By Ononye VC
Renowned pioneer leader of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) Archdiocese of Onitsha Lady (Chief) V.V.I Okoye last Sunday attended a family thanksgiving mass at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha, to express gratitude to God for blessing her with ripe age of 90.
Chief Mrs. Okoye, now in the class of nonagenarian, attended the thanksgiving with members of her family which included her grand and great grand children. At the age of 90, Lady Okoye looked vivacious like a 60 year old and did not betray any sign of the frailty of old age, not to talk of attaining 90 years. She was full of smiles and energy.
While inviting Lady Okoye for special blessings, Rector of the Basilica Rev. Fr JohnBosco Ezika described Lady Okoye as a special gift to the church.
According to him, Lady Okoye, an Anglican convert in her early days, worked with early Bishops of Archdiocese of Onitsha to found the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) which eventually spread to many parts of the world.
Fr JohnBosco also said Chief Mrs. Okoye was a fulfilled Catholic and a consummate educationist who was appointed a Commissioner for Education by the Anambra State Government.
The Rector extolled her as a towering figure in the onerous task of women leadership which earned her local and international recognition.
A papal medalist, Lady Okoye’s popularity among Catholic Women earned her the nickname, Anuenyi (inexhaustible elephant meat).
She wrote more than a dozen books on women development, marriage and family, gender advocacy and conference lectures.
Part of what she introduced for welfare of Seminarians and Priests was the food apostolate which spread to many other Seminaries in other Dioceses. The CWO has dedicated this charitable apostolate of food delivery with solemn commitment.
Later in an interview with Trinitas, Lady Okoye said she came for family thanksgiving to express gratitude to God for giving her the grace to age gracefully in good health and for many other favors on her family.
In his remarks, one of the officiating Priests, Rev. Fr Michael Okoye said Chief Mrs. Okoye’s life was full of innumerable achievements and called on the young mothers to emulate her.
