Kingsley Ezekwelu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency, is not playing games ahead of the 2027 elections. His mission? A six-month intensive workshop designed to reorient, transform, and empower the youth of Anambra through legitimate hustle and hard work.
Speaking at a thank-you rally held at Udoh Nkolafia Field in Awka-Ettiti, Idemili South Local Government Area, on Sunday, Ezekwelu threw serious shade at the quick-money syndrome that has allegedly got many young people abandoning the core values and work ethic that keep society grounded.
Why is the quick-money syndrome a problem for Nigerian youths?
Ezekwelu argued that the hunger for fast cash has fueled moral decadence among the youth. He insisted that before any empowerment programme can actually work, there has to be a serious change of mindset first.
“Our youth now, because of the emergence of quick money syndrome, have left the core values, the norms that guide our society, which is predicated on hard work. Before you empower a youth, first change his mindset so that he resolves within himself that he wants to succeed and wants to do better,” he said.
The candidate made it clear that handing out money or skills without first fixing the mental framework is a waste of time. According to him, without proper reorientation, any support given to the youth will just be treated like a “parting gift” that gets squandered.
What does the six-month youth reorientation programme include?
The programme is designed to take the youth through a structured process of teaching, nurturing, and counselling. The goal is to rebuild their lives on the foundations of hard work, merit, perseverance, and loyalty. After the six months are up, Ezekwelu plans to roll out empowerment initiatives, including skills acquisition and financial support, to help them start their own thing.
“With that support and change of mindset, we can empower them with skills acquisition and financial support to start up; from there, they can be able to build, expand and develop themselves and be able to take care of others, and society will be better for it,” he stated.
His message was simple: build the youth, build the nation.
Awka-Ettiti community throws weight behind APC for 2027
The rally wasn't just about Ezekwelu. A prominent community leader, Ebuka Okeke, popularly known as Alhaji Saint, made a strong case for why Awka-Ettiti needs an APC-led government. His top priority? Fixing the dilapidated roads that are holding the community back.
“Awka-Ettiti is good, peaceful and well secured, but we need roads to grow and develop more. Our roads are in dilapidated condition, which is why we are campaigning heavily for APC because we just need to fix the bad roads in the town,” Okeke said.
Okeke also called out the current lawmakers, saying they are “nothing to write home about,” and argued that the community needs a representative like Ezekwelu who is accessible and truly connected to the people. He pledged to use his political connections to ensure the APC candidate secures victory.
Who else attended the rally?
The event was well attended by key APC figures, including the Anambra State APC Zonal Vice Chairman (Central), Chief Mommife Azubuike; the Idemili South APC Chairman, Sunday Obidigbo; and other party heavyweights like Tony Ezekwelu and Chief Okelo Madukaife.
With this kind of community backing and a clear plan for youth development, Ezekwelu is making a bold statement: the future of Anambra's youth is not in get-rich-quick schemes, but in solid, sustainable growth. The question now is whether the voters are ready to back the vision.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 general election in Nigeria?
The 2027 general elections are scheduled to hold in Nigeria, with campaigns and political activities already intensifying across the country. The exact dates are typically announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
What is the quick-money syndrome?
The quick-money syndrome refers to a growing trend among Nigerian youths to seek fast and easy wealth, often abandoning traditional values like hard work, patience, and merit in the process.
What is the APC's plan for youth empowerment in Anambra?
The APC candidate, Kingsley Ezekwelu, has proposed a six-month reorientation workshop aimed at changing the mindset of youths before rolling out skills acquisition and financial empowerment programmes.