43 years a priest, 22 years as Co-Adjutor Archbishop and 21 years as Archbishop in charge of Metropolitan See of Onitsha and still counting, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke is a man imbued with extraordinary grace.
He exudes an unusual grace, candour and persona that resonates in abundance of virtues. A humanist who breathes and lives the life of love, empathy and seeking the wellbeing of the greatest number of the people, he has lived out in practical terms, the principles of his Episcopal Motto in John 10:10 “That they may have life”.
That life in abundance that takes care of the psycho-physical-spiritual of the human person is what the Archbishop has demonstrated in clear, practical unambiguous terms without hype, noise or vainglorious adulations.
This has been very inspiring to both the young, the middle age and the old and the Archdiocese of Onitsha has been very lucky and richly blessed to have him as the Chief Shepherd.
The life accomplishments of the Archbishop are in their legions. Not for his personal glory and aggrandizements but for the welfare of others. From building the faith of the flock and taking them to know the Father and the Son our Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit, the insightful teachings and homilies of the Archbishop stands out and permeates the heart and soul like no other. The various Pastoral Letters of the Archbishop where he takes up some topical issues of faith, virtues, society or family has always been a rich reservoir of knowledge.
His groundbreaking records in the educational sector is top-notch. The interventions which led to the meteoric rise of Archdiocesan schools both primary and secondary in sterling academic performances and harvest of international laurels won in various global competitions speak volumes too.
Through the Archbishop Valerian Okeke Science Competition (AVOSCO), many young geniuses have been spotted and encouraged to fly higher.
Bringing to reality the humongous ambition of establishing the first ever University in the commercial city of Onitsha-The Shanahan University is the apogee of this educational pillar of the Archbishop’s episcopacy.
Through the Shanahan University, many hidden and yet to be refined talents shall be groomed to revolutionise the Onitsha landscape in few years from now. The innovative introduction of scholarship scheme by the Archbishop for the students of the university is the game changer in this project.
The health sector in the Archdiocese bears the most eloquent testimony of the Archbishop’s episcopal motto. Various health institutions of the Archdiocese beginning from St Charles Borromeo Hospital Onitsha, Holy Rosary Hospital Waterside, Onitsha, St Martins Hospital, Ugwuagba Obosi, Immaculate Heart Hospital, Umudioka, Fatima Hospital, Awka-Etiti are all shining examples of facilities where the health needs of the people are taken care of with the highest ethical standards and consideration for cost without compromise on quality.
The Archbishop doesn’t joke with the welfare of the priests of the Archdiocese. He invests and spends greatly on their post graduate trainings both in Nigeria and across the globe in various disciplines while their health and medical needs are given priority attention.
The Prison apostolate of Archbishop Valerian has become a reference point in Nigeria that today , it is on record that Onitsha Correctional Centre is the only facility in Nigeria that can boast of an ultramodern skills acquisition centre for the empowerment of the inmates courtesy of the Archbishop.
This writer has consistently reported in the last 10 years, the Correctional Centre visits of the Archbishop (three consecutive times in a year ) and can testify that various interventions of the Archbishop in Onitsha Correctional Centre has made the place a pace setter (opuruiche) in Nigeria to the delight of the inmates.
The Archbishop has put smiles on the faces of thousands and millions of people and this is actually in line with what Brad Garrett said that “You take away all the other luxuries in life, and if you can make someone smile and laugh, you have given the most special gift in life which is happiness”
In Archbishop Val Okeke , the human person is given the opportunity to not only discover the potentials but to also maximize those potentials for greater good of the society. This best sums up the success stories from the Archbishop Valerian Okeke Music Academy (AVOMA) where young people are doing exploits in the music world starting from playing various instruments, to composing, singing and recording various songs dominating the entertainment stage.
The media and communication department takes a pride of place in Archbishop Okeke's episcopacy. He recognizes the enviable role of the media in evangelization and missionary duties. That is why the Trinitas Communication, the Archdiocesan ICT department and the Sapientia Media are all blazing the trail in their various areas of operations.
Infact, for lack of the most befitting words to use, Archbishop Valerian Okeke is a complete man, an all -rounder for excellence and a great builder of men and materials.
As he marks his 71st birthday, I reflect on the words of various great minds to say that he is aging in number but keep getting younger by his positive actions. Thomas Bailey Aldrich said that “To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful and reverent is to triumph over old age”
The Archbishop is living out the immortal words of former American President, Abraham Lincoln who said that “In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
The life in the Archbishop’s years so far on earth has been edifying to say the least. We see and feel his impact daily and it is marvelous in our hearts just like Helen Keller said that “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart."
Laurence Binyon said "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”
As the Archbishop continues to live indelible marks in the sands of time, we shall continue to remember them and never shall we forget.
We urge him to never relent and we shall continue to pray for him too.
Happy Birthday Your Grace. We love you!
Comrade Attah, Journalist and Civil Rights Activist is the Chairman, Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Onitsha Archdiocese.