Archbishop Valerian Okeke Marks Day With Students

At the Centenary Field of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, on Saturday, December 3, 2016, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, the Catholic Archbishop and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, rallied schools under the Archdiocese of Onitsha for a get-together.
    The ceremony tagged, 'Archbishop Valerian Okeke Day with Students', attracted all mission schools within the Onitsha Archdiocese, as well as education secretaries, managers, principals and teachers from different schools.
    The event started with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Archbishop himself and concelebrated by many priests.
    In his homily during the Holy Mass, the prelate said that the event was the first of its kind in the archdiocese and that it would be an annual ceremony, henceforth.
    The objective of the new initiative, according to the archbishop, is to inspire healthy competition among the young ones, build them up to work hard and also to reward those that excel in hard work and good values.
    “This newly introduced ceremony, is meant to inspire healthy competition among students and build them up in the virture of hard work. This kind of initiative will expose the students to different healthy competitions that will make them better and more inspired citizens.
    “I will urge all the students and pupils to make the best use of opportunities being offered to them. With this new development, very soon, people will come from different states and different parts of the world to emulate and learn the secrets behind the great transformation going on in our schools. I want you to be the best in your academic endeavours,” he said.
    He commended teachers and managers of schools in Onitsha Archdiocese, saying  that their efforts and sacrifices had continued to bring out the best in the students.
     The event featured march pasts among secondary schools, cultural displays and musical renditions, among other activities.
    In the march past, Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha, came first; St. Anthony of Padua Secondary School, Nkpor, came 2nd, while the Queen of Rosary College (QRC), Onitsha, took the 3rd position.
    Students that excelled in the Archbishop's Science Competition held among secondary schools under the Archdiocese, were also rewarded with cash prizes, gifts and certificates.
    Ezeani Oluebube, student of Dominican Girls' Secondary School, Abatete, Idemili North LGA of Anambra State, came first in the junior category of the science competition; while Abodike Chimdindu Rejoice, a student of Maria Foundation Secondary School, Oraukwu, Idemili North LGA of Anambra State, came first at the senior secondary category.
Each of the two went home with cash prize of N50,000, together with brandbrand new laptop and certificate. Their science teachers got N40,000 each, while their schools got a brand new white board. Other participating schools and students also got consolation prizes.
    In an interview with our reporter, the first prize winner in the senior category of the science competition, Abodike Rejoice, said that persistency in studying her books helped her to excel. She commended Archbishop Valerian Okeke for the initiative and further urged government at all levels to cooperate with him, so that the Archbishop would achieve his set goal.