Ifeanyi Ubah, Governor Obiano, Ekweremadu, Amaechi, others win Ohanaeze awards

Owner of Capital Oil and Publisher of The Authority Newspapers, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, has won the 2015 Igbo Entrepreneur of the year award.

A statement signed by the National Secretary of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, and obtained by our correspondent in Umuahia said Ubah was considered for the award because of his massive investments which have created a lot of jobs for the youths.
The release indicated that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu also emerged as the outstanding Igbo politician of the year.
According to the release, Ekweremadu , “ apart from the effective representation he has given to his constituency and the South-East Zone, also emerged as the Deputy Senate President against all odds”, hence the award.
Similarly, former Rivers State governor and Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi , emerged as the 2015 Igbo Man of the Year.
Amaechi who hails from the Ikwerre sub Igbo clan of Rivers State won the award after “a stiff poll organised by the OYC,” the release said.
The release which indicated that the awards would be officially conferred on the winners at a ceremony to be held at Nike Hotel Resort Enugu on January 30, also said Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State had been penciled for the Best Igbo Governor of the Year Award.
On the choice of Obiano for the prestigious award, the release explained that although all the governors in the Igbo speaking states had made impressive im¬prints, “Gov. Obiano has created so many indelible records.”
Other recipients of the Ohanaeze awards include: Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Igbo legislator of the year; Leo Stan Ekeh, the Igbo Scientist of the Year; Prof Ben Nwabueze, the Igbo Elder Statesman of the Year; and Prof May Nwoye the Igbo Woman of the Year.
Similarly, former Abia State Governor and Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, will be honored with the Igbo Minister of the Year while a veteran journalist, Charles Okereke, bags the Igbo Journalist of the Year.
Others include: Chief Innocent Chukwuma, the Igbo Investor of the Year; Chief Author Eze, the Igbo Philanthropist of the Year; and Chief Maduka Onyishi, the Igbo Transporter of the Year.
Ohanaeze explained that Amaechi was considered for the award because of his role in the 2015 elections which changed the political equation of the country.
“His actions before and during the 2015 presidential election have so much helped in deepening Nigeria’s democracy.
“We recall how he doggedly fought and retained his position as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, against all odds.
“Apart from that, as the Director of President Buhari’s campaign team, he gallantly led the fight that led to the change in the country today. These, no doubt, put him in edge as a true Igbo son from the South-South.”
According to the release, other categories of awards would be announced later including the Igbo Sportsperson of the Year, the Igbo Farmer of the Year, the Igbo Academic of the Year, the Igbo Footballer of the Year, among others.
OYC restated its resolve to celebrate illustrious Igbo sons and daughters who have affected lives in their various fields of endeavour.