Anambra First Lady Nonye Soludo Wins 2026 BudgIT Active Citizens Award for Health Activism

Dr. Nonye Soludo, the wife of Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, has been honoured as the Health Activism Winner at the 2026 BudgIT Active Citizens Awards, in recognition of her efforts to promote preventive healthcare and community wellness across the state.

The prestigious award, now in its third edition, celebrates individuals and organisations making remarkable contributions to civic engagement, accountability, social development and sustainable development in Nigeria.

Mrs. Soludo earned the top honour for her work through the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, a non-governmental organisation focused on preventive healthcare, public health advocacy and encouraging healthier lifestyles among communities in Anambra State.

She emerged ahead of fellow finalists Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, a Nigerian health and gender rights advocate, and Sidney Sampson, a public health and social impact professional. Organisers said winners were selected through a rigorous evaluation process that measured innovation, impact, sustainability, leadership, inclusion and measurable community outcomes.

Reacting to the recognition, Mrs. Soludo described the award as both a privilege and a motivation to deepen her commitment to public service.

“Like a family driven by one common goal, we have shown that when communities take ownership of their health, lasting transformation becomes very possible,” she said.

She dedicated the award to members of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, healthcare workers, volunteers, community leaders, development partners and the people of Anambra State, whose support she said had made the initiative’s success possible. She also thanked BudgIT, Civic Hive, and the Ford Foundation for recognising the programme’s impact.

In a statement, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor’s wife, Daniel Ezeigwe, said the award reflects growing national recognition of Mrs. Soludo’s health advocacy and its role in advancing preventive healthcare across Nigeria.

Ezeigwe highlighted several flagship programmes championed by the First Lady since assuming office, including statewide fitness campaigns, maternal and child health advocacy, nutrition education, environmental sanitation drives, the Healthy Living Pad Bank for schoolgirls, free seed distribution to households and the Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap Initiative, which targets childhood malnutrition.

He added that the initiatives have positively impacted thousands of residents while reinforcing the importance of prevention as the foundation of a healthier society. According to him, the latest recognition further underscores Mrs. Soludo’s commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and the overall wellbeing of people in Anambra State.