Archbishop Okeke @73: ‘Count Your Blessings, Not Your Troubles’ — Prelate Tells Faithful

By Mokwugwo Solomon

The Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of the Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke, has urged Christians to cultivate a spirit of thanksgiving by focusing on God’s blessings rather than the challenges they encounter in their daily lives.

Archbishop Okeke gave the admonition on Tuesday, October 20, during a Holy Mass marking his 73rd birthday anniversary at St. Maximilian Golbe Chaplaincy, Onitsha Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service, where he celebrated with inmates and presented them with various gifts.

Delivering a homily titled “The Necessity of Giving Thanks,” the Archbishop said that the gift of life, the air people breathe and other daily blessings are freely provided by God, yet many people often overlook them while comparing their lives with those of others.

He observed that people frequently concentrate on what they lack instead of appreciating what God has already done for them.

“When you see yourself in prison and think you are being punished, you may not be looking at the situation from the right perspective. What brought you into prison could have taken your life,” he said.

“Most times, we consider what God has not given us but fail to appreciate the things He has done for us.”

The Archbishop described thanksgiving as a virtue that draws people closer to God and encourages them to recognise His blessings, adding that gratitude should remain an essential part of every Christian’s life.

“Thanksgiving is a virtue that makes a man great before God. The more you give thanks, the more you are blessed by God. It is one of our greatest weapons in prayer because it helps us to receive more from God,” he said.

He also encouraged Christians to demonstrate their gratitude through generosity, stressing that sharing their blessings with others is one of the most practical ways to appreciate God’s goodness.

Archbishop Donates Cows, Rice, Other Items to Inmates

As part of activities marking his birthday, Archbishop Okeke presented the inmates with various gifts, including live cows, bags of rice, toiletries, clothing, detergents and other essential items.

The gesture formed part of his longstanding commitment to supporting inmates, encouraging their rehabilitation and improving their welfare.

The Archbishop expressed satisfaction with the reported reduction in the number of inmates at the facility, describing the development as a potentially positive indication of progress in addressing crime in society.

He, however, called on the faithful to continue praying for the successful implementation of the Federal Government’s vision behind the transformation of the Nigerian Prison Service into the Nigerian Correctional Service, with emphasis on rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration.

Archbishop Has Celebrated Birthdays with Inmates for 20 Years — Chaplain

Speaking during the Mass, the Chaplain of St. Maximilian Golbe Chaplaincy, Onitsha Custodial Centre, Rev. Fr. Batho Okpalaugo, congratulated Archbishop Okeke on his 73rd birthday and prayed for more fruitful years of service to God and humanity.

Fr. Okpalaugo disclosed that the Archbishop had maintained the tradition of celebrating his birthdays with inmates at the custodial centre for about 20 years, using the occasions to provide material support and offer words of encouragement.

He commended the Archbishop for his contributions to the transformation of the facility, particularly through initiatives that have expanded educational and vocational opportunities for inmates.

According to the chaplain, the Archbishop has supported the establishment of primary and secondary schools, an Open University programme and a skills acquisition centre within the custodial facility.

These initiatives, he noted, provide inmates with opportunities to acquire educational qualifications and practical skills while in custody, helping to prepare them for reintegration into society.

Correctional Officials, Dignitaries Commend Archbishop’s Contributions

In their goodwill messages, the Controller of Corrections in Anambra State, Mrs. Ezinne Onuoha, and the Officer-in-Charge of Onitsha Custodial Centre, Mr. Emmanuel Dede, expressed appreciation to the Archbishop for his contributions to the development of the facility.

They described him as a champion of societal transformation and prayed that God would grant him more years of service and continued impact on humanity.

Also speaking at the event, the candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election, Engr. Eric Anyamele, described Archbishop Okeke as a priest whose contributions to the custodial centre had earned widespread admiration.

Anyamele called on other religious leaders to emulate the Archbishop’s commitment to the welfare, rehabilitation and empowerment of inmates.

The Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Patrick Aghamba, also commended the Archbishop for his devotion to the Gospel and his demonstration of humility through service to others.

Aghamba urged the inmates to take advantage of the educational, vocational and other opportunities introduced at the facility to improve themselves and prepare for a more productive future after their release.

He also acknowledged the contributions of Senator Stella Oduah in supporting the Archbishop’s interventions at the custodial centre.

The commissioner further assured that his ministry would collaborate with Archbishop Okeke and the custodial centre to advance youth development and rehabilitation initiatives for young inmates.

The celebration highlighted Archbishop Okeke’s longstanding engagement with inmates and reinforced the message of thanksgiving, generosity, rehabilitation and the importance of giving people opportunities to rebuild their lives.
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