•As Many Celebrities & VVIP Storm LAGOS For His Party
On Monday, 29th December 2018, family members, friends and well-wishers gathered to rejoice with a quintessential leader and servant of God, the Prelate of Methodist Church, Nigeria, His Eminence, Samuel Kanu Uche and his delectable wife, Nneoma Uche at a week long event in Lagos to celebrate the prelates 65th birthday. The activities of events to mark the birthday celebration started with a praise celebration on Friday 26th followed by a community hymn singing on Sunday 28th while the birthday thanksgiving service to round up the activities was held on Monday, 29th at the Methodist Cathedral of Peace, Ikeja, followed by a reception at All Seasons Plaza, Ikeja. The classy event graced by top Methodist Archbishops, top government functionaries, eminent personalities was one of the events that made the Ikeja environs busy due to heavy vehicular activities. Though held on a Monday, the church and venue of the reception was filled to capacity. City People Society Editor, TAYO FAJORIN OYEDIJI, was there and brings you details of the birthday celebrations.
METHODIST CHURCH OPEBI WAS THE HOST
The birthday thanksgiving service held on Monday, 29th was attended by over a thousand guests as many were sitted in church an hour before the stipulated time. Present at the service was a full entourage from the Christian fold especially Methodist Church Worldwide under the Umbrella of Christian Association Nigeria. Several Bishops, Reverends from different denominations were at the church service.
Amongst them were Bishop of Methodist Church, Nigeria, Bishop Sunday Oluyemisi Ogunlere, Priests, Prebyters, Deaconesses and Bishop of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Rev. Ademowo who was represented, representative. from Christian Council of Nigeria, Archbishop Atilade of South South CAN, Methodist Choirs all over and many more. Many trooped out of their comfort zones to honour and celebrate a man of honour and prelate of Methodist Church.
Prelate Emeritus, His Eminence, Sunday Ola Makinde presided over the service. Choristers from different Methodist diocese were not left out. All the children and grand children were the cynosure of all eyes as they were filled with so much joy celebrating their dad. Also, prelate Uche’s home Archdiocesan in Okigwe, Holy Trinity Methodist Church stormed Lagos with their choir who delivered an anthem at the reception party.
WHY PRELATE KANU UCHE IS WELL LOVED
The celebrant was full of joy and happiness on that day because he was thankful to God for keeping him till 65 years of age and because of this he brought a basket full of fruits in 65 places to honour his God. It is only when you are loved by many that the birthday will witness a massive turn out of important dignatries in high places and also top elders of the church and its members like it was all through the 3 days of the celebrations. People really showed how much they love him,shared their encounters with him and how he has been a blessing to the Methodist Church as a whole.
BUHARI AND VP HONOUR PRELATE
The President, Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo also celebrated with the prelate. Though the day coincided with a national event which made it impossible for both of them to be present but they sent their representatives. The Minister of Niger Delta, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani stood in for the President while the Pastor in charge of Aso Rock Villa Chapel, Pastor Seyi Malomo represented the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
OVER 6 GOVERNORS TOO
At the event, there were numerous dignitaries who came to identify with the celebrant. Over 6 Governors sent in their representatives because most of them were at a national event which made them absent at the birthday. The Governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Toyin Awoseyi alongside SSA on religious matters, Rev Dr Kolawole, Dep. Governor of Ogun State, Yetunde Onanuga represented Governor Amosun, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu was represented by Ondo Commissioner, Omowunmi Olatunde Edet, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam El Rufai was represented by Rev Haruna Dgaga, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom was represented by his Deputy, Benson Abonu while Kwara State First Lady, Pastor Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed was represented by Mrs Adeyemi.
