INTERNATIONAL YOUTH TALENT AND DISCOVERY AWARDS ROUND ONE ENDS IN ANAMBRA
19 parishes and chaplaincies participate as St. Paul’s Mgbakwu emerges overall champion with 882 points
ADAZINNWUKWU, ANAMBRA STATE — The Round One of the 2026 Universal Organisation for Education-Sports and Leadership Distinction (UOESD)/Commonwealth Society of Nigeria International Youth Talent and Discovery Awards has ended on a high note, with 19 registered parishes and chaplaincies from across Nigeria participating in a week-long celebration of education, sports, leadership, arts and youth talent.The competition, which ran from 29 August to 6 September 2026, was hosted at Bubendorf Memorial Secondary School, Adazinnukwu, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.The one-week programme featured 46 different activities, providing participants with opportunities to compete in academic challenges, sports, creative arts and entertainment, while also promoting teamwork, discipline, leadership and personal development.
ST. PAUL’S MGBAKWU EMERGES OVERALL WINNER
At the conclusion of the competition, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Mgbakwu, emerged as the overall champion with an outstanding 882 points.Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chaplaincy, Adazinnukwu, finished in second position with 606 points, while St. Benedict’s Parish, Enugwu-Ukwu, secured third position.St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Awka, recorded 528 points to take fourth position, while St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Obeledu, finished fifth with 204 points.The performances across the different categories reflected the breadth of talents represented at the competition, with participants demonstrating their abilities in intellectual, sporting, artistic and entertainment activities.
₦550,000 AWARDED TO WINNERS
In recognition of the participants' hard work, commitment and exceptional performances, a total of ₦550,000 was awarded to winners across the different categories of the Round One competition.The organisers said the financial rewards were intended not merely as prizes but also as encouragement for young people to continue developing their talents and pursuing excellence.
EXCEPTIONAL SINGING AWARD AND BEST CYON PRESIDENT
Among the individual and institutional recognitions presented at the event was the Exceptional Singing Award, which went to St. Bridget Catholic Church, Asata, Enugu, under the Enugu Diocese, in recognition of its outstanding performance in singing.Also honoured was Master Nwaire Samuel, Parish President of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Mgbakwu, who received the award for Best CYON President in Nigeria 2026.The recognition also qualifies him for entry into the league of Commonwealth Brand Ambassadors of Nigeria, subject to the applicable processes of the organisation.
LEADERS HONOURED FOR GLOBAL IMPACT
The award ceremony also featured the presentation of special Global Impact and Inspiring Leadership Awards to distinguished individuals recognised for their contributions to education, sports, youth development and community leadership.The recipients were Rev. Fr. Dennis Nwabueze, CYON Chaplain of Awka Diocese; Rev. Fr. Kilian Ike, Assistant Manager of Bubendorf Memorial Grammar School, Adazinnukwu; Dist. Hon. Tochukwu Obiadi, APGA Youth Leader of Anambra State; and Dist. Hon. Akachukwu Solomon Igwebuike, associated with the Commonwealth Games and Olympic movement.The awards recognised their efforts towards building a better society through leadership, education, sports and youth empowerment.
ANAMBRA GOVERNMENT OFFERS SPORTING OPPORTUNITIES TO WINNERS
A major highlight of the award ceremony was the announcement concerning the future of the sporting talents discovered during the competition.Dist. Hon. Tochukwu Obiadi, Anambra State APGA Youth Leader, who represented the Anambra State Government at the ceremony, together with Dist. Hon. Akachukwu Solomon Igwebuike, announced that winners of the international football, athletics/race, volleyball and other sporting events would receive automatic consideration for inclusion in the Anambra State sports team, regardless of their parish, diocese or state of origin.The announcement was received with excitement by participants and organisers, as it potentially provides a direct pathway for young athletes identified through the competition to access higher-level sporting opportunities.They also announced plans to support the establishment of a sports training ground at the host institution, which would provide a venue for young athletes to train and prepare for continental and global stages of the competition.
OLYMPIC OFFICIAL ENCOURAGES YOUNG ATHLETES
Speaking at the occasion, Dist. Hon. Akachukwu Solomon Igwebuike, who has held a refereeing/officiating position at the Olympic Games and is a multiple award recipient associated with the Commonwealth Games, encouraged the participants to remain committed to hard work and continuous improvement.He urged the young people not to see the competition merely as an opportunity to win prizes, but as a platform for discovering their potential and preparing themselves for national, continental and international opportunities.
