Awka Diocese Parish Trains Elected Officers on Leadership, Stewardship

By Gabriel Chy Alonta

St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish, UNIZIK Temp-Site, Awka, on Saturday, August 30, 2025, held a leadership training for newly elected executives of the Catholic Men Organization (CMO), Catholic Women Organization (CWO), and Young Catholic Professionals (YCP).

In his welcome address, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Louis Obiora Nwobi, emphasized financial stewardship, collaborative leadership, and effective communication as critical to parish growth. He stressed that stewardship must reflect accountability, transparency, honesty, and generosity, noting that regular audits build trust and enhance faithful management of parish resources.

He explained that collaborative leadership promotes problem-solving, innovation, and shared goals, while effective communication through active listening, empathy, and constructive conflict resolution strengthens relationships and deepens commitment.

On financial stewardship, Mrs. Oby Ezenwile urged leaders to manage resources with integrity, ethical conduct, and accountability. She said leaders must inspire others through their actions, demonstrate integrity, visionary thinking, decisiveness, humility, and openness. She highlighted the importance of proper documentation, expenditure control, team collaboration, and assigning duties according to capacities.

Speaking on teamwork and synodality, the Parish Vicar, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Chibuike Akwuba, called for unity, inclusiveness, and shared responsibility in parish leadership. He urged leaders to promote active participation, respect diversity, and avoid monopoly of decisions, stressing the importance of dialogue, delegation of duties, and synergy between parish groups and priests.

Also delivering a session, the Vice Chairman of the Parish Council, Prof. Bruno Nnamdi Ibekilo, spoke on effective communication and conflict resolution, describing them as recipes for growth. He urged leaders to be attentive to verbal and non-verbal cues, demonstrate empathy, create feedback mechanisms, and leverage technology. On conflict management, he said leaders must approach disagreements with humility and compassion, turning conflicts into opportunities for growth.

In a joint vote of thanks, Mr. Oliver Okoye, Mrs. Vera Nwachukwu, and Engr. Martin Ibenta, pledged that the elected leaders would serve with dedication and in line with the parish’s mission.

The newly elected executives of CMO, CWO and YCP would be officially unveiled and inducted during the 9:30am Holy Mass on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

The event also witnessed the constitution of the Parish Laity Council with the following persons appointed into the Laity Council hierarchies.

➡️Mr. Oliver Okoye – (Chairman)
➡️Mrs. Veronica Nwachukwu (Vice-Chairman)
➡️Engr. Martin Ibenta (Secretary)
➡️Mr. Louis Utazi (Financial Secretary)
➡️Dr. Gabriel Alonta (PRO1)
➡️Mrs. Amaka Okoye (PRO2)
➡️Mrs. Gloria Aniagbasi (Provost 1)
➡️Mr. Jude Amadi (Provost 2)

@highlight All Saints Choir, St. Joseph Parish, Unizik Temp. Site, Awka YCP St Joseph Parish Awka YCP Unizik Chaplaincy Fides Media Awka Diocesan Laity Council Catholic Diocese of Awka Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia – CADEK