Owerri mechanics to relocate to Avu – Gov. Okorocha appeals for cooperation

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has advised mechanics operating in Owerri and environs to co-operate in the effort to relocate them to Avu Mechanic Cluster with an assurance that government intends to provide modern facilities, including a uniform specification for workshop buildings. The governor who spoke during an interactive meeting with mechanics at Ahiajoku Convention Centre stressed the need to sanitize the urban profile of the state capital with the relocation of mechanics and other artisans to a more conducive environment. Calling on the mechanics to embrace the good intentions of government by peacefully moving out of their present locations, including Orji and Nekede mechanic villages, Governor Okorocha assured that those who own workshop…

National Conference: Look beyond Religion …Archbishop Obinna

Nigerian Christians and Muslims must look beyond religion and focus on the common good, if the country will move forward. They must concentrate on shared values and uphold that which is capable of lifting up the nation. Archbishop Anthony Obinna made this call while addressing communication directors at the Assumpta Pastoral Centre Owerri April. He emphasized  that if the practitioners of both religions should work concertedly on common good issues that would benefit the nation, without forcing Islam or Christianity into dynamics, “we might end up with a humanizing Islam and a humanizing Christianity without thereby evacuating their more spiritual – doctrinal aspects.” The Catholic Archbishop  of Owerri  explained that Muslim – Christian encounter was…

Plan underway for Catholic University …In Owerri Archdiocese

There are strong indications that the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri is planning to establish a Catholic University within its area of jurisdiction to be known as “Assumpta University”. This fact was in an address delivered on Saturday March 22, 2014 to members of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocesan Pastoral Council at Obiri Odenigbo, Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri by His Grace, Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna, the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri. According to the chief shepherd, “in the light of the increased number of Catholic primary and secondary schools in the Archdiocese (200 now), turning out potential candidates for the university, the need to have a Catholic University, “Assumpta University” has been pushing itself up”. The prelate…

Land Use Policy And Development Control: A Look At Imo State Ministry Of Lands And Owerri Capital Development Authority

INTRODUCTION A Lot of complaints has been made by members of the public against the ministry of lands and particularly against the Owerri capital development Authority. However since the appointment of Hon Uche Nwosu, a lot of Checks and balances and or reforms has taken place and somehow public confidence has been restored gradually in the system as it tries to reform itself. For the first time however, Hon Uche Nwosu has made a professional Estate surveyor who is accessible and intellectually compliant, a Director of Lands. Also in the Department of Deeds, The government Certification and documentation of Title is in progress under an effective director. In OCDA unfortunately the rot continues but hopefully…

Igboland, hope of Christianity in Nigeria – Fr. Nkwocha

-As Provincial CMO meets in Owerri Christian Fathers in Igboland have been reminded that the hope of Christianity in Nigeria lies in their hands and should therefore hold on tenaciously to this faith and handover same to their children undiluted. The Administrator of Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, Rev. Fr. Andrew Nkwocha gave this reminder at the Mass which kick-started the meeting of the Catholic Men Organization (CMO), Owerri Ecclesiastical Province held at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Owerri, Thursday, March 27, 2014. In his homily, Fr. Nkwocha, who represented Archbishop Anthony Obinna said Christians are suffering serious persecution in many parts of Northern Nigeria, and called on the Christian fathers to make sure that the faith is…

KSM: Sancta Maria Sub-Council celebrates feast of Unborn Child, as priest condemns euthanasia

The Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba, Sancta Maria Sub-Council, Owerri joined their counterparts in Nigeria to celebrate the feast of the Unborn Child, March 25, 2014. The International Year of the Unborn Child is observed on March 25.  It was established by Pope John Paul II to coincide with the feast of Annunciation. The occasion began with Mass celebrated at the Claret Chapel New Owerri by Rev. Fr. Stanley Ogaraku (Cmf), who represented the Chaplain of the sub-Council, Rev. Fr. Christian Eke (Cmf). In his sermon, Fr. Ogaraku reflected on the readings and highlighted the role played by Blessed Virgin Mary in the salvation of man. On the feast of the Unborn Child, Fr….

