By Tobias Ekirika
The Archbishop of Onitsha and the Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, has admonished Christians to focus on their blessings, through thanksgiving, instead of counting troubles associated with daily lives.
The Prelate gave the admonition on Tuesday, October 20, during his homily at St. Maximilian Golbe Chaplaincy, Onitsha Custodial Center of the Nigerian Correctional Service, where he marked his 73rd birthday anniversary with inmates.
The Archbishop who spoke on the Theme, "Necessity of Giving Thanks," noted that God gives everyone free air and abundant life, which he said, nobody pays for; adding that many receive God's blessings in different ways but refuse to give thanks, but rather compare their blessings with what others achieve.
His words, "When you see yourself in prison and think you're being punished, you're not right. What brought you inside the prison could have taken your life. Most times, we consider what God did not give us, but do not consider the ones He has done for us.
"Thanksgiving is a virtue that makes a man great before God. The more you give thanks, the more you're blessed by God. It is our greatest weapon of prayer, because, it helps us to receive more from God."
The Chief Shepard of Onitsha Catholic Archdiocese also tasked the faithful on the importance of shearing what they have with others, saying that one of the best ways to give thanks to God for His blessing is to share our blessings with others.
The Archbishop Okeke, who splashed the inmates with gifts like live cows, bags of rice, toiletries, items of clothing, detergents, etc, equally expressed happiness that number of inmates in the Correctional Center is reducing, an indication, according to him, of reduction in crime rate in the society.
He urged prayers from the faithful so that the dream of the federal government in changing Nigerian Prison Service to Nigerian Correctional Service will be realized.
Also speaking during the Mass, the Chaplain of St. Maximilian Golbe Chaplaincy, Onitsha Custodial Center, Rev. Fr. Batho Okpalaugo, congratulated the Archbishop on his 73rd birthday, wishing him more fruitful years ahead.
The Catholic cleric noted that for the past 24 years, the Archbishop made it an annual ritual to celebrate his birthdays with inmates of the Custodial Center, showering them with gifts and words of encouragement.
He also thanked the Archbishop for making the Custodial Center a place of happiness by making sure that primary and secondary schools, as well as Open University and skills acquisition center are established there, so that they would be useful to themselves and to the society after serving their jail terms.
In their respective goodwill messages during the occasion, the Controller of Prisons in Anambra, Mrs Ezinne Onuoha, and the Officer in Charge of Onitsha Custodial Center, Mr. Emmanuel Dede, thanked the Archbishop for the transformation he has brought to the Correctional Center, describing him as a champion of societal transformation; and further asked God to continue to reward him with many more years.
Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Idemili North and South federal constituency for the 2027 general election, Engr. Eric Anyamele, who also graced the occasion, noted that Archbishop Okeke is a priest everybody is proud of, given the enormous transformation he has brought in the Custodial Center, adding that such gestures should be emulated by other religious leaders.
Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Patrick Aghamba, also eulogized Archbishop Okeke's life of devotion to the gospel and humility. He also asked the inmates to cease the opportunity of transformations introduced by the Archbishop to make their lives better.
While thanking Senator Stella Oduah for her roles in supporting the Archbishop in what she has been doing in the Custodial Center, Aghamba assured that his Ministry would partner the Archbishop and the Correctional Center in the journey of transforming youths in the Correctional Center.