The organisers of the Anambra Man of the Year (AMTY) Awards have named the Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, as the inaugural Anambra Person of the Decade, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to evangelisation, spiritual development, education, healthcare, youth empowerment and socio-economic development in Anambra State.
In a nomination letter addressed to the Archbishop, the organisers stressed that the honour is not merely another award for the renowned Catholic prelate, who has received numerous national and international recognitions, but a celebration of the remarkable achievements and enduring impact of his leadership over the past decade.
According to them, apart from government, no institution has positively impacted more lives in Anambra State than the Catholic Church under the leadership of Archbishop Okeke.
At the heart of his achievements, they noted, is his unwavering commitment to evangelisation and the growth of the Catholic faith. Since becoming Archbishop of Onitsha in 2003, he has significantly expanded the Church by increasing the number of parishes in the Archdiocese from 72 to more than 182 and creating additional episcopal regions from four to six, bringing the Church closer to the people and making it easier for the faithful to access pastoral care and the sacraments.