Nursing mothers go into hiding in Imo – As kidnappers target babies, shoot parents of victims

Families with new born babies in Imo State now live in fear, as the incidence of abduction of such babies and shooting of parents continues to rise. The latest incident was that of five-month-old Chidiogu, daughter of Mr. Kingsley Igwegbe and Mrs. Ugochi Igwegbu of Umuzike Orlu, who was snatched at gun point from her mother, as the woman was about to enter the family house.  They had shot Mrs. Igwegbe on the thigh.  Consequently, she is now lying critically ill at the Imo State University Teaching Hospital  IMSUTH Orlu while the whereabouts of the abducted baby remains unknown. It would be recalled that a similar incident took place at Durukwu Umuebele in Okporo Orlu…

Students’ Cohabitation, Church raises Alarm

It is simply unacceptable!  Male and female undergraduate students are living together and sharing rooms in privately owned University accommodations. Many observers say it is not a problem of shortage of hostels but perhaps a fast increasing sense of a permissive culture that is destroying the moral fabric of our society. Living on the same floor of the same building and using the same toilets and bathrooms surely stokes the embers of sexual immorality. Information that this ugly situation is occurring at different private accommodations built for Imo State University students and their peers in other tertiary institutions, has filtered into the ears of the church. His Grace, the Archbishop of Owerri, Most Rev. Anthony…

Excessive Urbanisation Of Owerri: Robbing Peter To Pay Paul

Suya is a Shish Kebab-like food consumed in West Africa, originally introduced by the Hausa people of northern Cameroon, Niger and Nigeria. It is highly popular and suya spots litter almost every major street junction in Nigeria. Since suya is made mainly with skewered beef, there is a popular saying in Nigeria which comes in the form of a rhetorical question: let us have more suya; is it nor from the flesh of the cow? In other words, more cows have to die for us to have more suya. The most abused decree in Nigeria is, most probably, the Nigerian Land Use Decree of 1978. Ironically, one of the justifications given for the Land Use…

Fr. Cloonan Memorial Secondary School Emekuku holds inter-house sports

Sporting activities in the school system have been described as an integral part of the education of the child that helps him to showcase his talents. Rev. Fr. Dr. Nicholas Nwachukwu, Principal, Fr. Cloonan Memorial Secondary School Emekuku stated this on the occasion of the school maiden inter-house sports marked at Chief Obi Memorial Primary School Emekuku playground, Saturday, March 15, 2014. As is customary, the celebration began with a Holy Mass before the field events. The event was graced by many dignitaries including Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Oha, Owerri Archdiocesan Chancellor/Secretary who represented the Archbishop of Owerri, His Grace, Most Rev. A.J.V. Obinna, Comrade Joe Best Ajaero, Gen.-Secretary Nigerian Union of Electricity Workers, HRH Eze…

Don’t give up in face of challenges – Priest charges Ladies of St. Mulumba as retreat ends

Christ’s faithful have been charged not to give up efforts to make a difference in a world full of evils, even when they are misunderstood, provided their conscience are clear. Fr. Raphael Nnaemeka Uzoekwe (CMF), gave the charge while preaching the homily at the closing Mass of a three-day retreat held for the Holy Rosary Sub-Council of Ladies of St. Mulumba (LSM) Owerri, from Friday, March 14 to Sunday, March 16, 2014 at the Claretian Institute of Philosophy, Maryland, Nekede. The homilist, who is also the Director of Retreats at the Institute, urged the women to be dynamic in reaching out to the grassroots, touching the lives of fellow Christians with what they had learnt…

Fr. Ibole celebrates feast of St. Patrick with pupils of St. Michael’s Nur/Pri School Amakohia

Rev. Fr. Patrick Ibole and the pupils of St. Michael’s Nursery/Primary School Amakohia, Uratta, joined millions of Catholics worldwide to celebrate this year’s Feast of St. Patrick, March 17. The celebration started with a thanksgiving Mass presided over by Fr. Ibole. In his sermon, Fr. Ibole  who is also the Vicar-General of Owerri Archdiocese, traced the life and time of St. Patrick, how he was kidnapped at the age of 16, sold into slavery in Ireland and after six years of living the life of a shepherding slave, Patrick escaped and returned to Britian. However, he felt God calling him to be a priest; so, he set out to France where he studied for priesthood….

