- Archbishop Okeke, Bishop Isizoh, Former Gov Obi, others bag centenary award
By Nna Anulumadu
All Hallows Seminary Onitsha celebrated its centenary jubilee grand finale last Friday, November 1st, 2024. The week-long celebration featured thrilling activities, including merit awards to notable personalities, blessing and commissioning of the new ultra-modern rectory and gate.
Recipients of the centenary award included Archbishop Valerian Okeke, Bishop Isizoh of Aguleri Diocese, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, and Dame Ngozi Nwanosike, Director of CWO Onitsha Archdiocese.
In his homily, Archbishop Okeke described jubilee as a time of thanksgiving, liberation, forgiveness, and mercy. He encouraged Christians to forgive and reconcile with their enemies.
The Archbishop narrated the seminary’s history, from its origins as St. Paul’s Seminary in Igbariam to its current location in Onitsha. He appreciated the efforts of early missionaries, including Bishop Shanahan of the blessed memory, who toiled hard in establishing the Seminary, testifying that their sacrifices are not in vain as the institution has produced princes of the church such as Cardinal Ekandem, Cardinal Arinze, over two thousand priests and so many other successful men in Nigeria.
The Archbishop also rained accolades on the past rectors of the Seminary, positing that they have done marvelously well in moving the Seminary from strength to strength . He rained accolades on the current rector Fr Paschal Okonkwo for consolidating on the achievements of the past rectors , expressing joy that the Seminary has started winning state, national and international competition, uncommon feats that places the Seminary as the best among equal in Nigeria. He also thanked the old boys of the Seminary ( AHOBA ) for their unflinching support to the Seminary and for sponsoring the erection of the new rectory at the Seminary.
In his speech shortly after the Mass, the rector of the Seminary Rev Fr. Paschal Okonkwo expressed unalloyed gratitude to the proprietor Archbishop Valerian Okeke for his total commitment towards the development of the Seminary, describing him as the brain behind the huge success recorded so far at the Seminary.
He eulogized the past rectors for their candid contributions that sustained the growth of the Seminary, stating that every past rector made commendable and significant impact that translated to moral and academic prowess the Seminary can boast of today .
He thanked the old boys under the umbrella of AHOBA led by Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo for their usual magnanimity and great support to the Seminary. In special way, he extolled Chief Lawrence A. Ezike an alumni , for gifting the seminary with Endowment Scholarship Fund of ten million naira for offsetting school fees of indigent students . Others he commended are the former governor of Anambra state Mr Peter Obi, CWO Onitsha Archdiocese led by the director Dame Ngozi Nwanosike, parishes, staff and friends of the Seminary for their various contributions.
AHOBA president Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo in his remarks said he was elated over the successful centenary celebration of his alma mater. He noted that the planning wasn’t so easy but with the help and support of his fellow old boys both in Nigeria and in diaspora, the week long celebration became the talk of the town. He pledged that AHOBA will not relent in giving full support to the Seminary, positing that they can’t appreciate All Hallows Seminary enough for impacting top notch moral and education on them, that helped them excelled in life .
Mr Peter Obi who graced the occasion also congratulated the Seminary, at 100, asserting that the school has assisted greatly in transforming tour country by producing great priests, resourceful and ebullient leaders and captains of industries, pledging his continual assistance.
Also, former AHOBA president and erstwhile vice Chancellorh of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Prof Fidelis Okafor who spoke to the press said he was elated over the centenary celebration, commending his alma mater forc producing refined intellectuals, disclosing that he was a beneficiary of the quality training the Seminary is known for.
The current Vice chancellor Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Prof Kate Azuka Omenugha in her remarks praised the Seminary for quality formation and for the culture of excellence the school is championing over for past ten decades.
A parent Mr Ray Egbue who spoke to the press said he is happy to identify with the Seminary where his son is currently being formed .
