AASDU Vice President, Ichie Okoye urges diaspora participation in town unions to drive development - ITREALMS

The First Vice President of the Association of Anambra State Development Unions (AASDU), Lagos Branch, Ichie Jonathan Meziem Okoye, has urged Anambra indigenes living across Nigeria and in the diaspora to actively participate in their respective town unions, describing the associations as essential vehicles for unity, cultural preservation, and community development, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking in a recent interview with the Anambra State Broadcasting Service (ABS) in Lagos, monitored by ITREALMS, Ichie Okoye emphasized that town unions remain an integral pillar of the traditional Igbo system of governance, which comprises the kindred, village assembly, and town union.

According to him, these grassroots institutions have consistently promoted peace, harmony, and a deep sense of collective responsibility within local communities.

Ichie Okoye noted that active participation in town union activities empowers indigenes to directly contribute to the developmental trajectory of their hometowns.

He explained that these unions successfully complement government efforts through critical, community-driven projects and initiatives.

"Communities make significantly greater progress when their members unite behind common developmental goals," Ichie Okoye stated, warning that declining participation from some indigenes risks weakening community cohesion and slowing down localized development.

Highlighting the tangible contributions of town unions to governance, he pointed out that these associations routinely undertake capital-intensive projects, including the construction and renovation of local schools; the provision of critical community infrastructure; robust support for local security networks through funding and managing community vigilante groups, to name a few.

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The AASDU chieftain further stressed that town unions play a vital role in safeguarding the rich cultural heritage, traditions, and core values of the Igbo people, ensuring that future generations remain firmly connected to their roots regardless of where they reside globally.

Meanwhile, Ichie Okoye commended the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo for its remarkable achievements in transforming infrastructure, security, education, healthcare, and economic development across Anambra State.

To sustain this positive momentum, the AASDU first Vice President called on the state government for continued investment in regional security, the further expansion of the state’s road network, and increased, targeted support for agriculture to accelerate socio-economic growth.

Fred Nwanna/Editor