By Abuchi Onwumelu
The Council of the Knights of St. John International, Commandery 434 and Lux 363 of St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Awka, has donated gift items worth millions of Naira to the students of Basden Special Primary and Secondary School, Isulo in Orumba-South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The visit to the institution was part of activities marking the 2019 feast of St. John the Baptist.
The items which included bags of rice and garri, tea bags, cartons of tinned milk, cartons of sugar and bags of Indomie noodles, as well as a cheque of N20, 000, were donated at the college premises before the management and students of the institution.
Speaking at the visit, the first worthy Vice President of Commandery 434, Sir Vincent Otikpa, stated that the visit was in commemoration of the celebration of the Feast of St. John the Baptist as a worthy forerunner of Christ on Earth.
‘We are here and happy to see you all. We want to interact with you, feel your pulse, as well as discuss with your Director on the best way to offer help for the wellbeing of all of you.
‘A week ago, we celebrated the feast of St. John who is our Patron Saint. Therefore, this visit is part of the charity works of Knights of St. John, which the followers of St. John himself emulate till today, and that is why we are here to celebrate and share our joy with you all.
‘We equally want to acknowledge your devotion towards teaching and learning, and we want to assure you that we feel the pains you are undergoing through here. We strongly believe and hope that after your studies, some of you will come to join us in the Knighthood. We hope to see you become directors, doctors, lawyers, as well as men and women of other noble professions,’ he said.
For her part, his wife, Lady Rosemary Otikpa, who is also the President, Laux 363, Awka, noted that their visit was to show love and support to the students, as well as interact with them.
Reacting to the visit, the Principal of the School, Mrs. Chinwe Eziechina, expressed her joy and gratitude to the Knights of St. John over the visit and the gifts offered.
In her vote of thanks, the Administrative Secretary of the School, Mrs Ebere Ichoku, expressed satisfaction and joy over the Knights of St. John’s visit and prayed for more blessings upon them.
Meanwhile, prayers and brief service of songs were led by the students, while a serving corps member from Kaduna State, Joseph John, thanked the Knights for their kind gesture on behalf of the students, noting that it was such love and support that students from Basden Special School needed from well-meaning individuals and groups.
