Valentine Ozigbo, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, flag-bearer for the 2021 Anambra governorship election, marked his 51st birthday with the Catholic Women Organisation, CWO, of the Cathedral Basilica of The Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, when the organisation held its annual July/August meeting.
Valentine Ozigbo, who hails from Amesi in Aguata Local Government Area, was born to a school headmaster and Catechist, Chief Andrew Ozigbo, in Umuomaku, a rural village in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on July 20, 1971.
At the birthday celebration held at the Shannahan Hall at the Cathedral Basilica of The Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha, Mr Ozigbo thanked God for His grace upon his life. He explained why he chose to celebrate with the CWO instead of a social event.
“I am excited to be spending this special day with women, a group of people who are very dear to me. All my life, God has surrounded me with women of substance, who have been pivotal to everything I have achieved in life so far,” Ozigbo, who is the immediate past President and Group CEO, said.
“I am the last child of Christiana, husband of the beautiful Ojiugo, and father to Chioma, three virtuous women who embody godliness, strength, and love.
“I have also been favoured to meet great women in my professional career who have broken every stereotype, destroyed obstacles placed in their way by society, and raised the bar for excellence in their chosen fields.
“I firmly believe that if women take their rightful place in society, impossibilities will be a thing of the past for Nigeria because women have the will, courage, creativity, intellectual strength, and the innovation to drive the kind of transformation that we yearn for as a people.
“Since the inception of my political journey, I have hinged my campaign on the collective strength of the women and the youth, and I am happy to be celebrating this birthday with you.
“By God’s grace and with your prayers, my next birthday will be as the Governor of Anambra State,” Ozigbo, a multiple-award-winning global CEO, added.
Ozigbo made a cash donation to CWO as they unveiled the Grotto of Our Blessed Mary. The Catholic women also presented Ozigbo with an award of excellence for his numerous contributions to women in society.
Ozigbo was accompanied to the event by his wife, Mrs Ojiugo Ozigbo, Rt Hon Eucharia Azodo, the Director of Women and Welfare for the VCO Campaign Organisation; Lady Juliet Anaeme, the Director for Youth and Support Groups of the VCO Campaign Organisation; Dame Love Ebeh, a former PDP woman leader in Anambra State; Mrs Oby Mezi, the woman leader of the VCO Youth Movement; Mr Obinna Ufudo, a business mogul and close friend to Valentine Ozigbo; Chuks Ozigbo, a Lagos based businessman; Gerry Ozigbo, several members of the VCO Campaign Organisation, and some PDP stalwarts from around the state.
Mr Valentine Ozigbo is an international sports developer and one of Nigeria’s most recognisable philanthropists. He is the Chairman of Feet ‘N’ Tricks International, the largest promoter of freestyle football in Africa. His contribution to the development of the sport, the fastest-growing type of football, has been showcased on CNN’s ‘Connecting Africa’.
He resigned from his position as the President and Group CEO of Transcorp Plc in March 2020 to dedicate the next chapter of his life to public service. He finally stepped down from all the boards of the diversified conglomerate in April 2021.
The respected business leader made history when he won the PDP governorship primary held on Saturday, June 26, 2020, in Awka, the Anambra State capital. The election was adjudged the most “free, fair, and transparent primary in the party’s history”.
He received his certificate of return on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, from the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus.
