DEVELOPMENT
Mayor Obialor Anyanwu Honoured as Special Guest as NNAUSA Holds 2025 Scholarship, Apprenticeship and Skills Acquisition Award Ceremony in Aba
The Executive Mayor of Aba South Local Government Area, Hon. Obialor Denis Anyanwu, was honoured as the Special Guest at the Ngwa National Association USA Inc. (NNAUSA) 2025 edition of its Educational and Outreach Foundation and Apprenticeship and Skill Acquisition Board Scholarship Award Presentation, a flagship initiative aimed at promoting education, vocational training, and human capital development among Ngwa youths.
The high-profile event was held on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at the Aba Town Hall, Aba South Local Government Council Headquarters, drawing stakeholders from government, education, community leadership, and the Ngwa diaspora.
The programme was organised under the auspices of the Ngwa Educational and Outreach Foundation (NEOF) and the Ngwa Apprenticeship and Skill Acquisition Board (NASAB), two key arms of NNAUSA dedicated to advancing academic excellence, skills acquisition, and economic empowerment within the Ngwa nation.
Speaking at the event, Mayor Anyanwu expressed deep appreciation to the organisation for its sustained commitment to youth empowerment and community development. He described the initiative as a transformative platform capable of repositioning Ngwa land through deliberate investment in its young people, whom he identified as the future hope of their various communities.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the Mayor urged them to take the opportunity seriously, advising, “Please, do not take this opportunity for granted. Make the best use of it. You too can be on this other side tomorrow. The essence is to ensure that you become a better you, so that you can join this part to also give a multiplier effect to your communities.”
He further underscored the relevance of vocational training and self-reliance, emphasizing the value of skills acquisition in today’s economy.
According to him, “For those in skills, you can help yourself with this. No skill is a waste… with the skill you acquire, you can train yourself.”
He encouraged beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity to improve their lives and contribute meaningfully to society.
Earlier in his address, the National President and Chief Executive of NNAUSA, Dr. Ugochukwu Agu, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Mayor of Aba South Local Government Area, Hon. Obialor Anyanwu, for his unwavering support to the association. He praised the Mayor’s dedication and commitment to the welfare of ndi Ngwa and assured him that NNAUSA would continue to support the government in any capacity possible.
Also speaking at the event, Chief Okechukwu Vine Etufu, Chairman of NNAUSA Village Primary School Improvement, provided a historical overview of the association, tracing its origins back to 1988. He highlighted the milestones achieved by NNAUSA over the decades and reaffirmed its resolve to promote education and community development across Ngwa land.
In a major highlight of the programme, Dr. Uloma Nwogu announced a ₦150,000 academic grant for beneficiaries covering the 2026—2029 academic sessions, a move aimed at supporting students in their academic pursuits and reducing financial barriers to education.
Similarly, Mazi Jude Nwogu, representing Mazi Okezie Amalaha, Chairman of NNAUSA Skill Acquisition, announced a corresponding grant for beneficiaries under the skill acquisition category. The initiative is designed to equip recipients with practical competencies required to excel in their chosen vocations and become economically independent.
Justice L. T. C. Eruba, speaking on behalf of the Home Branch, commended Mayor Anyanwu for his impactful leadership and youth-focused interventions. He encouraged beneficiaries to make responsible use of the opportunity and to give back to the community when the time comes. He also advised students to remain focused, shun social vices, and pursue academic excellence with discipline and determination.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the National Secretary of NNAUSA, Dame Chief (Mrs.) Ihuoma Uzoije, expressed profound appreciation to Mayor Anyanwu for his support and presence at the event. She urged beneficiaries to seize the opportunity presented to them and work towards improving their lives and communities.
The event climaxed with the presentation of awards and grants to the beneficiaries, marking another significant milestone in NNAUSA’s efforts to promote education, skills development, and community advancement.
The 2025 NNAUSA Scholarship Award Presentation once again reaffirmed the association’s commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders and fostering academic excellence, while Hon. Obialor Denis Anyanwu’s participation underscored the critical role of community and government collaboration in shaping a sust
ainable future for the youth.