The need to live a life of impact on earth for the overall benefits of humanity has been stressed.
A veteran journalist, Mr. Austin Ogwuda stated this on Sunday in Okpanam while speaking with newsmen shortly after receiving posthumous award for his late father, Late Albert Ogwuda, as the first mass servant of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Okpanam during the 50th Anniversary of the church.
Austin noted that the award is a legacy that there is reward in every service one rendered in life, and lauded the church for recognizing the efforts of his father in rendering service to God and humanity.
A former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) in Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration, Chief Nnanyem Ogwuda, who is the Mazi III of Okpanam Kingdom, described their late father as a patriotic and charitable individual.
Chief Ogwuda recalled that whenever there was crisis in any family, their late father was always there to reach out to them, stressing that his attributes were worthy of emulation.
He explained that there is the spirit of touching lives in Ogwuda’s family, adding that he had sponsored 15 persons from the community in the universities and secondary school, as well as other assistance to the less privilege in the area and urged Okpanam youths to invest in themselves for a better future.
While saying that Okpanam community would ever remain grateful to former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Chief Ogwuda said that the appointment of Chief Patrick Ukah as the Director-General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori was a step in the right direction.
Earlier, Mr. Anthony Okocha, popularly known as Eze Ndigbo, who also received posthumous award for his late father, Obi Anyaeze Okocha, the first catholic convert in the community, his uncle Mr. Peter Okocha, the first trained catechist in Okpanam and Rev. Fr. Daniel Mary Onyeayana, who also received an award as one of the first ordained reverend fathers from Okpanam, described the awards as good gesture.
Okocha recalled that his family was the first to bring church to Okpanam and called on the people of the community to always embrace such initiative even as Rev. Fr. Onyeayana admonished Okpanam youths to identify with the church for the growth and development of the community.
In his sermon, the Bishop of Issele-Uku Diocese, Bishop Michael Elue, said that the day was set aside to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the church and noted that there was positive power in the Holy Spirit.
Bishop Elue told the congregation that the power of Holy Spirit was one of the basic needs of Christians and urged the preaching of Christ at all times.
