Ukachukwu-Ekwunife Plans To Power Anambra Youth

In the forthcoming election for Anambra State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its flag‐bearer, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, alongside his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, present a manifesto that places youth empowerment front and centre. What this means in everyday terms is that the young people of Anambra are not simply being asked to wait for opportunities, they are being promised tools, inclusion and real programs aimed at lifting them into the engine-room of the state’s future. For the youth of Anambra, this vision offers hope for jobs, skills, participation, and economic inclusion.

From the outset, the Ukachukwu-Ekwunife ticket bring credentials that underline their commitment to youth and grassroots transformation. Ukachukwu, for instance, has been described as a “grassroots colossus” whose philanthropic reach across local government areas has included support for widows, youths and everyday citizens. He won the APC gubernatorial ticket by a landslide, suggesting strong popular appeal. On the other hand, Senator Ekwunife has a record of using her legislative platform to support youth, education and skill acquisition in her constituency: her work included setting up a skill acquisition and entrepreneurship centre at a major university in Anambra Central. These track records reinforce the manifesto’s target: young people should expect more than promises—they should expect action.

In simple terms, what the manifesto offers to youth is threefold: skills + jobs + inclusion. Young people will be trained in vocational and technical skills tailored to local industry while being supported to start businesses or join value-chains. Ukachukwu has promised job creation through agriculture, infrastructure and municipal investment especially by leveraging the state’s resources such as gas deposits for power generation, which in turn creates jobs. He emphasises that youths and the unemployed will be “meaningfully engaged” rather than sidelined. Senator Ekwunife’s past initiatives with scholarship schemes, youth startup grants and renovation of schools underscore the inclusion side: youth are meant to be partners, not bystanders. In addition, the ticket promises to decentralise opportunity, ensuring grassroots wards and communities feel the impact. Ukachukwu’s campaign strategy already targets every ward in Anambra with specific support and youth participation.

What is especially convincing about this manifesto for youth is how it links empowerment to ownership and participation, not just hand-outs. It talks of youth being “equal stakeholders” in the state’s transformation. The economic vision is not abstract: by rebuilding infrastructure, providing reliable electricity, boosting agriculture and unlocking industrial growth, the manifesto creates the ecosystem in which young people can thrive. For example, when power and infrastructure improve, a young entrepreneur in Anambra can start a tech-hub or agro-business with fewer disruptions; when grants and training exist, skills translate into income. Senator Ekwunife’s experience shows that the kind of empowerment envisioned has already begun: her scholarships, youth centres and entrepreneurship support reflect what the broader manifesto promises statewide.

Moreover, the commitment to ensuring no community is left out means young people in rural or less-connected areas will not be ignored. Ukachukwu has pledged that all 179 communities in the state will benefit from his administration. That kind of commitment is vital, because youth empowerment doesn’t just mean in cities but in remote communities too.

Challenges remain, of course. The manifesto’s success will depend on strong delivery, transparency, and building on the credible track records of the candidates. But the fact that both Ukachukwu and Ekwunife bring proven youth-friendly work gives confidence that the youth-empowerment promises are grounded in reality. For you, as a young entrepreneur or professional in Anambra, this means the opportunity is not just ahead but closer than you think.

In conclusion, the APC’s Anambra manifesto offers a compelling and understandable vision for youth empowerment. It promises to train you, involve you, hire you and support you. It brings together a candidate with grassroots philanthropy and a running mate with a demonstrated legislative focus on youth, education and entrepreneurship. If delivered, the youth of Anambra have reason to hope for a real seat at the table of the state’s future. At last, empowerment could turn from promise into practice.

Ejike Agbata writes from Nri,

Anaocha LGA,

Anambra State