By Vincent Ujumadu
AWKA – Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has emerged winner of the health activism category at the 2026 BudgIT Active Citizens Awards.
The award, in its third edition, recognises individuals and organisations making outstanding contributions to civic engagement, social development, accountability and sustainable development across Nigeria.
Mrs Soludo was honoured for her efforts in advancing preventive healthcare, community wellness and public health advocacy through her non-governmental organisation, the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative.
She emerged winner ahead of Nigerian health and gender rights advocate, Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, and public health and social impact professional, Sidney Sampson, after a rigorous selection process that assessed nominees based on innovation, impact, sustainability, inclusion, leadership and measurable community outcomes.
Receiving the award, Mrs Soludo described the recognition as a humbling honour and a renewed call to serve with greater commitment.
She said the award belonged to members of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, partners, healthcare workers, volunteers, community leaders and residents of Anambra State who had embraced the vision of wellness and healthy living.
“Like a family driven by one common goal, we have shown that when communities take ownership of their health, lasting transformation becomes very possible,” she said.
Mrs Soludo expressed appreciation to BudgIT, Civic Hive and the Ford Foundation for the recognition, adding that it would motivate the initiative to expand its reach and continue promoting healthier communities.
In a statement, Senior Special Assistant to the wife of the governor, Mr. Daniel Ezeigwe, said the award reflected growing national recognition of the impact of Mrs Soludo’s healthy living campaign, which he described as a model for promoting preventive healthcare and healthy lifestyles.
Ezeigwe said that since becoming Anambra First Lady, Dr. Soludo had championed several people-centred initiatives, including statewide fitness campaigns, maternal and child health advocacy, nutrition education, environmental sanitation, the Healthy Living Pad Bank for schoolgirls, free seed distribution to households and the Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap Initiative aimed at tackling childhood malnutrition.
“These programmes have touched thousands of lives while reinforcing the importance of prevention as the foundation of a healthier society,” he said.
He added that the recognition further highlighted Mrs Soludo’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Anambra residents while contributing to Nigeria’s broader public health development.
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