Be Skillfully, Academically, Spiritually Sound Says Archbishop Okeke

By Julie Sylvia

The Metropolitan Archbishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha, His Grace, Most Rev, Valerian Okeke have advised the inmates in Onitsha correctional Center to learn and equipped themselves with any of the skills in the acquisition centre so that he/she will go out with one skill.

He also advised those without School certificate to use this opportunity to study and acquire one before leaving the correctional center.

Arch Bishop Okeke gave this advise during his homily at St. Maximilian Kolbe Chaplaincy, Onitsha Correctional Center on sunday, to mark his 69th birthday with the inmates

”You are here is not the end of it all, your stay here should be a time of retreat, to work on yourself, so that when you will go out there, you will be useful to yourself and the society.

”Gods will must be done, if you welcome Jesus, he will give you the power to be his children, be the light and nothing will happen to you, goodness, blessings and grace will be yours, let go evil and Gods blessings will be upon you.

He also said that the skill acquisition center needs 8M for its completion and stressed that it also needs the Federal Government consent and go ahead order for the inmates to go out there skillfully, Academically and spiritually sound.

In his speech, the Anambra State Controller, Nigerian Correctional Center Mr Patrick Chukwuemeka thanked the Arch Bishop for this annual event which he said that they all look forward to it, of which after the celebration, they all go away in power, materially and spitually.

He thanked Hon.Edward Ibuzo, for his kind gesture to the inmates and his constant visit to them, also thanked the Archbishop for his material and educational support, said that he is a pillar.

The Rev.Fr in charge of St.Maximilian Kolbe Chaplaincy, Rev.Fr Bathlomeo Okpalaugo thanked the Arch Bishop for his words of encouragement, renovation of cells, provision of beds, stressed that he always make them happy despite their condition, that he have being a pillar of strength and also his fatherly love towards the skill acquisition center.

There was also cutting of birthday cake and provision of 10 cooked bag of rice,tissue, laundry soap, biscuit and one life cow which will be used for their cooking throughout this week by the Archbishop.

Also 100 cartons of drinks by the Member representing Onitsha North 2 in the State House of Assembly and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)candidate for Onitsha North/South in the House of Representative Hon.Edward Ibuzo.

Then provision of bags of beans, garri and indomine by the wife of former Governor Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano and 100 cartons of drinks