Archbishop Ibezim Calls For Increased Security In Southeast
The Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, Archbishop Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, has called for increased security across the country, especially the Southeast.
The Archbishop made the call during the anniversary of his 10 years of Enthronement as bishop and one year Archiepiscopacy in the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger.
He said that there had been incidents of kidnapping and killings across the land and called on governments to address the situation by beefing up security in the country.
In a sermon on the anniversary, the Awka Diocesan Synod Secretary, Venerable Clement Mgbemena, laudable the achievements of the Archbishop’s 10 years in service to the Awka diocese, noting that 1987, 2010 and 2020 were remarkable dates in the life and history of the diocese as they recorded the birth of the diocese, the year of Ibezim’s first episcopacy and then his archiepiscopacy.
Charting the way forward for the growth of the diocese, Mgbemena advised Christians with grievances to sheath their sword and work for peace.
He also highlighted the need to build a befitting palace for Archbishops, also urging the diocese to consider adopting Paul University, Awka as its pet project.
The diocesan synod secretary beckoned on the church authority to consider creation of a new diocese so as to widen the scope of evangelism.
Speaking to the congregation, Archbishop Ibezim said that he had learnt a lot during the last 10 years and added that his testimonies were limitless as God had never failed him in his service.
He noted that his life was more precious than gifts and advised Christians to be security conscious in this Yuletide warning that the country had recorded rapid increase in crime rates and other security challenges.
Archbishop Ibezim noted that he chose a low-key celebration of the anniversary because of the situation of things in the country. He urged Nigerians to shun ostentatious lifestyle and devote their time to the service of God, reminding the congregation about the reported increase in COVID-19 cases and the need to observe the various preventive measures against the pandemic.
He said that he derived pleasure in the service of God and urged both the clergy and the laity to join him in the work in the Lord’s vineyard if they were truly servants of God.
“If you have worked with me this 10 years, work with me for the remaining years. My greatest joy is that I’m working in my father’s compound.
“I don’t want gifts from people because I have so many testimonies. It is a thanksgiving to God because God has blessed us.”
Archbishop Chibuzo Ibezim with wife, Chioma Ibezim and other clergies Cutting the Anniversary cake
Speaking with newsmen, the bishop’s wife, Martha Chioma Ibezim, said the day was remarkable to the entire family and urged the clergy and Christians, who may have encountered challenges in the course of their efforts, to propagate the gospel of God, to be steadfast and unmoved.
Recall that His Grace, Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, was consecrated Bishop on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Asaba. He was also enthroned into the ‘see’ of the Diocese of Awka on Monday, November 22, 2010.
Archbishop Ibezim was later, in 2019, elected the Archbishop of the Province of the Niger at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral, Ikeja, Lagos and was presented on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 at the same cathedral church of St. Peter, Asaba.
The anniversary was marked with a Holy Communion and thanksgiving service at Our Saviours Church, Emmaus House, Awka.
The climax of the anniversary was thanksgiving, cutting of the anniversary cake and inter archdeaconry choir competition at St. Faiths Cathedral, Awka.
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Children’s Future Is Our Top Priority – UNICEF
The United Nations International Children and Emergency Fund, UNICEF, says it is committed to ensuring a better future for all Nigerian children in line with the Convention on the Right of the Child (CRC), submitting that their welfare and development remained a top priority.
The Chief of UNICEF Enugu Field Office, Dr Ibrahim Conteh, made the remarks in Calabar at the weekend during this year’s World Children Day celebration, organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs, and which had the theme ‘A Global Day of Action for Children by Children.’
Conteh reiterated that the concern for better future for children globally caused the international body to adopt the Declaration of the Right of the Child on November 20, 1959 and subsequent adoption of Convention on the Right of the Child (CRC) in 1998 by the UN General Assembly.
“As we mark World Children’s Day 2020, we face a very different situation to previous years. COVID-19 is a child rights crisis and I thank you all for your commitment to protecting children from the impacts of this pandemic.
“Our post-pandemic rebuilding must meet the scale of this moment by overcoming our differences, and working across generations – to shape a world fit for every child to grow, develop and thrive.
“Children may be masked, but they are not muted. This World Children’s Day, we follow their lead and commit to working together to reimagine a better future,” he said.
Conteh, who was represented by Mr Victor Atuchukwu, child protection specialist, noted that UNICEF has four guiding principles to ensure implementation of these goals, and enumerated such principles to include non-discrimination of children no matter colour, tribe, religious belief; taking the best interests of the child into consideration in all things; the right to life, survival and development; and children’s right to express their views in all matters of issues affecting them.
“World Children Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20th November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness amongst children worldwide and improving children welfare,” he said.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon Rita Agbo Ayim, in her remarks, urged children to come forward with ideas on how government could impact on them for a better future but lamented that the lean resources at government’s disposals were hindering many development plans to give the leaders of tomorrow what could constitute an ideal world for them.
In their different reactions, children who were drawn from many secondary schools in Calabar, opined that their ideal world entails drastic reduction in mass suffering, elimination of pervading corruption and insecurity in the country, and creation of political atmosphere to enable youths to be at the helms of affairs politically and economically.
“The old generation in government has refused to retire. They would always have old mindsets which are not in tandem with the 21st century internet world.
“Lack of electricity in our cities, worsening bad roads, high level insecurity, collapsed educational system and many other challenges are legacies of the old generation. We appeal to UNICEF to talk to our political leaders to give us an opportunity to reverse the trend for the sake of our future,” Faith Otu, an SS III student of Sacred Heart Girls Int’l Secondary school, Calabar, said.
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