Anambra State holds Thanksgiving Mass for Nigeria @55

….as stakeholders proffers solution for a new Nigeria

The auditorium of St Patrick Catholic Cathedral Awka was filled to the brim as the catholic Bishop of Awka dioceses celebrated a thanksgiving mass to mark the 55^th anniversary of Nigeria. The mass had in attendance the Executive Governor of Anambra state Chief Willie Obiano and other top government functionaries.

Speaking at the event, Governor Obiano called for sober reflection by all Nigerians especially on the journey so far, since the country gained independence from her colonial masters.
While thanking God for a successful general election Governor Obiano noted that most people were of the belief that the elections would be bloody but they were disappointed when it ended peacefully.
He called for all hands to be on deck to fast track the growth of the country, the Governor called on Ndi Anambra to support the government of the day in its programmes to better the lots of the citizenry and to shun all acts that could jeopardize the efforts of the government. 
Earlier in a homily, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor who spoke on the theme “large – Heartedness, at the heart of True Discipleship, cautioned against ethnicism saying that the various ethnics groups should not constitute an obstacle to national development but should enhance the economic well being of the country.
Bishop Ezeokafor also condemned selfishness materialism and love for money, adding that Nigerians should work for the unity of purpose of all and the need for job creation, initiation of programme that would reduce the level of poverty in the country.  
The Bishop commended Governor Obiano for his leadership style and his achievements in the state so far.   

Also speaking after the thanksgiving mass the Speaker, Anambra state House of Assembly, Barrister Rita Mmaduagwu called for total rebirth and emancipation from the scourge of mal-administration and corruption in the country. The Speaker while commending Governor Willie Obiano for his exemplary leadership in the State called on the citizenry to always live in peace and unity with one another and shun acts that could disrupt the peace and harmony currently existing in the state.
 
On his part, the state Head of Service Barrister Harry Udu said the Holy Mass was the re-dedication of Nigeria to God noting that through the celebration, Christians are hopeful that with faith in God they will be saved.
He appreciated the efforts of Governor Obiano for making the welfare of the state workforce his top priority and promised to keep supporting the administration to deliver its dividends of democracy to the citizenry.     
Contributing, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youths Mobilization, Engineer Tony Uche Ezekwelu also called for more programmes which would affect and impact positively on the Nigeria youths as he noted that Nigeria is advancing and called for improvement in areas of technology, education, industrialization, and agriculture among others.
Uche Ezekwelu implored other leaders to emulate Governor Obiano for the inclusion of youths in the cabinets to foster development in the country.
He further thanked Governor for all his programmes and policies aimed at improving the lives of the youths while charging youths in the state to embrace skill acquisition, agriculture and other self-employment programmes rather than relying solely on government.