Three top Anambra State government officials received excellence awards from Mass Communication students of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) Igbariam Campus during the National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMCOS) Annual Dinner and Awards Night held at Cihcotel Classique Hotel Awka on Friday, July 18, 2025.
The recipients were Hon. Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters; Engr. Julius Chukwuemeka, Commissioner for Power and Water Resources; and Hon. Christian Aburime, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chukwuma Soludo. Also honoured were Hon. Chudi Atuchukwu, member representing Nnewi South 1 constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly, and Barrister Brenda Ogochukwu Ezeani, Legal Adviser to the Commissioner for Power and Water Resources.
The awards ceremony provided an opportunity for NAMCOS President Comrade Nwaegbue Chimobi Henry to review his administration’s achievements since taking office in July 2024. Under his leadership, the association has organized multiple events, including orientation ceremonies for freshmen, NAMCOS Week featuring interactive sessions with departmental heads, old school day celebrations, and sports events.
Beyond event organization, the association has completed several infrastructure projects, including installing digital signage at the departmental complex, establishing NAMCOS Media across all social media platforms, and repainting the Mass Communication lecture hall. “This preparation was not an easy feat as it took a great deal to have gathered the caliber of men and women we have seated in this hall today,” Henry said during his address to the gathering that included the Acting Vice Chancellor, faculty deans, and departmental heads.
In their acceptance speeches, the award recipients praised the students for their commitment to academic excellence and encouraged them to prioritize their studies. They emphasized that education remains fundamental to meaningful achievement while highlighting Governor Soludo’s investments in the education sector. The officials particularly noted the governor’s implementation of free education across all primary and secondary schools in the state and the provision of bursary payments to Anambra State university students.
However, Henry acknowledged ongoing challenges facing the department, including the need for industrial fans, seat repairs in lecture halls, and essential equipment for practical courses such as transmitters, cameras, and microphones for radio and television studios. With his tenure concluding in the coming weeks, Henry urged students to support the incoming administration and participate actively in the upcoming elections to choose capable leaders for the association.
The ceremony also included a poignant moment of remembrance for the late Dr. Frank Nnaemeka, a beloved lecturer who was scheduled to attend but passed away before the event. The evening concluded with cultural displays and recognition of various achievements within the Mass Communication department, reflecting the growing engagement between COOU’s academic community and Anambra State government officials.
COOU, established in 2000, has grown from an initial enrollment of 500 students to its current population of 23,500, according to Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Kate Omenugha.
