The Wikimedia User Group Nigeria, Anambra Network lately marked its fourth anniversary with Distinguished Knowledge and Literacy Award of excellence on some distinguished Nigerians dealing with delicate Unions and Agencies in Anambra dtate together with the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Anambra State Council, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD JP and the MD/CEO Anambra ICT Agency, Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata.
Dr. Odogwu, a former Deputy Chairman/Supervisory Councillor for Health, Awka North native authorities space by 2012 had earlier acquired the Vice-President of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria, Comrade Chekwube Anslem Okoloneli and his group in a courtesy name, the place he introduced that Comrade Odogwu shall be honoured for wonderful and excellent contributions to data and literacy by the media as chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists in Anambra State.
Vice-President of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria, Okoloneli stated the group found Comrade Dr.Odogwu as a Field Marshal achiever in journalism with mentees in all places you flip.
He known as for a robust partnership with Odogwu as an individual and NUJ Anambra State Council underneath his purview with WikiMedia Nigeria, Anambra State Network.
Dr. Odogwu, a former Assistant Director, Communication And Publicity, UNIZIK Business School Awka for 2020/2021 Academic Year was additionally Local Organizing Committee, LOC Secretary, 2022 Conference of African Council For Communication Education, (ACCE) September, 2021 to February, 2022.
Odogwu served as Editor, South-East, South-South, Oracle Newspapers
January, 2019 to February, 2020. He was appointed Editor, South-East, Special Projects, Vanguard Newspapers between May, 2018 to August, 2018. He nonetheless serves because the Editor South-East, Authority Newspapers from March, 2018 to September, 2021 having returned again to Authority Newspapers after a short stick with different newspapers.
He was appointed Regional Editor South East, Leadership Newspapers between February, 2018 to February, 2019. It’s vital to notice that Odogwu’s rise to the Editor’s rank was spontaneous and he was the primary to be appointed Editor in Anambra State among the many whole over 50 Correpondents.
He was Anambra State Correspondent, Authority Newspapers
between October, 2015 to February, 2018. He was Correspondent, Nnewi/Onitsha Anambra state, The Nation Newspapers
March, 2012 to April, 2014.
Odogwu was a Consultant/Reporter, Orient Newspapers restricted
March, 2009 to May, 2013.
As a person of many components, Comrade Odogwu as he’s fondly known as taught in main and Secondary Schools together with as a Master III, Community Secondary School, Mgbakwu, Awka-North May, 2005 to August, 2008.
He was Anambra State Correspondent, Champion Newspapers
February, 2005 to February, 2012 and Editor, FAWEN News Magazine, Nigeria November, 2004 to October, 2005.
At the division of Mass Communication Unizik, he has been a Time Table Officer, a particular Adviser to the HoD on Special initiatives, Academic Adviser, Department of Journalism And Media Studies since
February, 2026 so far. He was additionally the Chairman, Media and Strategic Communication Committee of the Vice-Chancellor and Coordinator, Department of Mass Communication Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme ( SIWES) since 2024. Odogwu was additionally the Communicator Province of the Niger, Anglican Communion and Diocese of Awka in addition to Director, Communication , Media, Publicity and Research, Province of Awka and Diocese of Awka Anglican Communion.
Comrade Dr.Odogwu, a Child Rights Activist as a Member, Organising Committee on Child’s Rights, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka since
October, 2023 so far. additionally teaches at Paul University Bro Bono for Professional Diploma in Journalism and Media Studies programme,
February, 2022 so far.
Dr. Odogwu was additionally Chairman, Faculty Home Coming Committee, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka July, 2026 to Present and Member, Faculty Town and Gown Relations Committee, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka July, 2026 to Present in addition to Member, Faculty Office Space Allocation Committee, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
July, 2026 so far.
Odogwu pioneered Blogging in Anambra state and the South East area earlier than making it, a web based newspaper, therefore, the writer/ Editor-In-Chief of www.odogwublog.com, the primary indigenous on-line Newspaper in Anambra State and South East Nigeria. His newspaper Odogwublog was in A listing for assignments and invites rating with the nationwide dailies then and was rated excessive worldwide earlier than each Dick and Harry right this moment joined the fray.
