By Tobias Ekirika Onitsha
It was an epoch making event last Sunday July 13, 2025 as the Abakaliki Diocesan Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, (ABCYON) Onitsha branch, celebrated her fifteenth years anniversary in Onitsha Archdiocese.
The event which started with Holy Mass at St John De Baptist, Oduagbu, in Onitsha South local government area of Anambra state, attracted who is who from Ebonyi and beyond, including the President General of Ebonyi state town unions, Anambra state, Amb. Moses Igwe; the director SASA, Chief Monday Nwokoye, represented by Chief Ezeani, and many others.
The event also featured awards of excellence to outstanding members, and installation of Patrons And Patronesses, and launching of one million naira building fund.
The officiating priest, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Paul Ike Nwannegbo, Parish Priest of St John De Baptist Oduagbu, and also the Chaplain of ABCYON, Onitsha branch, during the Mass, commended the group for their encouragement and support for the evangelization of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In their welcome address during the reception held at St Patrick Okoro Memorial Secondary School, the chairman of the group, Bro. Omeh Dominic, said that their primary aim was to evangelize the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to bring the youth closer to God. He eulogized their chaplain, Very Rev Fr Dr Paul Ike Nwannegbo, for the love, care and encouragement, mostly for uplifting the faith of members.
They also applauded the President General of Ebonyi state town union Anambra state, Amb. Moses Igwe, whom they said was the first chairman of the association and since then has been championing all the activities of the organization, including giving necessary advice and financial support to the union.
The chairman further revealed that the fund raising was to build a hostel in a land they bought at Ebonyi State University, which according to him, would be a source of income to the union and would also assist her members that may gain admission into the university.
One of the patrons, Amb Moses Igwe, on behalf of other patrons and patronesses, thanked the organization for seeing them worthy to be their patrons and patronesses, assuring them that they would never relent in giving the organization necessary support.
