19th Annual Peace Education Lecture :Uwazie donates medical equipment to Health Centre in Umuezeala Ogwara

…Announces scholarships for students of the community in various varsities

By EDISON Okereke

The 19th Annual Peace Education and Scholarship Awards, Peace Quiz Prize Competition organized by Afripeace Sustainable Development in collaboration with Professor Ernest E. Uwazie Foundation recently recorded a huge success at the Comprehensive Secondary School Umuezeala Ogwara (CSSUO), in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.

The yearly event featured awards of scholarships to students of CSSUO who are indigenes of the community.

Osuh Technical College, Okohia in Isiala Mbano LGA came tops in the quiz competition in which the second and third positions went to Mercy Girls’ High School Okigwe and CSSUO respectively.

The Mercy Girls were led to the venue by Rev Father Remigius Ogu, of the community.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief host and sponsor, Uwazie congratulated the participants and urged them not to relent.

He noted that the students of CSSUO had maintained the premier position for three consecutive years in the past.

Uwazie who called for a minute silence in honour of his slain father, the late Victor Uwazie on whose behalf he had dedicated a large library he built for the school, congratulated the students and described the outcome of the competition as marvelous.

He said, “This is wonderful. Mercy Girls’ High School, Okigwe, you’ve made it this year. Let’s hope you’ll continue to soar, even many years to come.

“Comprehensive Secondary School Umuezeala Ogwara, you’ve been the first for three consecutive years, but this time, you’re the third. You’ll come back. Mercy Girls’ High School, congratulations for coming second this year.”

Uwazie advised young people to avoid violent crimes.

As he put it, “Our children, look before you leap. Stealing, kidnapping, swindling others of their property, or any form of killing will not avail you anything at all.

“Stop the killing, stop the banditry, stop the robbery, stop the activities that do not do you any good. Rather bring honour to yourself and your family members. I know things are hard, but that notwithstanding, it’s no justification to engage in criminal activities.”

Professor Uwazie condemned the theft of the louvres of the Skills Acquisition Centre in the CSSUO, and urged the youth leaders to ferret out the perpetrators to replace them.

He announced the donations of blood pressure testing as well as glucose testing machines to the Community Health Centre from his wife, Dr Nnenna Uwazie to help the people.

As he put it, “Last year, Lady Akaraugo said the Health Centre in the community needed blood pressure and glucose testing machines. I said I’d whisper it to my wife. It’s her duty —health field, as a pharmacist. So she bought a couple of blood pressure machines and those of the glucose. These machines are here with me.”

Having completed the last batch of awards of scholarships to a set of students of the community in various institutions, he similarly announced the presentation of more scholarships to three students also of the community in higher institutions of learning in Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education; the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES) Umuagwo; and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State respectively.

Each of them was handed over the sum of N75,000 cheques, saying, this will continue till their graduation.

He exhorted the recipients to take their studies seriously and to reciprocate the gestures at their own times.

“You should take your studies seriously. For those I help in their education, the highest gratitude I expect from you is your success. After helping you and you did not get it right, it’s a waste of time. The highest expression of gratitude from you is your success. It’s not because my wife, Dr Nnenna Uwazie and I are rich, but we’re blessed in other ways.”

He asked the beneficiaries of his Afripeace Development Revolving Loan Scheme in 2025 how they were faring.

“Again, we’re doing all this to engender progress in the community. Try to use the money judiciously. We pray that more success will come your way,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the youth of the community, led by Mr Michael Chidiebere Oguchukwu, announced the receipt of N400,000 being the prize Uwazie placed for winners of the trophy for the 2025 Football Competition in the area.

Expressing their gratitude to him, the young men led by Oguchukwu, a one-time beneficiary of the Uwazie’s University scholarship, promised that the lifting of the CSSUO property would no longer be tolerated, as the youth body vowed to get to the roots of the stealing of the Skills Acquisition property and bring the culprits to book.

They thanked Uwazie for his continued help for the youth, especially with the scholarship scheme, the football tournament, the loan scheme, and described him as an epitome of ‘Aku ruo ulo,’ and like journalists of Isiala and Ehime Mbano extraction, presented him an Award, for his social development initiatives.

The youth said, “We pray God to continue to guide, protect, and sustain you for moving our secondary school forward. To show our token of our appreciation, the youth of Umuezeala Ogwara present you with this ‘Award of outstanding support’ for your valuable partnership, for your continued support towards addressing the well-being of youths in Umuezeala Ogwara. Congratulations.”

