… Reminiscent of Gov. Uzodimma’s recent description of Awardee as passionate politician
BY SAM OTUONYE
An APC Chieftain in Imo State, Barr. Obioma Success Akagburuonye, will tomorrow, Saturday, March 14, 2026, receive the Champion Newspaper Award of ‘Beacon of Hope for a Greater Imo State’, in recognition of his profound philanthropy across several humanitarian service provision; covering job creation, skill acquisition, healthcare, scholarship, poverty alleviation, human and leadership development, ecumenical and evangelical engagements, and political sagacity and forthrightness.
The Award title, ‘Beacon of Hope for a Greater Imo State’, apt and strategic, speaks to the lavish description by the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, of Akagburuonye, as a “passionate politician”.
In a tribute to Akagburuonye during the thanksgiving service of his 60th birthday and biography launch, on February 22, at Noah’s Ark, Assemblies of God, Ogbor Uvuru Mbaise, home town of the Celebrant, the Governor represented by his Deputy, Dr Mrs Chinyere Ekomaru, praised Akagburuonye’s ideals, describing him as God fearing, passionate politician, dedicated philanthropist, and amazing personality.
“Chief Dr. Barr. Engr. Obioma Success Akagburuonye, JP, is a trail blazing Nigerian lawyer, Visionary, a dedicated philanthropist, and passionate politician. Attracting two former Presidents, (Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan) and , wife of a former President (Prof. Mrs Uche Azikiwe) makes you an amazing person.”
“We are celebrating a God fearing man, an illustrous son, whose endeavours span, civil engineering, hospitality, manufacturing and property development,” she highlighted.
“Celebrating 60th birthday, you have done well. On behalf of the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, we wish you happy birthday.”
Aligning with the pleasant lines dropped on Akagburuonye by Governor Uzodimma, former President Goodluck Jonathan described him as an impactful, resilient and enterprising person.
He said: “I’m truly delighted to celebrate with you. We are here to celebrate impact, resilience, and enterprise. He rose through determination to become an Engineer, Lawyer, and entrepreneur, proving that determination opens the door.”
He lauded his philanthropic spirit and initiatives, highlighting that through his Hope Rising for Imolites (his Empowerment Foundation) has empowered many youths, women, and communities, in health, scholarships, business, and skills acquisition.
Also speaking, former President Obasanjo, a father figure and friend of Success Akagburuonye, lavished encomiums on him, but reminded him that he must continue to do good to sustain his success.
“Goodluck Jonathan was named Goodluck and good luck followed him, you were named Success and Success followed you – you are therefore to be a success to your community, state, nation, and beyond. God will continue to bless and prosper you as you continue to do good as Jesus Christ went about doing good,” he admonished.
And now, Champion Newspaper, one of the foremost media platforms in Nigeria, owned by a former President of apex Igbo Union; Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), late Chief Engr. Emmanuel Iwanyanwu, who was not at the event nor privy to Governor Uzodimma, Presidents Jonathan and Obasanjo’s declarations, came up with the Award ‘Beacon of Hope for a Greater Imo State, is beyond a coincidence but a statement of purpose and validation of intent.
The choice of words; “passionate politician” for a man that has his eyes on the ball of Imo State highest leadership role cannot suffice as a mistaken lexical oversight. It is intentional as it is purposeful and validating.
After all, a man that is worthy to be entrusted with the soul of Imo State is one that his spirit is fired up with strong feelings and emotions, blazing and burning at all times for improved conditions and wellbeing of Imolites, always connecting the dots of infrastructure developments, poverty alleviation, security of lives and property, and creation of enabling environment for local and foreign investments, with transparency and accountability template. An Imo State where the poor are uplifted, the women are encouraged, the youths are established and the aged are taken care of.
Akagburuonye, who has shown and proved all these attributes, going across the length and breathe of Imo State doing good for over two decades, without governmental – federal, State, or local support is, by God’s Grace, an auspicious vessel.
A man who does not trust in the wonders of his elevated wealth, contacts and connections but relies on the power of the Grace of God to bless and elevate unto the uttermost, has not been offered government appointment at any level, be it Ministerial, Board, or Council membership, but has sacrificially deployed his legitimate wealth to better the lots of Imo people and others for posterity.
Akagburuonye, a peace Advocate, Philanthropist, and Kingdom Investor, who understands the time and what a patriotic citizen ought to do in a season fraught with insecurity has risen in support of Governor Uzodimma, to ensure that Imo residents experience peace and realise their daily economic and social pursuits. He has attracted and established an Area Command of NSCDC in Mbaise.
Founder and Financier of ‘Hope Rising for Imolites’, a non-governmental organisation, has extended medical, financial, educational, social and entrepreneurial supports to multitudes of Imo youths, the elderly, women and children. He has used the platform to support many Imo people with start up capital, augment their businesses, and light up communities with solar power technology.
The passionate politician has addressed unemployment by establishing industries to engage the youths and women. He set up Obisco table water, Akaraugo Micro-finance bank, Peace Be Still Hotel, Praco Int’l Limited, real estate firm, and his Law firm, Akaraugo Chambers.
An unrepentant Kingdom Investor, Akagburuonye, an Engineer, Lawyer Philanthropist, Real Estate Icon, and titled Chief, Akaraugo 1 of Mbaise, and Akaraugo of Igboland, an honour conferred on him by his Mbaise people and the Traditional Rulers from the five Eastern States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, respectively, as a show of appreciation for the numerous developmental projects he has executed.
He is also an Ambassador of the Gospel, a recognition the Assemblies of God Church holds in high esteem, as their kingdom illustrous Son.
The Sun Newspaper, a leading Nigerian daily news platform, in February, 2026, gave him the Humanitarian Man of the Year Award.
He singlehandedly built a first-of-its-kind Church auditorium for Assemblies of God – the Noah’s Ark, a multi-million worship centre, designed after the biblical Noah’s ark, commissioned in 2025 by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria.
As an ecumenical Christian, Chief Akagburuonye has built, renovated and donated huge sums of money to various Churches- Anglican, Catholic, and pentecostal, in Nigeria and diaspora.
Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Praco Int’l Ltd, a leading real estate firm in Nigeria, Akagburuonye has invested and developed estates in the federal capital territory (FCT) and beyond, creating access to affordable housing for Nigerians.
These values and gestures are hallmarks of a trail blazing leader and passionate politician whose time has come.
