By kizito Nonso Umennadi
The serene compound of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Ekwulobia, was filled with colour and deep reverence on Sunday, July 20, 2025, as Mr. Valentine Chineto Ozigbo, a respected business leader and a 2025 Governorship Aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), marked his 55th birthday with a heartfelt thanksgiving celebration.
The occasion was a moment of personal reflection and a grand expression of gratitude for what the celebrant described as “a life carried by grace.”
The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by His Eminence Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese. Most Rev. Dr. Jonas Benson Okoye of Nnewi Diocese and a host of priests, religious, traditional rulers, government officials, and lay faithful were also in attendance.
In his homily, Cardinal Okpaleke emphasised the significance of gratitude in the life of every Christian, drawing parallels between divine blessings and human responsibility.
Referring to Mr. Ozigbo, he praised the celebrant’s visible commitment to faith, family, and society, stating, “Thanksgiving is the highest expression of faith. In Valentine Ozigbo, we see a Catholic who has held firmly to God in public life and has not been ashamed to let his light shine before men.”
The Cardinal further addressed the graduating pupils of the Diocesan Nursery and Primary School, urging them to emulate men and women of integrity and courage.
He described Ozigbo as a role model whose story underscores the power of faith and perseverance.
In his deeply personal message of gratitude, Mr. Ozigbo reflected on his journey, marked by humble beginnings in Anambra, early morning chores, schooling under challenging conditions, and a career that would later span banking, hospitality, philanthropy, and politics.
“Fifty-five years — and not a single one without God’s mercy woven through it,” he shared. “Every breath I’ve drawn, every step I’ve taken, every smile I’ve shared — all a story of grace.”
He recounted how his professional life took off with clarity and purpose, starting from a bank job secured during his undergraduate years in accounting. Rising through the ranks in banking and later leading Transcorp Plc as its President and Group CEO, he noted that excellence, integrity, and divine grace were his watchwords.
“There were moments I could have taken shortcuts… every time, grace stepped in and carried me further than ambition could,” he said.
Beyond the corporate world, Ozigbo spoke about the sanctuary he found in his family, particularly his wife, Ojiugo, whom he described as “my mirror, my compass, my calm in the storm.”
He credited her prayers and support through moments of political betrayal, personal grief, and the pressures of public life.
He remembered, too, the painful losses of his elder brother, Engr. Collins Ozigbo and his father, Chief Andrew Ozigbo, alongside friends who stood with him during his political journey.
Ozigbo also used the occasion to speak frankly about the public reactions to his political decisions, including his recent move to the APC.
“Many have misinterpreted my decision… I’ve been insulted, judged, and written off — often by those who never asked why,” Ozigbo noted, urging patience and understanding, assuring that the truth of his motives would stand the test of time.
His philanthropic vehicle, the VCO Foundation, was highlighted as a key part of his mission. He shared stories of how simple acts of empowerment — scholarships, talent showcases, tech training, and support for creatives — have planted seeds of hope and transformation in the lives of many, especially the youth.
From budding actors to music stars, freestyle footballers to software engineers, he remarked, “These stories are the ripple effect of grace multiplied, of lifting others. That, for me, is the true reward.”
The event’s highlights included the Holy Mass, reception, drama and dance presentations, goodwill messages, group photographs, and cultural displays — all anchored in an atmosphere of celebration and spiritual renewal.
Reflecting on his journey, Ozigbo closed with a prayerful note: “May the grace I have received become light for others. May my story be proof that with God, with character, with vision — no dream is too far. And no night lasts forever. The morning always comes.”
