AMTY 2026: Why Anambra’s Greatest Wealth Is Not Oil or Industry, But Its People

By Uchenna Ezeadigwe

Beyond the glamour, applause and roll call of distinguished honourees, the 2026 Anambra Man of the Year (AMTY) Awards delivered a powerful message: Anambra’s greatest competitive advantage is not its industries or natural resources—it is its people.

Held at the Stanel Dome, Awka, on July 18 under the theme “Anambra Unstoppable,” the fifth edition of the prestigious awards celebrated 28 exceptional individuals and several institutions whose achievements continue to shape communities, industries and nations.

From business leaders and academics to entrepreneurs, innovators, jurists, healthcare professionals, philanthropists and religious leaders, the event showcased the extraordinary human capital that has made Anambra one of Nigeria’s most influential states.

But speakers at the ceremony insisted that the awards represent much more than recognition—they are a call to transform individual success into collective prosperity.

‘Human Capital Is Anambra’s Greatest Export’

Delivering the keynote address titled “Unstoppable Anambra: Leveraging Human Capital for Global Impact,” the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Ugochukwu Bond Anyaehie, described the state’s people as its most valuable asset.

“Anambra’s greatest export has always been human capital.”

According to him, the state’s remarkable record of producing globally respected leaders, scholars and entrepreneurs is rooted in a culture that prizes education, enterprise, resilience and community.

He cited iconic personalities including Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Prof. Chinua Achebe, and Prof. Dora Akunyili as examples of Anambra’s enduring legacy of excellence.

Prof. Anyaehie identified three enduring values that continue to define the Anambra identity:

• Onye Aghana Nwanneya — the philosophy of solidarity and communal support.
• Aku Ruo Uno — encouraging successful individuals to reinvest in their homeland.
• Igba Boi — the apprenticeship system that has produced generations of entrepreneurs and wealth creators.

However, he argued that these traditional models must evolve to meet the realities of a modern global economy.

“We must transform Aku Ruo Uno into structured venture capital capable of financing innovation and local enterprises.”

He also advocated institutional reforms that would formalise the apprenticeship system, providing greater protection for apprentices and business owners while preserving one of Anambra’s strongest engines of economic growth.

From Brain Drain to Brain Gain

Prof. Anyaehie challenged Anambra to rethink its relationship with its diaspora by creating deliberate pathways for global expertise and investments to return home.

“If our people excel abroad, it is proof of our DNA. Our goal should not be to build walls to keep them in, but to build bridges of brain gain that connect them back home.”

His remarks resonated strongly with the vision behind the AMTY Awards.

AMTY: More Than Awards, A Platform for Development

Co-founder of the AMTY Awards, Chief Chiedu Chikelue, said the initiative was conceived not merely to celebrate excellence but to build lasting relationships among accomplished Anambra sons and daughters across the world.

“We need to bring our people home, especially those in the diaspora who have done so well in helping humanity, and bring those businesses home.”

According to him, the event creates opportunities for networking, collaboration and investment.

“A lot of contacts are being exchanged.”

He emphasized that the credibility of the awards lies in its commitment to merit.

“We are extremely passionate and it is not driven by any material gain. It is extremely hard because it is about merit.”

A Call to Lead Beyond Success

Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Joe C. Ezigbo, described the awards as society’s recognition of excellence, integrity and selfless service.

“We celebrate men and women from diverse walks of life. While your professions differ, your stories share one common thread—a commitment to excellence.”

He challenged recipients not to see the honours as the end of their journey but as a greater responsibility to mentor young people, strengthen institutions and promote ethical leadership.

According to him, the success stories of many recipients were built over decades of sacrifice, discipline and consistency rather than the pursuit of quick wealth.

Celebrating Excellence Across Every Sector

The diversity of award recipients reflected the breadth of Anambra’s talent and influence.

Among the major honourees were:

• Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke – Person of the Decade
• Mrs. Amaka Onwughalu, Chairman of Fidelity Bank – Woman of the Year
• Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna – Lifetime Achievement Award
• Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, OON, SAN, Life Bencher – Lifetime Achievement Award
• Chief Obinna Ufudo – Corporate Person of the Decade
• High Chief Amb. Anthony Obele – Business Icon of the Year
• Chinyere Moneme, SAN – Inspiring Woman of the Year
• Dr. Chioma Irene Awuzie, Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko – Public Servant of the Year

Awards also recognised excellence across banking, manufacturing, oil and gas, logistics, real estate, entrepreneurship, academia, entertainment, innovation, philanthropy and legislative service.

Institutions honoured included:

• Onegrid Energies – Start-up Company of the Year
• Sunnypeace Haircut Product – Brand of the Year
• Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Umuoji – Best Public School of the Year
• St. John Vianney Science College – Best Private School of the Year

Purpose Over Fame

Receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award, veteran communication scholar Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna urged young Nigerians to remain focused on purpose rather than chasing popularity.

“Keep serving God, keep working and do not stop what you know how best to do. Follow God’s direction and do not go after fame.”

Similarly, Mr M & Revelation, winners of the Music Icon of the Year Award, described the recognition as particularly meaningful because it came from their home state.

Chairman of the Planning Committee, Sr. Prof. Adaoma Igwedibia, encouraged all award recipients to continue serving as worthy ambassadors of Anambra wherever they find themselves.

The Bigger Picture: Connecting Success for Development

The ceremony, enriched by cultural performances from students of St. John Vianney Science College, concluded with a compelling message that extended far beyond the recipients.

The true measure of an “Unstoppable Anambra,” speakers noted, is not simply the number of successful individuals the state produces, but how those individuals leverage their achievements to create jobs, build institutions, mentor younger generations, support communities and invest back home.

Ultimately, the 2026 AMTY Awards challenged Anambra to ask a more profound question—not merely who has succeeded, but how individual success can be connected, multiplied and transformed into sustainable development for future generations.

If that vision is realised, then the state’s greatest resource will remain what it has always been—its people.