In her speech, the  Principal (Senior Seconding) of CSSUO, Lady Cecilia Chukwuezi Odinma, described Professor Uwazie’s 19th Annual Peace Education Lecture as “a celebration of vision, generosity, and commitment to the future of our children and our nation.”

She noted that his love to help develop the school had been expressed not only in words but in consistent and impactful actions.

“On behalf of the management, staff and students, and parents, I say thank you for believing in us, and for investing in the minds and character of our young people. Your legacy is written not only in building our facilities but also in transformation and legacy,” she stated.

Lady Odinma pointed out that the theme of the year’s lecture was apt.

“At a time when our nation yearns for continued unity, and sustainable growth, the focus on young people as architects not mere speculators, challenges us to rethink education as a tool for nation building.

“We’re privileged to have as our Guest Lecturer, Rev Father Dr John Enyinnaya, a distinguished scholar, clergy man and voice of moral clarity.

“Our students must learn that peace begins with respect for human dignity, and development thrives when justice, discipline and compassion are upheld,” the principal stated.

Identifying security as one of the major challenges facing the college, the principal announced that work had already started on the perimeter fencing of the college, and solicited for more support to ward off vandalism and carting away of the school property.

She thanked Chief Emma Nwaohiri for installing solar lights there as he had promised at the 18th edition of the lecture.

Mrs Odinma thanked the president-general, Nze Casmir Okorocha and his town union executive for always being there for the school and the community.

Speaking to the topic: “Empowering Young Nigerian Youths as Architects of Peace and Sustainable Development,” the Guest Lecturer and former parish priest of St Michael’s Archangel Catholic Church, Umuezeala Ogwara, Rev Father John Enyinnaya PhD, counselled the government and the youth to operate on the same page for the peace, development and progress of the country.

While urging the youth to chart a life of responsibility, the priest called on government to integrate the youth into its national policies in order to move the country forward.

He said, “When young people are empowered with opportunities, they become protectors of peace. But if they are neglected, fractured, or exploited, peace becomes fragile.”

He condemned a situation in which the youth are used for violent purposes as in politics and dumped, positing that those who use them turn around and treat them as persona non grata.

“In recent times, Nigerian youths have often been violent rather than seen as partners in nation building,” noting that “wherever and whenever the youth cause trouble it is the adults that use them to perpetrate the confusion. You destroy them yet you want peace from them.

“Perhaps, it was the youth that removed the windows of the Skills Acquisition Centre in CSSUO premises?

“Problem is not that Nigerian youths are violent by nature, the problem is that their potential has been exploited and misdirected. Peace and sustainable development cannot thrive in an environment where young people are excluded.” Doctor Enyinnaya maintained that for peace and sustainable development to happen, the youth must be central to both.

Earlier in his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Chief Linus Duru (Olu Ehime) noted that “If the youth have job opportunities, it is most likely they will grow and the development will be sustained.”

He thanked Professor Uwazie for stoking the ember of unity in the community with his lectures.

Duru said, “The memorial lecture has done a lot of good in Umuezeala Ogwara. It has made us to appreciate our brothers, live in unity, and to know that peace is a lot better,” adding that the 2026 edition was unique.

Chief Duru donated the sum of N100,000 in assistance.

In an interview with the traditional ruler, Eze Emmanuel Chukwunenyeze Ekwunno (Eze Opara Aro 2) thanked Uwazie for his work in the community, and prayed God to continue to bless him.

“Our brother, Prof Ernest Uwazia has tried so much for Umuezeala Ogwara Autonomous Community. I say God will bless him. There is nothing as good as having the welfare of your kin’s men at heart. In spite of his sojourn far away, he still remembers us back home and empowers so many people, continues to preach peace such that the future of the youth will be brighter, their future will not be cut off. I’m happy over what he’s doing,” he stated.

Eze Ekwunno expressed optimism that 2026 will be better than 2025 for his kinsmen and the entire community in Jesus’s name.

Many people attended the ceremony which featured songs by the female students of the mix school, including traditional chiefs; the Principal (Junior Secondary), Rev Sister Fudicia Ezenwegbu;  Ichie Leonard Chukwuemeka Obiji who conducted the quiz; other teachers and staff of the college; the Coordinator of the foundation, Mr Sunday Iwuamadi; Mr Louis Ogu (both of who moderated the ceremony); Mr Ekene Uwaoma; Mr Dennis Chukwuebuka; Deacon Emma Ogu, among other people.

The event started with a Holy Mass said by Reverend Father Dr Ihedoro.