By Ononye VC & Charles Igwe
The compassionate spirit of Archbishop Valerian Okeke’s 70th birthday celebration, which began on October 20, 2023, extended its benevolent reach on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Accompanied by a delegation of clergy members, including Vicar General Rev. Fr. Johnbosco Okafor, Chancellor Rev. Fr. Prudentius Aroh, Vice Chancellor and Health Coordinator Rev. Fr. Basil Ekwunife, Communications Director and chief of protocol to the Archbishop, Rev. Fr. George Adimike, and Episcopal Vicar of Onitsha Fr. Victor Mbanuisi, Episcopal Vicar of Dunukofia Region, Very Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ikekwe Onitsha Archdiocese financial Administrator, Rev. Fr. Philip Ibeneme, Secretary to the Archbishop Okeke, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Onunkwo, Assistant Secretary to the Archbishop Okeke, Rev. Fr. Kingsley Omenyi, among others, the Archbishop embarked on a series of hospital visitations across the archdiocese. Some EXCO members of the Onitsha archdiocesan Catholic Women Organization (CWO) led by it’s Director, Mrs. Dame Ngozi Nwanosike as well as some members of the Onitsha archdiocesan Catholic Men Organization (CMO) also joined the company.
The charity mission commenced at Iyienu Mission Hospital of Diocese of the Niger (Anglican Communion), where Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke was warmly received by the Hospital administrator, Canon Toochukwu Okwuchukwu. The Archbishop and his entourage proceeded to the Female ward, where he fervently prayed for divine healing upon the patients. Demonstrating his immense generosity, Archbishop Valerian Okeke covered the hospital bills amounting to millions of naira for three female patients who could not afford the expenses. The Archbishop then extended his benevolence to the chest pain ward, where he offered prayers and covered the medical expenses for another indigent patient. In expressing gratitude, the hospital administrator, Canon Toochukwu Okwuchukwu acknowledged the universality of illness, irrespective of ethnic and religious denominations, and commended the Archbishop for his compassionate initiative.
Subsequently, the Archbishop visited St Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha, where he was welcomed by the Chief Executive Officer and his assistant, Rev Frs. Izunna Okonkwo and Emmanuel Ndulue, respectively. Archbishop Okeke prayed for the swift recovery of the patients and, through Chancellor Fr. Prudentius Aroh, announced that he had covered the hospital bills for three patients—a 9-year-old accident victim, a fire burn victim, and a post-surgery patient.
The final leg of the hospital visitation took the Archbishop and his team to the Federal Medical Center Onitsha, where they were warmly received by Managing Director Dr. Mercy Anugwu. The Vicar General of the archdiocese, Fr. Johnbosco Okafor, introduced the Archbishop’s mission to pray for the patients and generously pay the hospital bills for five patients facing financial challenges. Addressing the elated patients, Archbishop Valerian Okeke informed them that he visited them to pray for God to grant them a quick recovery. He further told them that this act was even more rooted in thanksgiving to God who had blessed him with a sound health of mind and body and kept him alive for seven decades. Dr. Anugwu expressed her appreciation by presenting a letter of gratitude to the Archbishop.
These hospital visits and payment of bills worth millions of Naira underscore Archbishop Valerian Okeke’s commitment to unity and common good, as he extends his care to the sick and indigent patients without regard for ethnic or religious affiliations. In the coming week, the Archbishop plans to further demonstrate his commitment to community welfare by providing money and food for 2300 families across various regions within the archdiocese.
It would be recalled that activities marking the Archbishop’s 70th birthday began on October 20, 2023 inside Onitsha Federal Custodial Centre where he celebrated a thanksgiving mass which was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life including the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo and the Nigerian Controller of Custodial Centres. He also commissioned and handed over to the Nigerian government,a multimillion Naira Skill Acquisition Centre which he built for the inmates for which the Federal government honoured him with an award of Grand Patron of Nigerian Custodial Centres,the first of it’s kind ever awarded to any individual in the country.
This ongoing series of charitable acts stands as a testament to Archbishop Valerian Okeke’s dedication to the well-being of his community, reflecting the true spirit of love, compassion, and unity
