From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
The revered Mbakwe Leadership Foundation has advanced plans to honour Barr. Success Obioma Akagburuonye based on his sterling leadership and philanthropic gestures.
It’s pertinent to recall that the Foundation which is a non governmental organization is instituted in order to immortalize and sustain late, His Excellency Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of old Imo State for his selfless, patriotic, visionary, purposeful and examplary leadership as he piloted the affairs of the State between 1979-1983.
Chief Alex Mbakwe, Chairman of the Foundation and the heir apparent of the deceased disclosed this while on a familiarization visit to Akagburuonye in his Ogbor Uvuru Mbaise ancestral home.
Mbakwe commended Akagburuonye for his age long philanthropic and humanitarian services as well as his outstanding leadership roles in Imo State and the country at large, noting these as the factors that made the Foundation to solely choose him for their 2026 exceptional award in leadership and philanthropy.
He equally pointed out that the essence of the award is to appreciate and encourage the recipient not to relent, while describing the leadership cum philanthropic icon as a good family man, a revered Christian and an illustrious son of Nigeria who is also a great scholar and believer of the Mbakwe’s leadership vision and mission.
He reiterated that all the positive attributes qualified Akagburuonye for the historical honour and recognitions.
Responding ,Barr Akagburuonye thanked Mbakwe and the Foundation for finding him worthy of the honour, emphasizing that he will remain positively committed to touching and changing lives in Imo and the country at large.
Akagburuonye described the deceased as a role model, the pride of Ndigbo and the nation at large as he left landmark legacies in the development and transformation of old Imo State, which he attested of transiting into today’s ultra modern State.
It’s of gospel truth that Sam Mbakwe Leadership Foundation is a historical hallmark in recognition and appreciation of sterling leadership and philanthropic gestures , thus Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State is the first recipient of the Foundation’s Leadership Prestigious Award in 2023.
