From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
For Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, the Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, gratitude is very central in all his activities. In most of his public outings, he begins his remark centred on gratitude.
So, since he clocked 70 on October 20, 2023, words of gratitude, encomiums and testimonies of positive footprints have been pouring in torrents for him.
Though not known for lavish ceremonies and undue publicity, friends, associates, lay faithful and the church in general celebrated him in various ways to mark the milestone.
Football competition for inmates of the Onitsha Correctional Centre whom the archbishop adopted as his children was part of activities marking the birthday. The finals and prize giving for the footballers took place on October 20. A multi million-naira skill acquisition centre built by the archbishop for the empowerment of the inmates was also officially commissioned that day.
The archbishop on November 14, also visited the Anglican communion owned Iyienu Mission Hospital, Ogidi, where he not only ministered to the sick but also doled out millions of naira to offset medical bills of some indigent patients. Such gesture was also replicated at St. Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha.
On November 16, it was the Archbishop’s Feed the Poor programme where 2300 families drawn across different parts of Anambra State among the poor and indigent, were not only fed but supported with other food items.
The grand finale of the birthday celebration which held on November 23, at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Centenary Field Onitsha was a gathering of people from all walks of life.
About 23 Bishops and Archbishops across different dioceses in Nigeria including Cardinal Ebere Okpaleke of Ekwulobia Diocese, over 200 priests, government functionaries, politicians, knights of the church among others attended.
The spirit of ecumenism and unity of the church was on display too as the Anglican Bishop on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo led other Anglican clergies to the celebration.
Bishop Peter Chukwu of Abakaliki Catholic Diocese preached a homily titled: “Why we should be grateful to God.” He said God called Archbishop Okeke out of love and he also responded to the call out of love too: “Archbishop Okeke is a man of faith and prayer. He belongs to the category of those given 5 talents in the Bible and they returned another 5 talents. He is leading the church to self reliance and is a very important voice in our conference, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).”
The Director of Social Communications, Archdiocese of Onitsha, Rev. Fr George Adimike said that within the two decades of his episcopacy, Archbishop Okeke has led the Archdiocese of Onitsha from good to great, inspiring greatness, sustaining excellence and making the great greater
For Professor Pat Utomi, having known the archbishop for the past 57 years, leadership and the commitment to go where the eagles dare came early to him and has left its imprint in the quantum leaps experienced in the Onitsha Archdiocese under his watch.