The Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha has received a donation of a rectory -residence for the priests working in the university- by the Osanakpo family.
The Osanakpo family, originally from Ndoni, Rivers State, have been resident in Onitsha for ages. Their patriarch, Pa Osanakpo, wedded his wife at the then Holy Trinity Cathedral, in the year 1919. The present leader of the family, Sir Ikem Osanakpo, a revered knight of the church and philanthropist, led other family members, including Sir Enebeli and sister, their wives, Lady Nonye and Victoria, some of their children, friends and relatives, to the ground-breaking ceremony of the structure, last weekend.
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, and a handful of priests, who included the Vice Chancellor of Shanahan University, Rev. Fr. Josephat Obi Oguejiofor, officiated at the solemn ceremony of blessing and foundation-laying for the project.
Archbishop Okeke, in his remarks, commended and also thanked the Osanakpo family for their donation and other regular contributions towards the development of education and growth of the archdiocese. He prayed for peace and progress in the family for their present and future generations and called on other privileged people to emulate the family. He also prayed for the progress and development of the university, students and priests who will live in the rectory as well as the entire university staff and management.
The Onitsha Archdiocesan Education Secretary, Rev. Fr. Dr. Paschal Onwugbenu, equally prayed for the speedy completion of the project, while some lay faithful prayed for the institution and welfare of its students, respectively.
In an interview, the family donor, Sir Ikem Osanakpo, said donation of the building was their modest contribution to the efforts of the Archbishop to promote education in the Archdiocese and the country in general. He said the donation was specifically to immortalise their late parents, Mr Louis and Mrs Catherine (Kate) Osanakpo of the blessed memory who planted the legacy of education in their family.
“After thanking God, we thank our parents. Through the Louis and Catherine (Kate) Osanakpo Foundation, this is our humble support to the Archdiocese,” he stated.
Engr Osanakpo revealed that the Osanakpo family has been part of the Holy Trinity Cathedral (now Basilica) for over 100 years and that his grandparents wedded at the then Cathedral many years back in 1919, and having been part of the community for a very long time, they decided to make an indelible mark in the system.
He acknowledged the fact that the legacy of education left for them by their parents spurred them into giving back to the society by establishing other quality educational institutions across the state, which has contributed immensely to the growth of education in the state and the country in general.
Engr Ikem called on other lovers of education to contribute their quota to development of the university since, according to him, such contribution to educational development was the only meaningful legacy that would immortalise them.
“This is our own way of giving back to the Onitsha community, the Church, and the society in general. We are part of Onitsha, and we are contributing to the enhancement of the image of Onitsha. When you talk of Onitsha, all you will hear is commerce. We are using this opportunity to associate Onitsha more with education, and I feel happy that we are part of it. This project is dedicated to our late parents, the late Louis and Kate Osanakpo” he stated.
The contractor handling the project, Engr. Uche Ubajiaka, described the building, a five-floor and seating rooms, as a magnificent edifice when completed, which would serve a befitting edifice where priests working in the university would reside.
Dignitaries at the event included the Anambra State Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Dr Vera Nwadinobi, who is also a board member at the university, numerous priests, and family of Engr. Ikem Osanakpo, Vice Chancellor of Onitsha Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr Dr. Basil Ekwunife, Onitsha Archdiocesan Communication Director, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. George Adimike, Shanahan University Site Supervisor, Rev. Fr. Charles Otuto, and Engr. Oguama, among others.
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