Prof. Viola Onwuliri commissions Ultra-Modern School Gate at Amuzi

- Harps on Education as short-cut to bigmanism One of the activities lined up for the one-year memorial of late Prof. C.O.E. Onwuliri (KSJI), the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) is the commissioning of an ultra-modern school gate of Community Secondary School Amuzi, Ahiazu LGA Mbaise, which took place Wednesday, June 19, 2013 by the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs State I, Prof. Viola Onwuliri (LAUX), wife of the late former Vice-Chancellor. Before her arrival, the students and their teachers filed out from the school gate to the Eke Amuzi market to accord her a befitting welcome.  After commissioning the school ultra-modern gate, the Minister inspected the school’s laboratory science…

Understanding the Year of Faith

Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, last year announced the period October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013 as “The Year of Faith” to be observed by Catholics throughout the world. Official Vatican documents, particularly “The Door of Faith”, issued by the Pope Emeritus explained that the period will enable Christ’s faithful re-discover and share with others the precious gift of faith entrusted to the Church. This re-discovery and sharing of Catholic faith is expected to be facilitated by living out the teachings of the catechism of the Catholic Church, which is rich in the systematic presentation of our faith.  It is there that we see the wealth of teaching that the church has received, safeguarded and…

Ihedioha restates commitment of NASS to Rural Development

.. flags off N6.2b road project in Mbaise Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha has assured that the National Assembly (NASS) would continue to appropriate funds to complete all projects initiated for execution in all parts of the country. He however warned that this would be contingent upon the cooperation and support of the benefiting states LGAs and communities to the contractors executing such projects. Chief Ihedioha gave the assurance weekend, while flagging off the construction of 30km Mbaise Ring Road estimated at nearly N6.2billion. The road project, which according to him cuts across the 25 communities in the three LGAs of Mbaise is meant to enhance the transportation difficulties of…

St. Jude’s Society applauds Sir F.O. Njoku

Former Chairman of CMO Assumpta Parish Owerri, Chief F.O. Njoku has received kudos from members of St. Jude Society Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State. The appreciation by members of St. Jude’s Society is sequel to the investiture of Chief Ferdinand Njoku as Nnaoha and Patron of Assumpta Parish CMO which was held at Assumpta Cathedral recently. In his homily at the Mass preceding the investiture, Rev. Fr. Andrew Nkwocha, Cathedral Administrator of Assumpta Parish urged the rich to reduce poverty in the society by empowering the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the elderly, the widows and the orphans so that the widening gap between the rich and the poor is reduced. Nnaoha F.O. Njoku,…

St. Andrew’s Parish Umuokanne celebrates Father’s Day – Decries lukewarm attitude of members

The Catholic Men Organization (CMO) of St. Andrew’s Parish Umuokanne has expressed disappointment over the lukewarm attitude of some members towards the upliftment of the parish. The President of the parish CMO, Mr. Sylvester Onyema (City), who expressed this view during the Father’s Day, May 5, 2013, regretted that some CMO members are not making any financial support for the parish and called for a complete change of heart, both morally and financially. The Parish CMO Secretary, Vincent Mary-Ihejieto Esq., echoed similar view.  He told THE LEADER that this year’s Father’s Day was rich spiritually. “Some of our parishioners’ resident “abroad” were invited to help us support and build our “parish security fence” as the…

War against Boko Haram begins – We’ll crush them – Defence Headquarters

With a massive deployment of troops and equipment, the army, navy, air force and other security agencies have begun operation to “rid the nation’s border territories of terrorists’ bases and operations. President Jonathan had in a nationwide broadcast admitted that the Federal Government no longer controlled the entire territory of Nigeria. Three states where the emergency action was declared share common borders with Cameroon, Chad and Niger.  These border communities have become bases for training, insurgency and other criminal activities against Nigeria. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) gave indication that the time was up for the Boko Haram sect and other terrorists groups in the country as it announced the deployment of massive troops to take…

Jonathan imposes emergency rule on Adamawa, Borno, Yobe

President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.  However, the governors of the affected states are to continue in their constitutional roles.  In a nationwide radio/television broadcast on Tuesday, President Jonathan ordered the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim, to deploy more troops to the affected states for more effective internal security operations. The soldiers had been given full orders to take necessary action, within the ambit of their rules of engagement, to end the impunity of insurgents and terrorists. Full texts of the President’s broadcast on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 reads. It has become necessary for me to address you on the recent spate…

