• From Magnus Emuji / Chukwudi Asoya:

The need to live impactful life on earth for the overall benefits of humanity has been stressed.

A veteran journalist , Mr. Austin Ogwuda stated this in Okpanam while speaking with newsmen shortly after receiving posthumous award for his late father, Diokpa Albert Ogwuda as the first mass servant of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Okpanam during the 50th Anniversary of the church.

He said that the award was a legacy that there was 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 Nnanyim 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 was 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 described the appointment of Chief Patrick Ukah’s appointment as the Director-General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori as 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 and 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 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 christians to preach Christ at all times.