It was a show of love and solidarity during the twenty fifth marriage anniversary of Dr Josephat and his wife Dr Assumpta Akabuike as friends, family and relations as well as contemporaries gathered to felicitate with them.

 

The event which took place in Awka on Easter Monday, started with a pontifical high mass at St Patrick’s cathedral, Awka.

 

Correspondent Ngozi Obileri covered the ceremony and  reports that over thirty priests, Reverend sisters, members of the Knight of Saint Mulumba, staff and management of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital Amaku, Awka, immediate family members, friends and well-wishers converged on St Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, to bear witnesses to renewal of marital vows between Dr Josephat Akabuike and Dr Mrs Assumpta Akabuike, as the celebrate silver Jubilee wedding anniversary.

In a homily during the pontifical high mass, the Bishop of Nnewi Catholic Diocese, Most Reverend Jonas Benson-Okoye who decried high rate of divorce among couples these days described marriage as one of the seven Sacraments and an institution ordained by God which should be kept holy.

While bringing felicitations from the Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend  Paulinus Ezeokafor, his Ekwulobia Diocese counterpart, Most Reverend Peter Okpalaeke and the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Most Reverend Dennis Isizo, Most Reverend Okoye thanked God for binding the couple together all these past years and for the blessings thereof, praying him to continue to be with them.

 

Later at a reception shortly after the mass, the guests gathered to dine and wine with the celebrants who used the occasion to appreciate them for their prayers and support these past twenty-five years.

Felicitating with the couple, a Catholic Priest, Dr Basil Ucheonye, working under Dr Akabuike who is the Chief Medical Director Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, former Attorneys General and Commissioners for Justice, Barristers Uju Nworgu and Peter Afuba, an in-law of the groom Chief Izuchukwu Nwabueze prayed God for more blessings, long life and good health upon the couple.

 

The father of the bride Mr Sylvester Ugochukwu and the elder brother to the bride Chief Donatus Akabuike, thanked God for seeing them through hurdles of life and for standing firm in believing in one another.

Responding, the couple Dr Josephat and Dr Mrs Assumpta Akabuike, thanked God for leading them this far, and prayed him to unite them more in love, even as they advised young couples to always tolerate each other’s flaws and to bring up their children in the fear of God.

 

The first child of the family Miss Chioma and the only son Master Chideraa Akabuike, thanked God for their parents whom they described as God’s gift to them and prayed God to bless them.

Top among the dignitaries were the Deputy Governor of Anambra state Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Speaker, Anambra state House of Assembly, Right Honourable Uchenna Okafor, Commissioner for Entertainment, Culture and Tourism, Mr Don Onyenji, former National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Victor Umeh,  State Chairman of the party, Sir Nobert Obi, National Vice President Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, former commissioners in Anambra state among many other dignitaries.

Exchange of marital vows and rings, cutting of cake and dance by the couple climaxed the event.

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