DELTA State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, his Deputy, Deacon (Barr.) Kingsley Otuaro, former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan have indicated interests to attend the thanksgiving Mass that will commemorate the opening of Maris Academy, Amachai-Okpanam within the Delta State Capital Territory.
Former Deputy Governors of the state, Prof. Amos Utuama and Chief Benjamin Elue are also, expected to attend the event which will be graced by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, his predecessor, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, and members of the Atikunation Campaign Organisation.
Political bigwigs like Chief Godwill Obielum, Prince Ned Nwoko, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Dr. Nelson Ejakpovi, Surv. Paul Osaji, Archtect Kester Ifeadi, have given assurances that they will attend the ceremony.
South South Coordinator of the Atikunation Campaign Organisation, Comr. Peace Meliga has also confirmed that she will lead supporters of the former Vice President’s Campaign Team to attend the thanksgiving service which would hold from 12 noon on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at the Maris Academy premises, Amachai-Okpanam.
According to a statement signed by the Chairman, Governing Board of the school, Sir Ken Olise and Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, the thanksgiving Mass will signal the official opening of Maris Academy.
Very Rev. Fr. John Konyeke will be the Chief Celebrant at the Holy Mass while Rev. Frs Malachi Okonkwo, Mark Nwoko, Innocent Ogbue, Donatus Chukwuedo, are among other Catholic Priests who will celebrate the Mass.
Comrade Egugbo had said, “Maris Academy is a dream come true; during the presentation of my book, ‘Memoirs Of A Journalist In Government Media’ eight years ago, I promised on the last paragraph of the acknowledgement page of the book that we shall immortalize my late daughter with the building of an institution in her name.”
“That 868 page book is an encyclopedia in a way, chronicling a lot of activities of government that almost all the political gladiators in Delta State have a space in that book which became a silent reminder on the need to fulfil a promise made in print and God used family members, friends, colleagues, philanthropist for us to have take-off structures for the school,” he said, adding, “death of any kind is bad but, losing a child is devastating and can cause a trauma one may never recover from; we thank God that without floating an endowment fund for the project, He has made a way when it was like an impossible task.”
He continued, “we appreciate all those who stood by us during the time of mourning, we thank those God has continued to use to assist us; we thank those who have personally called, sent messages and given assurances that they will join us on July 25, 2018 to thank God for seeing us through to this day; certainly, we cannot mention all your names but, God knows the heart of men and knows how to reward each and every one of us.”
