By Emeka Chiaghanam
ASTUC Youth President Comrade Ken Okoli made the call during the NUJ
September Congress in Awka, where he also highlighted the media’s role in
promoting accountability.
The Youth Wing of the Anambra State Council of Town Unions
(ASTUC) has taken its campaign for stronger values and responsible citizenship
to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, urging
residents to embrace and practise the 12 core values of Onye Anambra as a
pathway to good governance and the restoration of the state’s position as the
“Light of the Nation”.
The ASTUC Youth President, Comrade Ken Okoli, made the call
while expressing solidarity with the leadership and members of the NUJ, Anambra
State Council, during the council’s September Congress in Awka.
Okoli said the visit was intended not only to promote the
values campaign but also to acknowledge the critical role of journalists in
shaping public opinion, promoting responsible citizenship and holding political
leaders and public servants accountable.
Values, Governance and the
Responsibility of Citizens
He said a society without clearly defined values could
easily become vulnerable to abuse by those in positions of power, stressing
that citizens remained the most important component of any society.
According to him, the administration of Governor Chukwuma
Charles Soludo is anchored on five key pillars: security and law and order;
infrastructure and economic transformation; human capital development;
governance and value system; and environment.
Okoli said that, as a youth leader, his particular concern
was the fourth pillar, governance and value system, arguing that sustainable
good governance could not be achieved without a clearly defined and widely
practised value system.
“Anambra State is the Light of the Nation and, before that,
it was home for all. This is reflected in the Anambra State Anthem, which is a
prayer of a person who believes so much that he or she is the Light of the
Nation and the state,” he said.
The 12 Values at the Heart of the
Campaign
He identified the 12 core values being promoted by ASTUC
Youth as fear of God, patriotism, self-reliance, discipline, truth, liberty,
justice, community, dignity of labour, religious tolerance, ethnic tolerance
and love.
Okoli stressed that the values must go beyond speeches and
publications to become part of everyday life, drawing an analogy from the
biblical commandments.
“It is not in knowing the Ten Commandments that God said He
would bless the Israelites, but in the doing of the commandments,” he said.
From Complaints to Taking Ownership
He explained that rather than continually complain about the
challenges confronting the state, Anambra youths had decided to take ownership
of their future by participating actively in governance and promoting values
capable of defining the character of the people.
“We decided that we would join the government and not keep
complaining. We would identify values that would be our articles of faith, and
I was humbled to be the one to plant the seed on behalf of Anambra youths,”
Okoli said.
He disclosed that the youth group had commenced a campaign
across the state to promote the 12 values, adding that the initiative had
already reached nine local government areas.
According to him, the group is also mobilising people of
substance who can champion the values campaign while encouraging young people
to identify, respect and emulate individuals who exemplify positive values and
distance themselves from negative influences.
Youth, Positive Role Models and
Responsible Living
Okoli said the initiative was particularly important at a
time when the state was intensifying efforts to discourage illicit means of
making money and other activities capable of destroying the future of young
people.
He also commended the state government for using the
instrument of law to tackle individuals allegedly involved in activities that
negatively affect youths, including the promotion of illicit substances and
criminality.
Who Is an Onye Anambra?
The ASTUC Youth leader said the concept of “Onye Anambra”
should not be restricted to people of Anambra origin, but should embrace
everyone living in the state who accepts and upholds its values.
“Let the message of our values go into the nooks and
crannies of our state. The message is clear: We are Ndi Anambra,” he said.
Quoting Governor Soludo’s message during the commemoration
of Anambra at 35, Okoli urged residents to move beyond merely identifying
problems and begin taking concrete action to address them.
“If you see something, say something, but more than that, do
something,” he quoted the governor as saying.
‘Do Something’: The Call for Action
He challenged residents to examine what they were doing in
their families, businesses, schools and communities to promote the 12 values,
arguing that the transformation being sought in Anambra would ultimately depend
on the actions of its citizens.
“The solution we are looking for in our system is here with
us as Ndi Anambra. If we can uphold these values, we are upholding Anambra to
take its place as the Light of the Nation, which it is,” Okoli added.
Anambra Value System Publication
Presented to NUJ
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of copies of
the Anambra Value System publication by Okoli to the NUJ Chairman, Dr
Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, PhD.
Receiving the delegation, Odogwu welcomed the ASTUC Youth
initiative and commended Okoli for what he described as his eloquence,
intelligence and consistent advocacy of the values of Anambra State.
Odogwu Hails Okoli, Announces December
Recognition
He described Okoli as an important youth leader in the state
and disclosed that he would be recognised as the Most Influential Youth
Leader in Anambra State, with the award presentation scheduled for
December.
Earlier, Odogwu had urged journalists to prepare for the
union’s forthcoming Man of the Year event and Press Week, scheduled for
September 3 to 10.
Youth and Media Partnership for a
Stronger Anambra
The engagement ended with a renewed call for stronger
collaboration between youth organisations and the media in promoting
responsible citizenship, accountable leadership and values capable of
strengthening Anambra’s identity as the “Light of the Nation”.
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