Town Unions and Community Governing Council In Imo State

A town union is an association formed by members of a particular community for the socio-economic development of that community. Accordingly, town union collaborates with traditional administration, government at all levels and sometimes non-governmental agencies to achieve its aim. Town unions existed in communities in Nigeria even before colonialism. Interestingly, when the colonial masters came to the country, they also associated with town unions and made adequate use of them to foster their mission. With the country’s independence and the constitutional provision on Freedom of Association, town unions became stronger institutions. Also, with the promulgation of the Companies and Allied matters Act, town unions are now incorporated as legal persons. Today, many town unions are…

Father’s Day at St. Michael’s Parish Amakohia

Christian Fathers have been advised to discharge their duties as pillars of their homes with love, faithfulness and humility.  this call was made by Rev. Fr. Dr. Basil Osuigwe, Parish Priest, St. Michael’s Catholic Parish Amakohia-Uratta Owerri on the occasion marking this year’s Fathers Day celebration held on Sunday, May 5, 2013. The solemn Eucharistic Mass, which started the occasion was presided over by the parish priest and assisted by Rev. Fr. Mileltus Ohanumma. In his homily, Fr. Osuigwe reminded all Christian fathers of their unique role in the family which he said was to guide and direct their family members with unflinching love and faithfulness to God. According to him: “The world has deviated…

Exclusive Interview: Why I converted to Catholic faith

-          Former Anglican  Knight, Sir Abel Ikenyiri   Chief Sir Abel Ezeala Ikenyiri, native of Umuemeke-Ama Ibeowere Agbaja, Ehime Mbano LGA, Imo State, born into a family of Anglican ancestry, rose to the ranks of a knight of the Anglican Church and lay pay-master narrates verbatim how he was caught up in the “whirlwind” of Catholic faith and the “mountain” moved over. Our Okigwe reporter, PeterClaver Ubochi, traced the former Anglican ‘Big Oga’ to his tranquil Umuemekeama (Agbaja) village, had a field day with the man of faith as he speaks on the circumstances of his conversion, its aftermath, an assessment of his family life then as an Anglican, and now as a Catholic.  Welcome on…

Re-invigorating NDDC For Developmental Challenges (5)

Without doubt, efficient and effective performance of NDDC operators call for additional provisions. These provisions are in terms of structures, equipments and facilities, including personnel of various categories, and these require bold funding through improved budgetary provisions by the Federal Government. To avoid stressing so far, the bold funding should be basically implemented on a scrupulous and realistic cost estimates, after a prudent appraisal of the requirement of the various NDDC offices including the challenges they are grappling with in terms of availability of these structure, equipments, and other facilities. Management experts have stressed that adequate structures, equipments and personnel make for optimum staff utilization for high productivity and that in planning for these, a…

Dr Joe Obi-Njoku : Rising from the Grassroots

Imagine him chopping wood with an axe.  Imagine him also shirtless, barefoot, a climbing robe “akpi” on his left shoulder and a machete in his right hand, dividing the bush and heading for the nearest palm tree to cut down the ripe fruits for sale, so he and his family could eat.   Imagine him again taking bamboos from the raffia palm and carefully weaving the traditional bamboo bed – “okpukpo,” (agada in some dialet)  also to make a living. Finally, see him riding an old bicycle from his home at Umueme, Uzagba, in Ikeduru local government, to Mbaise to go to college.   That’s the life of Dr Joe Obi-Njoku, as a young man,…

HOME OF A KNIGHT SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR OTHERS – Emeakaraoha, MGK Knights of St. Mulumba

The newly elected Owerri Metropolitan Grand Knight, MGK, Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Prince Eugene O.N. Emekaraoha has said that the home of a Catholic Knight must be a model in good character and conduct to others within his environment. In his maiden address to the plenary session of Owerri Metropolitan Council of the Order of St. Mulumba Nigeria, Prince Emekaraoha warned members that anything to the contrary will not be tolerated. He also charged knights and indeed Catholic parents to teach their children Catholic Catechism from nursery stage at home and direct them towards church activities from their primary school age. ‘‘Do this and your harvest would be bountiful’’, he assured. Drawing a correlation…