Over 57 Catholic priests eulogize ex-Udi council chairman @70

…hammers on hard works

Our Reporter 

No fewer than fifty seven Catholic priests and other prominent Nigerians at the weekend eulogised the former council chairman of Udi local government area of Enugu state, Sam Ugwuozor, at his 70th birthday.

Ugwuozor, a permanent Secretary of the Enugu State Executive Council, marked his 70th birthday celebration held at the Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, located at Bishop Eneje Street, in Independence Layout, Enugu state.

In a homily at the Church Service that preceded the Celebration,The Very Rev. Akpunonu extolled the efforts of Ugwuozor in setting standards that would guarantee a truly egalitarian society.

He described the celebrant, as a man of proven integrity, whose life is devoid of greed and the quest for acquisition of material wealth, but exemplified by self discipline, resilience and service to humanity.

Responding, the facilitator of the program, Rev. Fr. Felix Ugwuozor expressed gratitude to the teeming guests, especially the clergy, who came to felicitate his older brother, Sam at his 70th birthday.

He noted that his brother, Sam has remained a great source of inspiration to many who have come close to him, and urged young and aspiring leaders, to emulate his sterling leadership qualities.

In a remark, the celebrant, Ugwuozor said; “I am not boasting,” he said, “what I am saying is that in life, there will be troubles, there will be trials and tribulations, but the issue is, how do you handle them.”

“When I lost one of my hands in an auto crash, people thought it was the end of my life. But look at me, I was the chairman of Udi Local Government Area, a Permanent Secretary of the Enugu State Executive Council. I have remained in government since the era of Governor Chimaroke Nnamani.”

The Nations News reports that over fifty seven Catholic priests; including seven Rev. Sisters from within and beyond Enugu Diocese attended the 70th birthday of Sam Ugwuozor, who currently Heads the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu.

Notable among the attendees are; The Most Rev. John Ifeanyichukwu Okoye, Catholic Bishop of Awgu Diocese, The Most Rev. Thomas Ifeanyichukwu Obiatuegwu, Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, and the Vice Chancellor of Peace Land University, Rev. Fr. Leo Ilechukwu; while the Homilist was The Very Rev. Fr. Peter Damian Akpunonu.

Others were; a former gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga, the House of Reps member for Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Prince Cornelius Nnaji.

Also, a one time chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Ikeje Asogwa, the Vice Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Aloysius Okolo, and the Traditional Ruler of Ibagwa Nike, Igwe, Emmanuel Ugwu among others