EYAF@10: ‘Our Goal Is to Build People Who Can Transform Anam’ — Anekwe

By Praise Chinecherem

As the Elite Youths of Anam Foundation (EYAF) prepares to celebrate its 10th anniversary on December 5, 2026, its President, Dr. Christopher Ejike Anekwe, has declared that the foundation’s next phase will focus on building people and institutions capable of driving sustainable development across Anam.

Anekwe said the organisation, established in 2016 to address concerns about declining interest in education and limited opportunities for young people, had evolved from a youth-driven initiative into a platform for academic development, leadership training, entrepreneurship and community empowerment.

Speaking ahead of the anniversary, he said EYAF’s first decade had been characterised by vision, sacrifice, persistence and service.

“What began as a vision shared by a few concerned young people has gradually developed into an organised platform for academic development, leadership formation, entrepreneurship, empowerment, mentorship and community development,” he said.

According to him, the foundation’s interventions have reached secondary schools across Anam, supported students with examination registrations and scholarships, provided interest-free loans to indigent widows and created platforms for discussions on educational and community development.

Anekwe explained that EYAF’s philosophy, “Transforming Lives; Developing Our Communities,” reflects its belief that individual advancement must contribute to collective progress.

“If we educate one young person, we are transforming a life. If that young person subsequently uses his or her knowledge, skills and character to solve problems, create employment, mentor others or contribute to community development, we are developing the community,” he said.

He stressed that the foundation was not interested in limiting its work to distributing financial assistance but wanted to develop people who could become entrepreneurs, professionals, mentors and responsible community leaders.

“EYAF does not define success simply as giving people things. We want to build capacity,” he added.

The foundation’s future priorities include an Intellectual Hub designed to connect Anam graduates and undergraduates with mentorship and community-development opportunities, alongside an Edu-Support Fund intended to support scholarships, examination registration, libraries, science and technical laboratories, skills acquisition and emergency tuition assistance.

Anekwe said the next decade would require stronger partnerships, improved impact measurement, digital infrastructure and a sustainable leadership succession system.

He expressed the hope that by 2036, EYAF would be recognised not merely for the assistance it provides but for the people it empowers to transform their communities.

“The first decade has been a decade of awakening,” he said. “The next decade will be a decade of institutionalising impact.”

EYAF is scheduled to celebrate its 10th anniversary on December 5, 2026.

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