By Izunna Okafor, Awka
It was a memorable day as members of the Ultimate Destiny Uplifters Foundation (UDUF Africa) in Anambra State joined the rest of the continent to commemorate the 2025 Africa Day.
Specifically celebrated in a meaningful and transformative way, the Foundation also used the opportunity to urge African youths to shun social vices and embrace hard work, innovation, and resilience as keys to personal and collective development.
The event, which held at Hilltop, Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, witnessed a massive gathering of thinkers, changemakers, traditional leaders, students, and other dignitaries who came together to reflect on Africa’s past, present, and future.
Speaking at the event, the Founder of UDUF Africa, Dr. Chinedu Smart, challenged African youths to break away from the lure of internet fraud, ritualism, street begging, political thuggery, armed robbery, kidnapping, and other social vices, urging them instead to focus on building innovative and meaningful careers that would integrate them into the fast-evolving global economy.
Dr. Smart, flanked by Board members and Executive Directors of the Foundation, decried the fact that Africa, despite being the cradle of civilization, still lags behind in technological advancement and human capital development. He called for a renewed focus on values such as integrity, discipline, and creativity, particularly among the youth population, whom he described as the continent’s greatest asset.
He emphasized that UDUF Africa, in line with its name, is committed to uplifting young people by equipping them with the mindset to “squeeze water from stone” — a metaphor for harnessing opportunities even in difficult circumstances through patience, perseverance, and innovation.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme “Justice for Africa and People of African Descent through Reparation,” a renowned Africanist and culture advocate, Mr. Ozii Baba Anieto, stressed the need to preserve Africa’s cultural heritage, identity, and dignity. He lamented how Africa’s pride and prestige had been eroded over time due to colonialism, slavery, and systemic exploitation, and urged both elders and the younger generation to reclaim African history and use it as a tool for empowerment.
Also speaking, Executive Director of the Africa Day Celebration 2025, Blessing Asonye, echoed the call for reparative justice, noting that Africans have for too long borne the brunt of historical injustices — from slavery to colonization, economic marginalization to social exclusion. She emphasized that reparation should go beyond financial compensations, and should include truth, healing, and the restoration of dignity to a people who have contributed so much to global progress yet received so little in return.
“Africa is not broken. It is brilliant,” she said. “We must be defined not by our pain, but by our power, our progress, and our unity,” she said.
The event featured a spoken word poetry competition, traditional dance contests, and an award ceremony recognizing outstanding individuals for their contributions to community development.
The traditional ruler of Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Igwe Obiora Anachuna, who was the Chief Host of the event, received an award and was represented by the Traditional Prime Minister of the community, Onowu Ogbuefi Willie Okafor, who also received his own award and commended UDUF Africa for choosing the town as host for the impactful occasion.
Other notable awardees included Lady Christiana Ejike (Lady Organizer), Sir Chinedu Jude Nwokedi, the leader of Nkwelle-Ezunaka Youths Association (NEYA), Chief Emeka Agulue, Obinna Ekwensi, Chief Vin Nwankwo, Ogbuefi Amby Anyakorah, and several others whose positive footprints were deemed worthy of honour.
In the cultural dance competition, Ogoamaka Age Grade emerged winners and clinched a cash prize of ₦100,000, followed by Ifeamaka Age Grade and Njikoka Age Grade who came second and third respectively. In the schools category, Ebenezer Model Secondary School won first place with 48 points and went home with a ₦30,000 prize.
Reacting to the gestures, a real estate firm, Creative Builders Global Resources Ltd., through its Chairman, Dr. Paul Alphonsus Nworie, expressed deep admiration for UDUF Africa and indicated interest in partnering with the organization to support its mission of human capital development and community empowerment.
The occasion was also graced by the President General of Nkwelle-Ezunaka, alongside community chiefs, ogbuefis, women leaders, youth executives and members, who all lent their support to what many described as one of the most purposeful and forward-thinking Africa Day celebrations witnessed in recent years.
In his reactions, one of the award recipients, Ogbuefi Vitalis Nwakobi (Ugosinachi), while expressing gratitude to UDUF Africa for the honour bestowed on him, described the Foundation as a guiding light of hope for Africa.
“This continent is in dire need of foundations like UDUF that believe in community service and youth development. We must all support them to build the Africa we dream of,” he concluded, while also re-emphasizing the need justice, restoration, and true independence rooted in African values, innovation, and unity.
