It was a celebration of sort on Thursday 29 January, 2015 at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Awka as the Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor hosted all the security and media chiefs is the state including top government functionaries , academicians, traditional rulers ,clergymen and religious to a dinner night
The sumptuous event which was held at the bishop's conference hall started at exactly 5:03 pm with all the invited guests seated as earlier as 4pm being the original kickoff time given to them in their various invitation cards .
Speaking at the event, Bishop Ezeokafor expressed gratitude to God for the gift of another new year noting that the essence of having them around was to familiarize with each of them .
Bishop Ezeokafor expressed delight over the turnout at the event and thanked them for honouring his invitation saying that it was a day set aside by the diocese to celebrate the New Year with the crème de la crème in Anambra.
He said even though the new year get-together came at the tale end of January his message of love and friendliness remained the same noting that it would have been done earlier in the year if not for few bottlenecks coupled with his busy schedules.
Bishop Ezeokafor enjoined them to use the occasion as a way of bridging the gap between the Church and all those holding key positions in all government's establishment even as he urged them to feel free to partner with the Church especially at this period electioneering .
In their separate speeches, the Manager Purity FM Awka, Mrs. Miriam Menkiti and the managing director/editor-in-chief of Anambra Newspaper and printing cooperation (ANPC), publishers of National Light, Mr. Chuka Nnabuife commended the bishop for the opportunity given to them to mingle with those that matter in society as well as finding them worthy to merit his invitations.
The duo who took their time to showcase their vast understanding of the media and journalistic prowesses showered encomiums on the bishop even as they urged him to make the event an annual one even as they described the function as first of its kind.
Also speaking the interim vice Chancellor of the proposed Peter University, Achina Aguata council area of the state, Prof. Nwana extolled the bishop for the laudable gesture and assured him of their unflinching support.
Prof. Nwana while commending the bishop ,called on public spirited individuals to assist the diocese in their onerous task of instituting a citadel of learning that would offer the best university education to students.
In a vote of thanks, the diocesan chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Peter Chudi Akaenyi, thanked God for the gift of Bishop Ezeokafor noting that he ( Bishop ) had shone like a million stars ever since he took over as the chief shepherd of the Diocese .
He listed out some of the bishop's achievements to included donation of 18 seaters bus , items worth millions of naira to Nigeria prison service for easy conveying of prison inmates to court .
Names of those who graced the occasion were the diocesan director of communication ,Very Rev. Msgr. Jerome Madueke; Bishop's secretary ,Rev.Fr. Lawrence Nwankwo; Deputy diocesan chancellor, Rev. Fr. Francis Chidume ; Bishop's assistant secretary, Rev. Fr. Michael Muonwe; Rev. Fr. Alfred Anazodo; Rev. Fr. Kenneth Amakeze (Master of ceremony), religious men and women
Others were His Royal Majesty Peter Anugwu (Igwe Mbaukwu), head of service Anambra State, Mr. Chidi Ezeoke mni; Vice chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Prof. Eberendu Ahaneku and wife ; provost of federal college of education technical, Umunze, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu and wife;
Provost of Nwafor Orizu college of education, Nsugbe, Dr. Mrs. Cordelia Ego Uzoezie; Chairman civil service commission and former head of service Anambra State , Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Melifeonwu; Chief Sir O.B Onyali SAN; Anambra state Commissioner of police, Mr. H.H. Karma represented by ASP Opara M.I; Director of DSS, Mr. Okeiyi; NSCDC Boss; Comptroller prisons and the sector commander FRSC, Mr. Sunday Ajayi
High point of occasion were special musical rendition offered by students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and presentation of gifts
[18:39, 2/4/2015] Orient News Abuc: Bishop Ezeokafor Hosts Security, Media Chiefs, Others
BY ABUCHI IFESINACHI, AWKA
It was a celebration of sort on Thursday 29 January, 2015 at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Awka as the Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor hosted all the security and media chiefs is the state including top government functionaries , academicians, traditional rulers ,clergymen and religious to a dinner night
The sumptuous event which was held at the bishop's conference hall started at exactly 5:03 pm with all the invited guests seated as earlier as 4pm being the original kickoff time given to them in their various invitation cards .
Speaking at the event, Bishop Ezeokafor expressed gratitude to God for the gift of another new year noting that the essence of having them around was to familiarize with each of them .
Bishop Ezeokafor expressed delight over the turnout at the event and thanked them for honouring his invitation saying that it was a day set aside by the diocese to celebrate the New Year with the crème de la crème in Anambra.
He said even though the new year get-together came at the tale end of January his message of love and friendliness remained the same noting that it would have been done earlier in the year if not for few bottlenecks coupled with his busy schedules.
Bishop Ezeokafor enjoined them to use the occasion as a way of bridging the gap between the Church and all those holding key positions in all government's establishment even as he urged them to feel free to partner with the Church especially at this period of electioneering .
In their separate speeches, the Manager Purity FM Awka, Mrs. Miriam Menkiti and the managing director/editor-in-chief of Anambra Newspaper and printing cooperation (ANPC), publishers of National Light, Mr. Chuka Nnabuife commended the bishop for the opportunity given to them to mingle with those that matter in society as well as finding them worthy to merit his invitations.
The duo who took their time to showcase their vast understanding of the media and journalistic prowesses showered encomiums on the bishop
They appealed to the bishop to make the event an annual one even as they described the function as first of its kind.
Also speaking the interim vice Chancellor of the proposed Peter University, Achina Aguata council area of the state, Prof. Nwana extolled the bishop for the laudable gesture and assured him of their unflinching support.
Prof. Nwana while commending the bishop ,called on public spirited individuals to assist the diocese in their onerous task of instituting a citadel of learning that would offer the best university education to students.
In a vote of thanks, the diocesan chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Peter Chudi Akaenyi, thanked God for the gift of Bishop Ezeokafor noting that he ( Bishop ) had shone like a million stars ever since he took over as the chief shepherd of the Diocese .
He listed out some of the bishop's achievements to included donation of 18 seaters bus , items worth millions of naira to Nigeria prison service for easy conveying of prison inmates to court .
Names of those who graced the occasion were the diocesan director of communication ,Very Rev. Msgr. Jerome Madueke; Bishop's secretary ,Rev.Fr. Lawrence Nwankwo; Deputy diocesan chancellor, Rev. Fr. Francis Chidume ; Bishop's assistant secretary, Rev. Fr. Michael Muonwe; Rev. Fr. Alfred Anazodo; Rev. Fr. Kenneth Amakeze (Master of ceremony), religious men and women
Others were His Royal Majesty Peter Anugwu (Igwe Mbaukwu), head of service Anambra State, Mr. Chidi Ezeoke mni; Vice chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Prof. Eberendu Ahaneku and wife ; provost of federal college of education technical, Umunze, Prof. Josephat Ogbuagu and wife;
Provost of Nwafor Orizu college of education, Nsugbe, Dr. Mrs. Cordelia Ego Uzoezie; Chairman civil service commission and former head of service Anambra State , Barr. Mrs. Ngozi Melifeonwu; Chief Sir O.B Onyali SAN; Anambra state Commissioner of police, Mr. H.H. Karma represented by ASP Opara M.I; Director of DSS