By Ononye VC
It was an extraordinary night of joy and praises to God as a record crowd estimated to be more than 10,000 besieged the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Square,Onitsha on Friday,8th November 2024,to share in the joy of the Unusual Praise Gospel music performance.The event was organised by the Catholic Church of Divine Mercy,Lekki,Lagos,Nigeria in collaboration with the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha and other major stakeholders which included individuals and corporate bodies.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke graced the event with his presence as he mounted the stage and set the tone by welcoming the huge audience,sang a Gospel number to the applause and appreciation of the audience and prayed for them saying,”I welcome all of you to the Basilica Square for this inspirational event.I pray that the time you will spend here will not be wasted but used to the glory of God.May God answer your prayers more than you you anticipated”.
The Archbishop was accompanied to the event by some top members of the clergy. Many other other priests and religious were in attendance.
Earlier,the opening prayers were said by the trio of Monsignor Paschal Nwaezeapu(the organizer of Unusual Praise and Parish Priest of Catholic Church of Divine Mercy,Lagos),the Onitsha Archdiocesan Director of Social Communications,Very Rev Fr Dr George Adimike and the chairperson of Unusual Praise,Lagos,Mrs Theresa Onwuka.
The event turned into a frenzy when top Gospel artistes like Sir Jude Nnam,Gozie Okeke,James Arum,Chinyere Udoma and Ada Jesus took the stage.
The kids of Archbishop Valerian Okeke Music Academy (AVOMA)were the first to perform.
Other singers include Nkiru Emmanuel,Beejay Sax among others.
The joyous mood became electrifying as the audience from various persuasions of life literally danced themselves lame with popular tunes from the Gospel artistes
.The population overflowed the Basilica Square,stretching to the roads adjacent to the Square.
The combined team of Police,Civil Defence,Anambra Vigilante and Shanahan Security operatives had a hectic time maintaining law and order such that their were no breach of security.
Medical teams and ambulances were positioned in strategic places to forestall medical emergencies.
As one of the major highlights of the event,the Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke, top officials of Unusual Praise and one of the major sponsors,Sir Engr Ikem Osanakpo,handed over empowerment cheques to 10 youths to support their skills and businesses.
Two out of them got N1 million each,six of them got N500,000(five hundred thousand Naira)each,while two others got N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand Naira)each.
In a Bible reflection delivered by Rev Fr Alex Eze with the theme,”God or nothing”,Fr Eze condemned the backward influx of youths into paganism and urged christians to return back to God inorder not to have themselves to blame on the last day.
As the even rolled to an end early Saturday morning (9th November 2024),the organising chairperson of Unusual Praise,Onitsha,Barr Mrs Augustina Igbokwe delivered her vote of thanks,expressing gratitude to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke,sponsors of the event,the audience and others who contributed towards the success of the event.
In a closing Mass in which the Chief Celebrant was Monsignor Paschal Nwaezeapu,assisted by many other priests,the Onitsha Archdiocesan Director of Social Communications,Very Rev Fr Dr George Adimike delivered a homily reflecting on the church’s celebration of the dedication of the ancient Lateran Basilica in Rome which he pointed out,is regarded as the mother church of the Catholic Church and also the seat of the Popes.
Fr Adimike reminded christians that Jesus is the living water flowing from the temple which everyone should take advantage of and drink.
He preached the need for the faithful to transform their lives and the society and stop paying lip service to issues but to give “Life Service” for the good of all.
