Anambra First Lady Nonye Soludo Bags Top National Award for Health Activism

Anambra State First Lady Dr. Nonye Soludo has been named the winner of the Health Activism category at the 2026 BudgIT Active Citizens Awards. The national ceremony, held in Lagos, brought together civil society leaders, social impact advocates, and public policy experts celebrating outstanding contributions to civic engagement and social development.

Dr. Soludo secured the prestigious honor ahead of fellow finalists, including health rights advocate Ramatu Ada Ochekliye and public health professional Sidney Sampson. Organizers noted that the selection followed a rigorous assessment process evaluating nominees on innovation, sustainability, leadership, and tangible community impact.

The recognition focuses on her non-governmental organization, the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, which positions preventive care and lifestyle habits as the baseline for community wellness. Across Anambra State, her foundation has executed statewide physical fitness drives, maternal and child healthcare campaigns, environmental sanitation exercises, and household seed pack distributions to encourage home gardening. The foundation also established the Healthy Living Pad Bank to support sanitary hygiene for schoolgirls.

BudgIT Country Director Vahyala Kwaga commended the Anambra First Lady’s commitment to public service, describing her healthcare advocacy as an exemplary model of grassroots community action.

Receiving the award, Dr. Soludo expressed deep gratitude and dedicated the recognition to her team, health workers, volunteers, and the people of Anambra State who embraced the healthy living vision. She emphasized that when communities actively take ownership of their health, sustainable transformation becomes achievable, adding that the national honor serves as a renewed motivation to expand preventive health campaigns into underserved rural areas.