By Uzo Ugwunze
A Non Governmental Organisation; NGO, Orunkoya Foundation, has conferred on Dr Doris Nkiruka Uzoka Anite, Minister of State for Finance, with the 2025 Amazon award to mark this year’s International Women’s Day celebration.
President of the Foundation, Dr Anthony Orunkoya Esq, while presenting the award to the recipient through the Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. JohnCliff Nwadike in his office in Owerri, the Imo State capital, disclosed that the Foundation nominated women achievers from six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, adding that after an intensive, rigorous scrutiny, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka Anite the Honourable Minister of state for Finance from Imo State emerged as the most outstanding hence she became the Amazon in Nigeria for the year, 2025.
Orunkoya who explained that the Foundation celebrates the International Women’s Day every year in collaboration with other civil rights groups and NGOs globally, further disclosed that in line with the rules of Orunkoya Foundation, charity programs were sponsored in three states in the name of the awardee.
According to Orunkoya, “considering the fact that she hails from Imo State, the Foundation decided to partner with the State Ministry of Education to present customized Exercise Books to the Students of Akwakuma Girls Secondry School in Owerri in honour of the outstanding character of the Awardee whom through hard work, honesty, integrity and diverse potentials achieved sterling heights worthy of veneration by Nigerian youths and most particularly the girl child”.
Shortly after presenting the Amazon award to Imo State Commissioner for Education, Prof. JohnCliff Nwadike in his office for onward transmission to Uzoka-Anite, the Amazon award winner, Orunkoya and his Foundation members, accompanied by two Directors from the ministry as the Commissioner’s representatives, moved to AKwakuma Girls Secondary School, Owerri where he mentored the students and presented the customized exercise books to an estimated number of 1,000 students.
Receiving the award on behalf of the awardee, the Imo State Education Commissioner, Prof. Nwadike applauded the Foundation for their charity programs, most particularly on skill acquisition, primary health care outreach, mentorship, empowerment, and promotion of the rights of the girl child and their interest.
Flanked by Barr. Mrs. Chinyere Ibe, Permanent Secretary; Imo State Ministry of Education, Pastor Livinus Okereke, Director of Quality Assurance and Dr. Mrs. Benedicta Okorie, Director, VBSE of the Ministry,
Nwadike reteirated that any society that mentors and trains the girl child and the female gender generally will have reduced crime rate and juvenile deliquencies because they are mothers of the nation.
He further stated that the state is proud of Dr Nkiruka Uzoka- Anite, the awardee whom he described as true representation of a girl child, mother and the female gender generally, adding that she is indeed deserving of the recognition for her outstanding qualities.
According to Nwadike, “if you don’t train a girl child properly, when she becomes a wife, she will turn into a knife and when she becomes a mother, she will turn into a murderer”.
At the Akwakuma Girls Secondry School, Orunkoya Foundation was received by the School principal, Dr. (Mrs) Caroline Oburuoga, who commended the efforts of the Foundation for the award conferred on Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka Anite, whom she described as industrious daughter of the state worthy of veneration.
Addressing the students shortly before the distribution of the customized exercise books to them, Dr. Orunkoya,
accompanied by members of the Foundation, including Hon. Kingsley Okpunor, Director of Programs and Barr. Mrs. Obianuju Amaeze, Woman Coordinator of the Foundation,
Nurses and young enterpreneurs, implored the students to choose a mentor from the plethora of distinguished achievers in the society who will guide their path to success.
Describing mentorship as a catalyse to success, Orunkoya emphasized that anyone who wishes to succeed in life must have a mentor.
“The sub theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, as formulated by the Foundation, is “Mentorship As Catalyse to Success, “explained Orunkoya.