He can be founding father of The Watchdog Magazine of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ Anambra State Council at the same time as he’s additionally an Editor-In-Chief. He has initiated another newspapers with others together with defunct Market Voices Newspaper amongst others.
He was additionally the Chairman Book Committee Federal Polytechnic Oko, Alumni Association since April, 2026 so far.
At the occasion correct, Okoloneli described the anniversary as a celebration of 4 years of open data, digital coaching and capability constructing in Anambra State.
He stated the community’s main goals included equipping youths with digital expertise and preserving Igbo and African tradition, language and heritage by platforms comparable to Wikipedia, Wikidata, WikiSource, WikiQuotes, WikiVoyage, Wikimedia Commons and WikiBooks.
Okoloneli urged younger folks and college students to actively be part of the Wikimedia motion, saying native communities ought to be capable of inform their very own tales relatively than go away their historical past and heritage to outsiders. He recalled that the community emerged from a Training the Trainers programme and famous that it was recognised in 2023 as “Network of the Year.”
The Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, described Wikimedia as an vital platform for data dissemination, preservation and documentation of individuals, occasions and society. He pledged the company’s continued help and partnership with the community, urging its members to maintain the great work.
The anniversary celebration and award presentation, held on Saturday, October 3, 2026, on the Prof. Kenneth Dike State Central E-Library, Awka, additionally featured the popularity of people and organisations which have supported the community’s actions and promotion of open data.
In her welcome tackle, the President of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria Anambra Network, Mrs. Chinwendu Anyanwu, stated the community had carried out 102 initiatives in Anambra State and past, overlaying areas together with well being, governance, language, ladies and neighborhood data.
She stated the Anambra Network was created in September 2022 as a part of Wikimedia User Group Nigeria and had relied largely on volunteers concerned in modifying, pictures, coaching, translation, Wikidata and communications.
Anyanwu defined that Wikimedia was a world motion dedicated to creating data freely accessible by platforms together with Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wiktionary, Wikiversity and different sister initiatives.
She stated the community had additionally organised campus outreach and coaching programmes that launched college students to Wikimedia initiatives whereas creating alternatives for digital expertise improvement and world participation.
She recognized participation, continuity, assets, documentation, volunteer retention and coordination as a few of the challenges confronting the community, stressing the necessity to construct buildings that might maintain the neighborhood past particular person occasions. She known as for stronger mentorship, management improvement, documentation and partnerships with academic and cultural establishments.
The Co-founder/Fans Club lead, Mr. Kayode Yussuf, inspired youths to deal with expertise and optimistic methods of life, promising to proceed supporting the initiative at any time when known as upon.
One of the pioneers, Mrs. Onyinyechukwu Jane Achukwu, additionally highlighted the group’s mentoring, capacity-building and cultural documentation actions throughout totally different areas, stressing the significance of preserving oral histories and African heritage on open platforms.
The Team Lead, Wikimedia Anambra Network Communications, Miracle Chinaza Adiele, stated his place and relationship with college students had enabled him to introduce many younger folks to Wikimedia actions. He famous that college students from areas together with Mass Communication and Public Administration had participated within the community’s programmes, including that the group was working tirelessly to realize its goals.
Among these honoured with awards of excellence have been the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Anambra State Chapter, Comrade Odogwu Emeka Odogwu PhD, JP, and the CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata, amongst others.
Comrade Dr. Odogwu, who authored three novels together with ‘ My Dad,My Hero’, ‘Dangerous Escape’ and “Forgiveness Is Sin: A Corps Member’s Escapades”, and an exhilarating drama “Amanuke (A Drama Series)”, was represented by a veteran journalist, Comrade Uche Kalu, who expressed appreciation for the popularity and congratulated Wikimedia on 4 years of sustained actions, describing the platform as vital for data sharing, documentation and preservation of occasions, folks and societal historical past.
Odogwu urged for a deliberate and arranged youth participation in digital expertise improvement to help Wikipedia in a sustained documentation of Igbo tradition, language, heritage and neighborhood data.
The anniversary celebration ended with renewed requires volunteers, editors, trainers, photographers, researchers and newcomers to proceed contributing to Wikimedia initiatives, whereas beneficiaries of the awards expressed appreciation and pledged their continued help for the community.
Highlights of the event included a spelling ‘B’ competitors, cultural dance performances, anniversary cake chopping, presentation of awards, amongst different actions.
