. . . Tasks her on Greater C.W.O Amawbia Deanery
By Ifeoma Ezenyilimba
Barely seven weeks after the bishop’s appointment of the new organiser, the immediate past organiser of Catholic Women’s Organisation (C.W.O), Amawbia Deanery, Queen Lady Ngozi Ekwunife, has handed over to her successor, Lay Tina Obiechina, to pilot the affairs of the deanery C.W.O for the next four years.
Speaking at the handover ceremony held at the deanery’s headquarter, St Matthew’s Catholic Church, Amawbia, Awka South L.G.A, Anambra State on Saturday, February 2, 2019, Queen Lady Ekwunife, who has been commended for what many described as excellent services she rendered to the deanery, enjoined her successor and the entire members to work together and build a greater C.W.O, Amawbia Deanery.
Ekwunife, who inherited the deanery without any project, handed over to her successor, a two -story C.W.O Amawbia Deanery Stella Maris Skill Acquisition project at the lintel level, money in the bank as well as a very active, vibrant and formidable C.W.O at all levels of the deanery, among other inventories.
She also handed over to her the various bodies, commissions and committees she belonged to as the organiser as well as the various programmes of the deanery. Among the programmes and activities were Annual Seminary Food Apostolate; parish priests’ food apostolate by the parishes as well as attending of bishops’ pastoral visits in the deanery; priests and religious’ silver jubilee anniversaries and burials and the Annual Deanery C.W.O Christmas Celebration for the deanery and less privileged members.
Queen Lady Ekwunife attributed the successes recorded by the deanery during her tenure which made C.W.O Amawbia Deanery, the best in the diocese, to the supports she enjoyed from the deanery executive and parishes executives, especially the presidents and secretaries.
Praying that her successor, Lady Obiechina, who hails from St Matthew’s Parish, Amawbia would perform better than her, and not to experience the initial difficulties she encountered, the outgone organiser enjoined the C.W.O executive and members to give her successor the needed support.
She identified finance as the major challenge of the deanery, which has the triennial convention as its only major source of income, saying that such has been delaying the skill acquisition project.
Ekwunife, who used herself as an example of someone richly blessed for serving God, maintained that it pays to truthfully, serve God selflessly. She apologized for all her inadequacies throughout the years she served the deanery as the C.W.O Organiser.
The organiser emerita thanked God for His grace, sustenance and love on her and the deanery for the six years she served as the Organiser of C.W.O, Amawbia Deanery. She appreciated the Catholic bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev Paulinus Ezeokafor, who appointed her the organiser, for the opportunity to serve God and the Church in that capacity. This was even as she thanked her husband, Sir Lawrence Ekwunife and her family, for the special support and encouragement they gave her. According to her, the husband, who was so supportive took good care of the family when she was occupied with her duties as the organiser.
Ekwunife commended the chaplain of C.W.O, Awka Diocese, Rev. Fr. Clifford Aniefuna and his predecessor, Very Rev Msgr. Mark Ezeamaechi for their fatherly love and encouragement. She appreciated the dean of Amawbia Deanery, Rev. Fr Valentine Nnachebem Ofomata, who she described as her strength for the shoulder he gave her to lean on and the special support she enjoyed from him.
The organiser emerita equally appreciated the chaplain, C.W.O, Amawbia Deanery, Rev. Fr. Christian Okafor for his committed support and concern. This was even as she thanked the Director, C.W.O, Awka Diocese, Lady Theresa Azodo for her humble motherly love and supports, her predecessor, Mrs. Apolonia Chukwuma for her support; the former secretary, C.W.O, Awka Diocese, Mrs. Esther Onebunne, who she described as a mother to her, for her encouragements and love; the current secretary, Dr. Mrs. Amara Dimejesi and the sister adviser, Sr. Esther Nkiru Ezedinachi, HHCJ, for their supports.
Ekwunife extolled the many supporters of the deanery C.W.O among whom were the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Willie Obiano and his wife, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano; Senator Victor Umeh, OFR; Isi Mmiri Nibo and Hon Chukwuma Okoye.
In their various speeches, the dean, Amawbia Deanery, Rev. Fr. Ofomata and the deanery C.W.O Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Okafor, commended Queen Lady Ekwunife for her detailed and meticulously prepared handover note, as well as the selfless and committed service she gave to the deanery.
The new organiser, Lady Tina Obiechina in her acceptance speech, appreciated her predecessor for the well detailed handover note she presented. Pointing out that the hand over was presented to the entire Catholic women of Amawbia Deanery, Lady Obiechina called on the entire members to with the needed zeal, commitment and prayers, support her and the executive for the task handed over to them, saying that there were many works to do for the growth of the deanery C.W.O.
She assured all of God’s protection and blessings as they work in the lord’s vineyard.
Some of the Catholic women of Amawbia Deanery during the Holy Mass that was led by the chaplain, Rev. Fr. Christian Okafor.