PREVIOUS BENEFICIARIES PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF IMPACT
The organisers also highlighted the success stories of previous participants as evidence of the long-term impact of the programme.One of the girls selected during the 2024 edition in the categories of Quiz, Debate and Storytelling, who subsequently progressed to the global stage, was recognised by the Anambra State Government as one of the celebrants during the welcome party organised for Anambra youths who represented Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.Her journey from participation in the youth talent programme to representing herself at higher levels was cited as an example of how talent identification programmes can create opportunities for young people beyond the immediate competition.
2024 ENDURANCE RACE PARTICIPANT RECOUNTS AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
Another participant from St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Mgbakwu, who competed at the African level of the endurance race following the 2024 edition, shared her experience during the ceremony.She recounted how the competition gave her the opportunity to meet and establish friendships with athletes from different African countries. According to her account, the African-level race attracted more than 3,000 runners from across the continent.She further recalled the dominance of Kenyan athletes in the men's category that year, with Kenyan runners taking the first, second and third positions and collectively claiming the $30,000 prize purse.Her testimony provided participants with a glimpse of the opportunities that can emerge when young talents progress from local competitions to continental and global platforms.
NOLLYWOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG TALENT
The programme also produced another significant opportunity for a young participant, Frances Oluebube.Dist. (Amb.) Stephen Anejemba, popularly known as Uwaezuoke, a veteran Nollywood actor and Commonwealth Society of Nigeria Ambassador, offered Frances automatic movie opportunities at different levels following a visit by Frances and her mother to appreciate the organisers and express gratitude for the platform that enabled her to showcase her talent.The development further underscored the organisers' stated objective of connecting discovered talents with real-life opportunities in their respective fields.
CLERGY URGE YOUTHS TO INVEST IN TALENT DEVELOPMENT
The host priest, Rev. Fr. (Amb.) Augustine Oguine, who is the Dean of Adazi Deanery in Awka Diocese and a Commonwealth Society of Nigeria Ambassador, commended the participants and encouraged young people to take advantage of programmes that provide opportunities for talent discovery and development.His Assistant, Rev. Fr. Kilian Ike, and the Principal Chaplain of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) in the Diocese also encouraged the youths to invest in programmes that develop their talents, skills, intellectual abilities and aspirations.They noted that the testimonies of previous beneficiaries demonstrate that participation in structured youth development programmes can open doors to opportunities that extend far beyond the competition itself.
APPRECIATION TO AWKA DIOCESE, GOVERNMENT AND SUPPORTERS
The organisers expressed appreciation to the Bishop of Awka Diocese, the CYON Chaplain, priests, participating parishes and chaplaincies, Commonwealth Society of Nigeria Ambassadors, the Anambra State Government, parents, volunteers, officials and all individuals who contributed to the successful completion of the competition.Special acknowledgement was given to the host institution, Bubendorf Memorial Secondary School, Adazinnukwu, as well as Rev. Fr. Augustine Oguine and Rev. Fr. Kilian Ike for their support and hospitality throughout the programme.The organisers also appreciated Comr. (Amb.) Ejide Tochukwu, Secretary of CYON, Awka Diocese, for attending and supporting the programme.
ROUND ONE ENDS, GLOBAL JOURNEY CONTINUES
With the conclusion of Round One, the 2026 UOESD/Commonwealth Society of Nigeria International Youth Talent and Discovery Awards has once again demonstrated its commitment to using education, sports, arts, entertainment and leadership development as instruments for youth empowerment.From the 19 participating parishes and chaplaincies, hundreds of young people were given a platform to compete, learn, build relationships and demonstrate their potential.The organisers maintained that the ultimate objective goes beyond trophies and prizes: it is to discover talents, nurture skills, recognise excellence and create pathways through which young Nigerians can progress from local platforms to national, continental and global opportunities.The conclusion of the Anambra event therefore marks not an end, but another stage in the journey towards the subsequent rounds and the eventual emergence of young talents capable of representing Nigeria and Africa on the global stage.