Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill O.
Akpabio has received his 50th birthday with investiture of an honorary Knight
Of John Wesley (KJW) by Methodist Church of Nigeria.
Chief Akpabio, who was Sunday conferred with the award by the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, at Immanuel Cathedral of the church in Itiam Etoi, Uyo was rewarded for his faith and service to God, humanity and the church.
Dr. Makinde said the award was approved recently by Conference of Methodist Church of Nigeria for friends of the church, hinting that apart from Abia State Governor, Mr. Theodore Orji, Governor Akpabio was the second friend to be conferred with the prestigious award.
Reading from Luke 7: 4b-5, he acknowledged that Akpabio loved God by building synagogues for Him, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria, saying that the award was well-deserved considering his outstanding achievements and people-oriented projects in the state.
Earlier in his homily, the Prelate of the Methodist of Nigeria, Dr. Makinde had disclosed that the church in the state has been very active since its conception with 11 dioceses, the largest in the country.
He pointed out that the award was not to convert the Governor to the church but to encourage him to render more humanitarian services to the people, saying that his life was a call to service and sacrifice. which he liked to Chief Awolowo.
The Prelate, who appreciated his efforts in transforming the state, likened his development vision and leadership style to that of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, calling on other Governors in the country to emulate him. which he believes that Governor Akpabio would more Appreciated when he leaves office in 2015.
In response, Chief Akpabio thanked the church for the award, saying the honour was a re-affirmation of happiness the state has enjoyed since the inception of his administration some years ago.
"I am delighted today to be a part of the family of the Methodist Church of Nigeria. I am also glad that as I celebrate my birthday today, that the church is also celebrating their 50th birthday as well. I wish to state here that the body of Christ is one. So therefore, the church must remain united to face the enemies of Christendom".
"The Methodist Church of Nigeria is strong and tick today because the church has always carried God along. And today, I stand stronger and alive today in spite of criticisms, because I carried God along since my inception as a Governor of this state. My humble and poor background has enabled me to put in my best in transforming the state. For the only thing that can bring true development to any place is through Christ", he remarked.
Governor Akpabio then thanked his wife, Mrs Unoma for taking him closer to God and being a pillar to his family, calling on the church to continue to pray for him, saying "It is not over until it is over," and asked the youths to embrace God in their life.
The service was attended by the Governors of Abia, Dr. Theodore A. Orji; Anambra, Mr. Peter Obi and wife, Margaret; Imo, Chief Rochas Okorocha and Kogi, Captain Idris Wada Nas as well as Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, among others.
Earlier, the Governor and his family had attended morning mass at St. John's Chaplaincy, Government House, Uyo to thank God for helping him to clock 50 years on earth.
Akpabio said the moment called for sober reflection of his life in the past and the time for him to plan for his afterlife, and called Akwa Ibom children to embrace God in all their dealings in order to succeed, donating two coaster buses to Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Dioceses of Catholic Church.
Mrs. Unoma Ekaette congratulated her husband on his 50th birthday anniversary and encouraged him to be firm and focused to perform better in the face of stiff oppostion and criticisms by enemies of progress.
She equipped, named and donated a library with books and e-books for inmates of Divine Children Home, Uyo and a coaster bus for them in memory of her husband's birthday.
Chief Akpabio, who was Sunday conferred with the award by the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, at Immanuel Cathedral of the church in Itiam Etoi, Uyo was rewarded for his faith and service to God, humanity and the church.
Dr. Makinde said the award was approved recently by Conference of Methodist Church of Nigeria for friends of the church, hinting that apart from Abia State Governor, Mr. Theodore Orji, Governor Akpabio was the second friend to be conferred with the prestigious award.
Reading from Luke 7: 4b-5, he acknowledged that Akpabio loved God by building synagogues for Him, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria, saying that the award was well-deserved considering his outstanding achievements and people-oriented projects in the state.
Earlier in his homily, the Prelate of the Methodist of Nigeria, Dr. Makinde had disclosed that the church in the state has been very active since its conception with 11 dioceses, the largest in the country.
He pointed out that the award was not to convert the Governor to the church but to encourage him to render more humanitarian services to the people, saying that his life was a call to service and sacrifice. which he liked to Chief Awolowo.
The Prelate, who appreciated his efforts in transforming the state, likened his development vision and leadership style to that of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, calling on other Governors in the country to emulate him. which he believes that Governor Akpabio would more Appreciated when he leaves office in 2015.
In response, Chief Akpabio thanked the church for the award, saying the honour was a re-affirmation of happiness the state has enjoyed since the inception of his administration some years ago.
"I am delighted today to be a part of the family of the Methodist Church of Nigeria. I am also glad that as I celebrate my birthday today, that the church is also celebrating their 50th birthday as well. I wish to state here that the body of Christ is one. So therefore, the church must remain united to face the enemies of Christendom".
"The Methodist Church of Nigeria is strong and tick today because the church has always carried God along. And today, I stand stronger and alive today in spite of criticisms, because I carried God along since my inception as a Governor of this state. My humble and poor background has enabled me to put in my best in transforming the state. For the only thing that can bring true development to any place is through Christ", he remarked.
Governor Akpabio then thanked his wife, Mrs Unoma for taking him closer to God and being a pillar to his family, calling on the church to continue to pray for him, saying "It is not over until it is over," and asked the youths to embrace God in their life.
The service was attended by the Governors of Abia, Dr. Theodore A. Orji; Anambra, Mr. Peter Obi and wife, Margaret; Imo, Chief Rochas Okorocha and Kogi, Captain Idris Wada Nas as well as Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, among others.
Earlier, the Governor and his family had attended morning mass at St. John's Chaplaincy, Government House, Uyo to thank God for helping him to clock 50 years on earth.
Akpabio said the moment called for sober reflection of his life in the past and the time for him to plan for his afterlife, and called Akwa Ibom children to embrace God in all their dealings in order to succeed, donating two coaster buses to Uyo and Ikot Ekpene Dioceses of Catholic Church.
Mrs. Unoma Ekaette congratulated her husband on his 50th birthday anniversary and encouraged him to be firm and focused to perform better in the face of stiff oppostion and criticisms by enemies of progress.
She equipped, named and donated a library with books and e-books for inmates of Divine Children Home, Uyo and a coaster bus for them in memory of her husband's birthday.
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