The Wife of the Governor of Anambra State and Founder of HLWNS, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, officially launched the Healthy Living Garden and Saturday Workout Session at the Anyamelum Local Government Headquarters in Anaku. The event marks a pivotal step in her crusade to promote organic nutrition, physical fitness, and community-driven wellness across the state.
In her keynote address, Mrs. Soludo emphasized that “health is the greatest wealth,” drawing from her 17-year advocacy for healthy living, which predates her husband’s tenure as Governor. “Healthy living is my passion. My business, focused on healthy foods, has thrived for over a decade,” she stated. As Anambra’s First Lady, she has expanded this mission into a statewide movement, stressing that “90% of modern ailments stem from poor dietary choices, particularly reliance on chemically processed foods.”
“Eating natural foods, as God created them, is the ultimate path to wellness,” she declared, urging residents to embrace home vegetable gardening. She announced plans to distribute seedlings—including peppers, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes—across Anyamelum once the rainy season begins. The newly launched Healthy Living Garden will serve as a model for similar projects in all 21 Local Government Areas (LGAs), alongside farmers’ markets to sell organic produce at subsidized rates. A pilot program at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, has already demonstrated success.
Mrs. Soludo cautioned against harmful farming practices: “Spraying oil-based chemicals on crops like Ugu toxic residues that damage organs over time. Growing your own food ensures safety and quality.”
The First Lady also introduced the Saturday Workout Session, a weekly fitness initiative to foster communal bonding. “Exercise transforms lives. A disciplined older person can outpace a sedentary youth in vitality. Train dirty, eat clean!” she quipped, pledging to join a session personally. She praised the Red Cross Team for teaching emergency response skills, urging attendees to prioritize life-saving actions over “filming victims for social media.”
Also speaking, Anyamelum Mayor, Prince Alphonsus Ofumelu, lauded Mrs. Soludo and Governor Chukwuma Soludo for prioritizing healthcare and employment. “The new General Hospital will save mothers from traveling 2-3 hours to Onitsha for antenatal care. Thousands of our citizens now work in the teaching sector—a historic achievement,” he said.
On his part, Dr. Afam Obidike, Commissioner for Health and HLWNS Coordinator, highlighted the success of the Nonye Soludo Healthy Living Pap, a nutritional supplement for malnourished children, which has seen remarkable uptake in Anyamelum.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The event drew prominent figures, including:
– Lady Oluchi Ibezim, Wife of the Deputy Governor
– Barr. Anthony Ifeanya, Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources
– Hon. Vincent Iloegbunam, Anyamelum APGA Chairman
– Hon. Obiorah, Council Leader
– Lady Esther Onyekesi, APGA State Woman Leader
– Mrs. Stella Onuorah, Anyamelum Woman Leader
– Traditional Rulers, President-Generals, Healthy Living Team, and Red Cross representatives.
