it is true that some Journalists today are indeed very rich. Just as gamblers are clearly in the casino to make money but most of those who enter a casino come out flat broke.

Even when you succeed in your calling, say in politics or military, rewards can differ. Some can become as wealthy as Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, who is a politician and retired Nigerian Army Lieutenant General who played a key role in post-independence military and political events in Nigeria. Danjuma amassed an enormous fortune through shipping and petroleum. He was Chief of Army Staff from July 1975 to October 1979.

In the same vein, others become like Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who is a retired Nigerian Army general and politician. He served as military president of Nigeria from 1985 until his resignation in 1993. There are others like Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Orji Uzo Kalu, Arthur Eze, Femi Otedola and Obinna Iyiegbu aka Obi Cubana among other Nigerians that are financially blessed in various spheres of life to positively shape the destiny of anyone, should they want to. However, the fact remains that ambition always begins with a dream, a purpose. And even though money may be an important part of it, I frankly doubt if it really matters that much. Most people strive, excel, achieve for reasons other than money. It is the desire to prove themselves. Even those who we frown at that they could not amass enough wealth as expected by virtue of the lofty offices they occupied, the fact remains that they were actually pursuing the same objective, each in their own, unique way.

Against the foregoing backdrop, there is no denying the fact that Uche Nworah’s disposition falls into the category of those who wants to leave quality footprints on political sands of time, who are invariably those who aim at having their names etched on the walls of political hall of fame. Without any iota of exaggeration, Ezeudo, as he is fondly called belongs to the category of leaders whose accomplishments reflect significant innovation and/or a long and sustained record of success in fulfilling Anambra State’s mission and in meeting the needs of “Ndi Anambra”.

Analyzed from the foregoing standpoint, it would not be mistaken to say that Ezeudo need to be applauded over his leadership disposition from the perspective of awards he has won by virtue of his winning streak.

Given the series of awards that have been bestowed on him, there is no denying the fact that he is on a roll. Wondering why I opined that he is on a roll? Yes, to say he is on a roll is apt in this context as he is unarguably having great success which seems possible to continue as he is irrefutably an asset to the Anambra State government, and the traditional and cultural sectors of the state. The foregoing view about him draws inspiration from the fact that his ingenuity is becoming true with every move he makes, even as his tremendous improvement in different areas of life and resourcefulness he exudes are worth extolling, and beneficial to a state that pride itself as “Home for all, and now “The light of the Nation”.

Ostensibly to prove that Nworah’s is committedly devoted to the development of Anambra state through his leadership style in all its ramifications, the government on Wednesday, 9th March, 2022, today, honored him with other selected individuals from the public and private sectors with three categories of awards, namely; ‘Distinguished Anambra State Grand Commander Medal’, ‘Distinguished Anambra State Commander Medal’, and ‘Anambra State Merit Award’.

The awards were bestowed to the nominated individuals for their outstanding achievements in their profession and contributions to the prosperity and good image of Anambra State.

For the sake of clarity, the distinguished Anambra State Grand Commander Medals were awarded to individuals who have recorded outstanding performance and achievements nationally and internationally in the fields of politics, diplomacy etc. Honorably enough, this category of award is what the government found befitting for Nworah, and he was bestowed with the award today.

In fact, it is the highest honour given by the Anambra state government, and is rated at Nigeria’s CFR (Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic) level or above.

The distinguished Anambra State Commander Medal is Anambra state’s second highest honors to be bestowed on businessmen, and professionals in law, medicine, arts, sports, trade and commerce, diplomacy etc., and who have recorded outstanding achievements in their professions/industry and have made contributions to the prosperity of Anambra state.

The third category is ‘Anambra State Merit Award’, and it is meant to honor Ndi Anambra from all walks of life who have shown exemplary dedication to duty, and or who have gone out of their way to show outstanding civic responsibilities in fields such as sports, academics, and entertainment. It also includes young inventors and young business trailblazers.

It will be recalled in this context that Uche Nworah who is equally a consummate writer and author through the publication of his book, The Long Harmattan Season in 2007, has earned Chickenbones Writer of the Year (2006) Award for his witty and incisive writing. Before now, he was also honoured with the Jack Petchey Leadership Award in 2007 by the Jack Petchey Foundation for his outstanding work with young people in the U.K. Nworah received the Distinguished Alumni Award of the Business Education Examinations Council (BEEC) in 2008 among several other honours from different organisations for his professional and volunteering activities.

In a similar vein, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR, Anambra state chapter) honored him with the 2015 Professional Service Award. The award ceremony which was chaired by Professor Stella Okunna, the Head of Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University also coincided with the Institute’s 2015 Reputation Summit and held on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at Sun City Hotel, Awka. Top government government functionaries were in attendance including the then Anambra state Commissioner for Information, Culture & Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima.

Also in 2020, he was a recipient of the Federal Government of Nigeria Public Sector Leadership and Productivity Awards (FGNPSLPA). According to the Director General of National Productivity Centre, Dr. Kashim Akor, who represented the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, the award was to recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations in the Nigerian public sector who have played exceptional roles in the total factor productivity through breaking new grounds in development, implementation and institutionalization of forward-looking policy directions, project delivery and process improvement in several areas including digital economy, diaspora relations, governance among other achievements.

It would also be recalled that he has received a meritorious award from the Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students, NFCS, Blessed Iwene Tansi Chaplaincy of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam campus.

Given the foregoing, it would not be out of place to say that his exemplary services wherever he finds himself as a leader has invariably made him to be a “serial award winner”.

At this juncture, permit me to say. Congratulations Ezedo, on your well-deserved Award.