Fr. Izunna Okonkwo Lauds Archbishop Okeke At 71

…evaluates his bishopric performances

By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha

As the Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke celebrates his 71st Birthday anniversary, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital Onitsha, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Izunna Okonkwo ( Eze Udo) on behalf of the Management and staff of the Hospital warmly felicitated with Archbishop Okeke, as well as evaluated his achievements.

Congratulating Archbishop Okeke, Fr. Izunna, as he is fondly called, described him as an Archbishop with a difference, asserting that he is greatly endowed with a lot of gifts by God.

According to the clergy, Archbishop Okeke is not only greatly endowed with a lot of gifts by God, but he is making adequate use of his gifts from God, saying that  the way he makes use of these gifts from God would amaze anyone who comes closer to him.

He highlighted that since Archbishop Okeke was consecrated as coadjutor in 2002, and Archbishop of Onitsha in 2003, he has transformed the Onitsha Archdiocese ranging from Health care sector, Human capital development, Education, Pastoral approach and Economic sectors.

Fr. Izunna as one of the  CEOs in Onitsha Archdiocesan Hospitals said that about ten gigantic new buildings have been raised at St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital which he called (Holy Land) through the benevolence of Archbishop Okeke.  

Some Hospitals within the network of Onitsha Archdiocese which he said are under the Proprietorship of Archbishop Okeke include: Holy Rosary Specialist Hospital and Maternity, WaterSide Onitsha, Our Lady of Fatima Awka Etiti, St. Martin’s Hospital Ugwuagba Obosi, Immaculate Heart of Mary Specialist and Maternity Umudioka.

Other Hospitals which he said also were upgraded, or Founded by Archbishop Okeke but now with Aguleri Diocese are Immaculate Hospital Specialist Hospital Aguleri, St. Joseph’s Hospital Ifite-Ogwari, while some smaller Hospitals he Founded or upgraded are located at Abatete and Okpoko.

He opined that Archbishop Okeke made Health care provision at high level, accessible and affordable prices.

Also, in human capital development, he said, a lot of Priests who are in charge of Hospitals were trained by Archbishop Okeke, affirming that he was among the beneficiaries.

“Archbishop Okeke trained me from Belgium, United Kingdom (UK), and United States of America (USA) in different areas of discipline before I finally specialized in the Professional Postgraduate Programme in Healthcare care management and administration, ” said Fr. Izunna

He further disclosed that other Priests within the Archdiocese of Onitsha who have done their Masters Degree in different healthcare management and Health policy are still under the Archbishop Okeke.

He added that Archbishop Okeke trained so many men and women in Nursing, general Nursing, midwifery and other areas of Nursing sciences and also Priests who have become Medical Doctors and Pharmacists.

He said two Onitsha Archdiocesan Priests are doing Medicine in Hungary, stating that those Priests after training would come back to Nigeria to join them in the Hospital apostolate.

Fr. Eze Udo recalled that before Archbishop Okeke became Archbishop of Onitsha, St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital was offering General Medicine but now the Hospital is offering different specialist medical services, as well as the established College of Nursing Sciences.

“Before Archbishop Okeke came into office, as the Archbishop of Onitsha, Schools under the Archdiocese of Onitsha were dilapidated but, because of his passion for quality Health care provision, and Education, he started training Priests. More than twenty Priests have gained Doctorate Degrees in Education. Some in Nigeria, some far away in Italy, United Kingdom, even as I am talking to you, some Priests are studying secular courses in Malaysia, Thailand, Poland, USA, Hungary, Italy amongst others. Others are studying sacred discipline like Theology, Philosophy, Canon law and others”

He hinted that Archbishop Okeke not only restored or reconstructed Schools, but equally established new Schools which he said a lot of schools in Onitsha Archdiocese have won laurel, mentioning Regina Pacis who he said got Gold medal in Technovation at California, USA.

Other achievements in the Education sector by Archbishop Okeke according to Fr. Izunna are Youth Village at Amansea and Shanahan University in Onitsha, revealing that the prelate has announced 50% discount for the student’s tuition fees and free internet access until further notice, just as he stated that Archbishop Okeke did not want to destroy what his predecessors built but consolidated on them, and built on the foundation already laid.

On the area of Pastoral approach, he said Archbishop Okeke has dedicated a lot of Churches including Church members, baptized so many candidates and confirmed a lot of people as well as raised a lot of chapel of perpetual adoration. 

He again mentioned Oluchukwu Microfinance Bank, Oluchukwu Oil and Gas and Oluchukwu Mechanic village as another giant strides of Archbishop Okeke in Onitsha Archdiocese.

” Actually, Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke is a God’s promise to the Onitsha Archdiocese. He is a good man, jolly good fellow, workaholic and a great mentor to so many people especially Catholic Priests. On behalf of the management and staff of St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, I once again wish him a long life and good health on his 71st Birthday.