By Joe Chukindi
The Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has emerged as the winner of the Health Activism category at the 2026 BudgIT Active Citizens Awards.
A social media post by BudgIT to announce it’s Active Citizen Awards 2026 celebrated Mrs Nonye Soludo saying: “We celebrate Nonye Soludo for emerging winner in the Award for Community Service category at the Active Citizen Awards 2026. Thank you for your dedication to driving impact across communities.
The Active Citizen Awards 2026 is a national recognition which celebrates individuals and organizations making remarkable contributions to civic engagement and social development across Nigeria.
The award acknowledges Mrs Soludo’s outstanding leadership in advancing preventive healthcare, community wellness and public health advocacy through the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative.
At the award ceremony which was recently held in Lagos, Dr. Soludo was honoured ahead of fellow finalists; Nigerian health and gender rights advocate, Ramatu Ada Ochekliye and Sidney Sampson; Nigerian public health and social impact professional, following a rigorous selection process that assessed nominees on innovation, impact, sustainability, inclusion, leadership and measurable community outcomes.
The award reflects the growing national recognition of the transformative work being carried out under the governor’s wife Healthy Living crusade, which has become a model for promoting healthy lifestyles and preventive healthcare in Anambra State.
Since assuming the role of Anambra First Lady, Dr. Soludo has championed several people-centred interventions, including statewide fitness campaigns, maternal and child health advocacy, nutrition education, environmental sanitation, the Healthy Living Pad Bank for schoolgirls, the distribution of free seed packs to households, and the Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap Initiative, which addresses childhood malnutrition.
These programmes have touched thousands of lives while reinforcing the importance of prevention as the foundation of a healthier society.
The BudgIT Active Citizens Awards, now in its third edition, recognizes changemakers whose work strengthens accountability, democratic values and sustainable development through advocacy, innovation, research, community service and public engagement.
Dr. Soludo’s recognition in the Health Activism category further underscores the national impact of her unwavering commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Ndi Anambra and contributing to Nigeria’s broader public health landscape.
Also, Mrs Soludo in announcing the award said: “Receiving the 2026 BudgIT Active Citizens Award for Health Activism is both a humbling honour and a renewed call to serve with even greater passion and dedication.
“This recognition belongs to every member of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, our valued partners, healthcare workers, volunteers, community leaders and the resilient people of Anambra State who have embraced the vision of wellness and Healthy Living. Like a family driven by one common goal, we have shown that when communities take ownership of their health, lasting transformation becomes very possible.
“I sincerely thank BudgIT, Civic Hive and Ford Foundation for this extraordinary recognition. It inspires us to keep expanding our reach, touching more lives and building a healthier, stronger and more prosperous Anambra. The work continues. God bless you all.”
