By Jude Atupulazi
A paraplegic, Engr Victor Meju, member representing Awka-North/ Awka-South Federal Constituency, Prof. Lilian Orogbu, and 16 others, have been honoured with the “Distinguished Service Award” by the Catholic Men’s Organisation of St. Patrick’s Cathedral Parish, Awka.
Another recipient of the award which was one of the highpoints of this year’s Fathers’ Sunday celebration that was observed last month was Engr Ikenna Ezendu, in appreciation of his initiatives and commitment in providing adequate security services in the parish, especially during Sunday Mass celebrations.
Paraplegic, Engr Meju, was honoured because of his active participation in the parish activities, starting from when he was a member of the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON), and now a member of CMO, despite his physical challenges.
Hon. Prof. Orogbu, just like other recipients, was honoured in recognition of her great contributions towards the growth of the Parish.
While one of the patrons of the CMO, Sir Eugene Attah, presented the award to Engr Meju on behalf of the organisation, the 1st Vice-Chairman of the Cathedral Parish Council and also a patron of the CMO, Sir Samuel Nweke, presented the award to Ezendu on behalf of the organisation. The presentations were made during this month’s meeting of the CMO held at the podium.
Chairman of the parish CMO, Mr. Obinna Anakuba, supervised the award presentations which were done belatedly due to the absence of the recipients when their co-recipients were honoured during the celebration of the Fathers’ Sunday.
Also the zones that won in the quiz competition, including St. Patrick’s zone that came first, followed by St. Charles and St. Benedict Zones, respectively, were presented with their prizes.
Barr Emenike Nnajide represented St. Patrick’s Zone; Dr. Anselm Chiamogu represented St. Charles; while Mr. Kelvin Ohaegbunam represented St. Benedict’s Zone.
Among several other activities that featured during the one-week Father’s Sunday celebration were a football competition, thug-of-war and women’s race.
The Parish CMO leader, Mr. Anakuba, earlier in his brief remarks, extolled what he described as the resilience and commitment of the awardees in promoting the parish activities, saying that in so doing they had contributed greatly in evangelizing Christianity.
‘It is not only when you are a Priest, Reverend Sister, Brother, Catechist, that you are evangelizing Christianity. You can also do that in so many other ways as just a parishioner by contributing to the activities and programmes of the parish,’ the CMO leader emphasised.
