By Micheal Nnebife and Emmanuel Chigozie
The atmosphere in Awka, the Anambra State capital, on Sunday, September 28, 2025 bubbled with celebrations as the Parish Priest,of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Parish, Awka, Rev Fr Simon Peter Chukwudiuto Obiakor, marked 25 years in priesthood.
The event which took place in the Church, attracted over 43 Catholic priests, numerous other religious men and women, all the parishes where Fr Obiakor had served, his family members, friends and well-wishers from far and near, among others.
With an emotion-laden song of thanksgiving, ”Bianu soro m kene Chineke na-emere m mma…”, (Join me to thank God for He has done good for me), Fr Obiakor, who was ordained in August 15, 2000, thanked God for calling him and sustaining his life for the past 25 years in the priesthood.
‘Today, I don’t know where to begin and where to stop to thank God for all He has been doing in my life.
‘I’m saying, my Lord, take
‘I’m saying, my Lord, take all the thanks, all the honour, all the glory, and all the praises.
‘I thank Him for all the good health He gave me and for all He had done in my life.
‘If you look at my background as regards my journey in the priesthood, you cannot but give thanks to God for the kind of parents He gave me,’ Fr Obiakor said.
He noted that how he began the journey to the priesthood was not yet clear to him, for he had pagan parents whom ordinarily would have disapproved his decision to embrace the priesthood.
Fr Obiakor thanked in a special way, his primary school class members, whom, he said, God used to inspire him for the priesthood vocation.
He explained that it was in his primary school class that a teacher once came into the class with an announcement about admission forms for a seminary school.
According to him, on making the announcement by the teacher, all the class
shouted his name as if the forms were brought for him.
Fr Obiakor who said the shouting in response to the teacher’s announcement by his class did not sound ordinary to him, noted his journey to priesthood began from that point.
‘When I got home, I walked directly without confidence to my father and told him that I wanted to go to a seminary school, and he accepted that in a good faith,’ he said.
Fr Obiakor stressed that his parents whom he said were pagans, not only allowed him to become a priest, but also supported him. He thanked them and prayed God to grant their souls eternal rest.
The silver jubilarian also remembered and thanked his fomators, especially Rev Msgr Luke Anameze, and Fr Hilary Ekwenibe, for the special role he said they played in his life.
While speaking with Fides, Fr Obiakor, who found it hard to stop thanking God, expressed satisfaction and joy,
emphasizing that his 25 years in the priesthood were a very huge success.
In his homily during a Holy Mass heralding the epoch-making event, the Parish Priest, St Dominic’s Catholic Church, Adazi-Enu, Rev Fr Evarist Ezekwonna, described Fr Obiakor as a peacemaker, humble and intelligent priest of God.
‘There are people I call my second god; Fr Simon Peter is one of them,’ he said.
In an interview with Fides, the President, 83 Set of John Bosco Seminary, Akpu, Chief Uchenna Fidelis Ezeyili, and the Vicar of the Parish, Fr. Cosmas Emengini collaborated Fr Ezekwonna, describing Fr Obiakor as a humble and peace-loving priest of God.
In an address of welcome read by Dr Mrs Uchenna Okeke, the parishioners of Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Awka, congratulated Fr Obiakor, their parish priest, commending his achievements in his 25 years in the
priesthood.
They said all the fond names: Chukwudiuto, Akwanwa, Omeudo, Ojenanwayo, among others, the parishes Fr Obiakor had served, nicknamed him, depicted his legacy and resilience.
‘He came to our parish when we were in a dilemma, but with his calmness of heart and simplicity, every storm in the parish became calmed.
‘Through his work and life, we also concurred with these names the previous parishes he had worked in gave him,’ they said, wishing Fr Obiakor more success in the priesthood.
Anyafulugo Cultural Dance of the Altar Boys; Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Parish, Awka; the CMO Band, St Andrew’s Catholic Church, Amakpala in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state; among others, added glamour to the event chaired by Hon Collins Okoye.
