The Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has been honoured with the Health Activism Award at the 2026 BudgIT Active Citizens Awards in recognition of her contributions to preventive healthcare, community wellness and public health advocacy.
The award was presented during the third edition of the Active Citizens Awards held in Lagos, where individuals and organisations were recognised for promoting civic engagement, accountability, sustainable development and community service across Nigeria.
Dr. Soludo emerged winner ahead of health and gender rights advocate Ramatu Ada Ochekliye and public health professional Sidney Sampson after a selection process that assessed nominees on innovation, impact, sustainability, inclusion, leadership and measurable community outcomes.
The recognition highlights her leadership of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, which has driven preventive healthcare campaigns and community-based health programmes across Anambra State.
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Her interventions include statewide fitness campaigns, maternal and child health advocacy, nutrition education, environmental sanitation, the Healthy Living Pad Bank for schoolgirls, free seed distribution to encourage healthy diets and home gardening, and the Nonye’s Healthy Living Pap Initiative aimed at tackling childhood malnutrition.
Receiving the award, Dr. Soludo described the recognition as a motivation to deepen her commitment to improving community health.
“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,” she said.
She dedicated the award to members of the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, healthcare workers, volunteers, community leaders and residents of Anambra State, while expressing appreciation to BudgIT, Civic Hive and the Ford Foundation for the recognition.
BudgIT Country Director, Vahyala Kwaga, said the awards celebrate individuals who take practical steps to address societal challenges through community action and civic participation.
He commended Dr. Soludo’s humanitarian service and described her health advocacy as a model of impactful public service.
The event also featured a keynote address by political analyst Majid Dahiru, who stressed the importance of citizen participation in strengthening democratic governance, while BudgIT Global Director, Oluseun David Onigbinde, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting accountability and active citizenship through civic engagement initiatives.
