His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Tuesday, December 6, received the winner of the National Presidential Debate, Promise Mbachu, at the Bishop’s Office, St Patrick’s Cathedral Awka, reports Adejumoke Aminat Alebiosu.
Mbachu Promise, one of the four representatives of the Anambra Debate Team, is a student of St Michael’s Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo, Njikoka L.G.A., Anambra State. The school is one of the mission schools returned to the Catholic Diocese of Awka by the Peter Obi Administration.
Also at the meeting was Rev. Fr Charles Ndubisi, Chancellor, Catholic Diocese of Awka; Rev. Fr Maximus Okonkwo, Education Secretary, Awka Diocese; Rev. Fr Denis Nwabueze, Manager, St Michael’s Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo; Vivan Okonkwo and Cyprian Obidike, Teachers at St Michael’s Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo.
Bishop Ezeokafor appreciated God for making it possible and congratulated the student on his achievement. He also appreciated the teachers and Manager of the school for the training given to the student.
His words, ‘I thank God and I thank everyone who played a role in making this possible, especially the teachers. This is a thing of pride for us. We are proud of you and we will continue to do our best to assist you,’ he said.
The bishop also appreciated Peter Obi’s Government for returning schools to the mission and noted that it had encouraged healthy competition among schools.
While speaking with Fides, Mbachu explained that the journey was not an easy one because he had to sacrifice a lot of things. He however expressed gratitude to God that the sacrifice bore fruit.
Rev. Fr Dennis Nwabueze, Manager, St Michael’s Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo, described Mbachu as a great student who had excelled greatly in his academic pursuit.
The manager expressed gratitude to Bishop Ezeokafor for always caring for the education sector, remarking that the bishop never abandoned them and had been a good father to the school.
He also appreciated the Chancellor of the Diocese, Fr Charles Ndubisi, and Education Secretary of the Diocese, Fr Maximus Okonkwo.