ENUGWU UKWU, Anambra State – Valentine Ozigbo, respected Nigeria business leader and a 2021 Anambra Governorship Candidate, has received the first major public endorsement for his yet-to-be-declared 2025 governorship bid.

At a high-powered meeting of Labour Party stakeholders in Njikoka Local Government Area of the southeastern state hosted by Mr Martin Obinna Anekwe in his country home in Enugwu Ukwu, on Saturday, January 6, 2023, Mr Ozigbo received Anekwe’s endorsement for governor.

“I called this meeting to inform my political family, my supporters, and all the stakeholders of the Labour Party, and the wider Njikoka political community that for the next governorship election in our dear state, I am standing with the Labour Party, and my good friend, Valentine Ozigbo,” Mr Anekwe told the high-powered audience, to resounding cheers and applause.

In response to this surprise high-profile endorsement, Ozigbo expressed gratitude to the host, Anekwe, and all the party stakeholders present. He promised to make a formal statement concerning the state of Anambra State and the 2025 governorship race “soon enough”.

Ozigbo also used the opportunity to wish Hon Ayika a birthday in advance of Monday when the former federal lawmaker would clock 59.

In addition to Valentine Ozigbo, present at the meeting were political heavyweights like Chief Cosmas Agagbo (Okpokaji n’Abba); Chief Okey Ezeibe, a billionaire businessman and a chieftain of the Labour Party; Hon Valentine Ayika, a former federal lawmaker and state lawmaker; Hon Paul Obu (Minority Whip of Anambra State House of Assembly); Chief Innocent Akpuaka (Gbulie Aku n’Abba); Dr. Ndubuisi George (Isienyi Nawfia); Mr Clem Nwana; Ozomkpu Jude Ekwunife; Odenigbo Uruokwe, the Governor of Enugwu Ukwu Forum; Ndubuisi Obi (Okogba n Abba); Ambassador Charles Isintume; Chief Robinson Eziamaka (Chopinson); Dr Willie Emenari; Obinna Okafor (Ezeumuokorobia); Mrs. Chinyere Nwafornta; and Joe Adigwe.

Labour Party’s Anambra State Chairman, Chief Ugochukwu Umeh; the Executive Council of the Labour Party in Njikoka LGA; the chairmen and secretaries of the party from the 18 wards in Njikoka, and many other stakeholders were present at the meeting.

One of the event’s highlights was presenting a Labour Party membership card to Mr Anekwe and Hon. Valentine Ayika.

This event is significant in several ways. It is the first major meeting of Labour Party stakeholders for the year 2024 and the first local government visit by Valentine Ozigbo, who is the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc.

With the overwhelming endorsement of Ozigbo for the governorship of the state, the renowned philanthropist has been marked as a frontrunner in the race for the 2025 governorship.

On the sidelines of this meeting, Ozigbo was formally presented with an award for his outstanding contribution to education and youth development given to him at a December 11, 2023 event organised by YOUreka Media, Arts and Entertainment held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

Collette Davidson (Mbamalu), the author of “Nature and I”, during the presentation extolled Ozigbo, who is the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc, for his compassionate interventions in youth development and education through his VCO foundation.