CATHOLIC FAITHFUL DONATE TO FUND OKOJIE’S FOUNDATION
By Uchenna Eletuo (07031241955)
Some faithful of the Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, on Thursday made monetary donations in support of the Anthony Cardinal Okojie Foundation.
The fund raising to finance the education of students in the foundation was the highlight of the 16th Anthony Cardinal Okojie Foundation Annual Lecture held at the Our Lady Mother of Perpetual Help Church Victoria Island, Lagos.
The lecture which attracted the cream of the Catholic Faithful had as it’s theme “The JAPA Phenomenon, Implications for National Development and the Christain Faith”
The lecture has been a platform for public discuss of issues of interest to the people, with a view to proffering solutions.
The donations realised at the event, not less than N 30 million would be deployed to enhance the education of the beneficiaries in the primary and secondary schools.
Speaking at the event, The Archbishop’Emeritus, Anthony Cardinal Okojie, in whose honour the foundation was incepted said that an improved educational system was needed to enhance the life of the individual and society.
Okojie, a revered now retired Gospel preacher and social crusder, whose hay days were characterised with fights against government bad policies, called on governments at all levels to institute better development and welfare to enable people actualise their dreams.
He prayed for the progress of the country, saying that education should be prioritised strain skilled manpower for the nation’s development.
Speaking at the event the guest lecturer at the event, Prof. Chris Ogbechie said that, there was nothing wrong in people global asset while seeking greener pastures.
Ogbechie, whose lecture centred on the JAPA Phenomenon, urged Nigerians to change their mindsets and think inward on ways to positively affect development at home for the common good.
According to him we must change our mindset about the concepts of location and focus more access to our nationals wherever they may reside in the globe for the benefits of the country.
“As a person we should pattern with them through policies that offers them sense of belonging to enable them bring back home their expertise in various areas that we are in need for advancement.
“The impacts of diaspora members on development are often multileveled . we must establish wide-ranging programmes aimed at promoting relations and incorporating diaspora populations in avarity of domains.
“The diaspora has been both a direct source of FDI and be effective middlemen to channel FDI toward our country,” he said.
The lecture stressed that international emigration could be have both negative and positive implications for the individuals and national development , called on the governments to implement people oriented programmes.
JAPA is a local concept of young persons relocating abroad with no intention of coming back.
(NAN)