Prof. Awuzie calls for Catholic University in Orlu

The Vice-Chancellor of the Imo State University, Owerri, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie has called for the establishment of a Catholic University in Orlu Diocese, Imo State. Speaking during an award ceremony organized by the Orlu Diocesan Laity Council at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Orlu, Prof. Awuzie said the establishment of a Catholic University in Orlu will help absorb thousands of Imo State candidates who could not be admitted into the Imo State University Owerri and the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO). Prof. Awuzie, who was the chairman of the occasion, revealed that of about 140,000 candidates who applied for admission in IMSU and FUTO, only about 10,000 candidates could be admitted in the two universities. …

Enough of Hotels, Please! – Catholic Bishop tells Imo millionaires

The plethora of hotels that are literally springing up in every corner of our streets, especially in the main cities of Imo State – Owerri in particular have become disconcerting for many in the State. Worried by the increasing number of unemployed in Imo State, the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma has appealed to Imo millionaires to have mercy on this army of unemployed youths and invest in manufacturing industry instead of hotels. Speaking during the funeral of an industrialist, Sir Godwin Okwara at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Amaifeke Orlu recently, Bishop Ukwuoma observed that hotels have taken grip of major cities in Imo State, while the state is bereft of…

Imo Govt pays compensation to Naze/Egbu Landlords

The Imo State Government says it will not renege in its resolve to ensure prompt payment of compensation to Land Owners whose Land was acquired for development purposes. The Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Chief Uche Nwosu stated this in his office while disbursing cheques of over N32 million to Land Owners of Timber and Allied Market Approach Layout of Egbu and Naze, Owerri North Local Government Area. The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Basil Ogwunga recalled that during the immediate past regime in the State about 30.48 hectres of land was acquired for the building of Timber and Allied Market without any compensation paid. He noted that in…

KSM, Owerri Metro elevates 300 to 3rd Degree

The Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri has commended Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, for their unflinching support to the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria. Archbishop Obinna gave the commendation during a Pontifical Mass preceding the 3rd Degree investiture of 300 Knights and their Ladies at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church Emekuku, Owerri, February 28. He recalled several instances in which Knights of St. Mulumba proved in word and action that they are true defenders of the faith. In his sermon, Archbishop Obinna said true investiture is about clothing, it is not so much about external clothing; but an invitation to effective and moral beauty. The prelate however reminded the investees…

Holy Ghost College Owerri holds Inter-house Sports – Says all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

It was fun-filled day at Holy Ghost College, Owerri as students, staff and management of the school marked their Annual Inter-house Sports on Friday, February 21, 2014. The event which was segmented into two sections started with the celebration of a Holy Mass, presided over by the principal of the school, Rev. Fr. Cyprian Ogu. Fr. Ogu while delivering his homily enunciated that what makes a perfect student is not only his ability in academic work but also his ability to change to suit new conditions and situations.  Sports he said, keeps the student physically fit for studies. The second segment of the occasion, which is the field events attracted many dignitaries from all walks…

IBC pensioners go spiritual over 40 months pension arrears

The Imo Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) Pensioners Association embarked on a three-day fasting and prayer last week to seek the intervention of God in the non-payment of their pension and gratuity by the Imo State Government and IBC Management. The Pensioners decided to go spiritual at their general meeting on Wednesday February 12, 2014 in Owerri. The IBC retirees are being owed 40 months of pension and gratuity arrears which led to two peaceful demonstrations last year to press for the payment of the arrears after which promises were made by both the government and IBC management.  After several months of waiting the pensioners resolved to take the matter to God for divine intervention. As if…

Douglas House, Owerri (2)

In order not to de-emphasise the floating nature of Douglas House, all metal columns that supported the building were deliberately left visible and the main front of the house remained completely undisturbed by the changes adumbrated above. Altogether, the house underwent a well calculated transformation without losing its natural features and characteristics. Indeed, it maintained a charm peculiar to it that was rid of mere fashionable gimmicks and chi-chi extravaganza, while remaining a timeless antique that linked the Owerri of yesterday, today and tomorrow In 2007, while I was in the United States of America on vacation, I read from the internet that Douglas House  was burnt. That day was a sad day indeed for…

FGGC Owerri refutes alleged sex scandal publication

The Federal Government Girls’ College Owerri has reacted to a report in an Owerri based newspaper, captioned, “Rape Scandal Rocks Federal Girls’ Owerri”, describing the publication as “a malicious write-up purported to tarnish the image of our prized model college…” In a statement issued on Thursday, February 13, 2014, the Chairman of the School’s Parent/Teacher Association (PTA), Sir Chinyere Clifford Nwagu said: “The write-up lacks credence as it does not concern any student or child of any staff living in the college compound”. According to Sir Nwagu, “Favour Opara was a casual security woman who was employed by the PTA of Federal Government Girls’ College Owerri.  She always reported to work with a child of…