ON PAPA SUNDAY OLA MAKINDE’S SERMON
The service was presided over by the Prelate Emeritus, Sunday Ola Makinde who was joined by many other ministers of God. He delivered a soul awakening sermon for the birthday. He congratulated the celebrant and other dignitaries at the service. If you are used to the prelate’s sermon, then you can be sure that he is someone who is well grounded in the words of God. As he preaches, he chips in some jokes which made the audience relax and listen to him well. He is very straight and direct in his preaching. He was very candid with the sermon he delivered, he charged the celebrant to remain steadfast
WHY OBA AROMOLARAN IS CLOSE TO THE CELEBRANT AND PRELATE EMERITUS
When some guests saw the way former Prelate, Sunday Ola Makinde was praising the Owa of Ijeshaland, Oba Aromolaran, they kept wondering what is between them but we can authoritatively tell you that there is a close friendship that exists between them. When Prelate Emeritus, Sunday Ola Makinde was delivering his sermon, he talked about how the Oba has been supporting him and the entire Methodist body as a whole. Lets quickly tell you that Oba Aromolaran is a Christian and you will always see him in celebrations like this. When Oba Aromolaran was called upon for his tribute, he also talked about his friendship with the celebrant,saying that they have known each other for many years. The Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland and Chairman, Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Aromolaran II, who turned 80 last year was at the event with his beautiful Olori, Idowu Aromolaran.
MEET PRELATE’S WIFE OF 40 YEARS, NNEOMA
Behind the successful prelate is a beautiful wife, Nneoma Uche. She was the god mother for all the women that day and she is the one that oversees all the affairs of women in Methodist Church. She looked very beautiful in an all gold attire and was happy all through with her children whom together they gave the celebrant a classy party. She was all smiles and did not hesitate to exchange pleasantries with everyone who had come to celebrate with her husband. The leader of Methodist women and lover of God is a retired Senior Administrative Staff of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and currently the coordinator of the South Eastern zone of Christian Council of Nigeria women wing. She has been married to her husband for 38 years but has known him for 40 years. She said in a paragraph “it is necessary to celebrate a man who when I knew 40 years ago was only a youth but now a man, father, grandfather and father of all nations, my love, my one and only husband. I wish you many years on this earth”.
AND HIS 7 CHILDREN
Prelates’s 7 children were all present at the birthday service, even those who stay abroad came home to take part in the celebration. All of them are successful in their chosen careers and some are happily married. They attended Ivy league schools and are brought up in the ways of God. All of them wrote glowing tributes about their father, wished him many years and prayed for him as well. The children looked lovely in their white and wine combination of outfits, they are Chinwendu Irene Odi, Chisom Chukwumerije, Ikekpere Uche, Izuchukwu Uche, Sunday Uche and Emmanuel Uche.
OVER 50 METHODIST BISHOPS AND 1000 MEMBERS STORM PARTY
What do you expect at such an event like this? It was full of Methodist church pastors and their members in different zones,chapters and states. The thanksgiving service was presided over by the Methodist Church of Peace in Opebi Ikeja and the pastors were up to 50 on the podium. The members were also over a thousand.
CAN PRESIDENT WAS THERE TOO
Present at the birthday celebration was a full entourage from the Christian fold under the Umbrella of Christian Association Nigeria. Several Bishops from different denominations were at the church service. The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Supo Ayokunle was at the event. He spoke about the celebrant whom he calls his elder brother and personal friend and also the Secretary General of the Christian Council of Nigeria, Dr. Wushishi, the national president of Apostolic Church was represented by Rev. A Ojo.
KWARA 1ST LADY, OMOLEWA AHMED’S SHOW OF LOVE
Many people don’t know that the First Lady of Kwara State, Omolewa Ahmed is a Christian and not just a Christian, she is also a Pastor. She was one of the important dignatries who was represented at the birthday celebration. When it was time to address her, she was called Pastor Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed.She also sent in her goodwill message from herself and her husband.
SEN. ITA GIWA WAS AT THE CHURCH
Lagos society woman, and Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Florence Ita Giwa popularly called Mama Bakassi, is also one of the strong members of Methodist Church and it was not a suprise she showed up for Prelate Kanu Uche’s birthday. She is a great philanthropist who supports things of the church. She was also sighted at the church service.
ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP REPRESENTED
Most Rev. Adebola Ademowo, the Bishop of Lagos and Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) also shares a close friendship with the celebrant, he was not at the service but he was represented by one of the top bishops in Anglican Church.
WHY BENUE DEPUTY GOV HOLDS PRELATE IN HIGH ESTEEM
The Deputy Governor of Benue State, Benson Abonu stormed Lagos for the celebration and he was overly excited when he was called upon to give his goodwill message. He brought his governor’s goodwill message and also talked about his encounters with the celebrant and also prelate emeritus, Sunday Ola Makinde. He said prelate Kanu Uche called and prayed for him for 2 mins 2 days before he was appointed and prophesied that something was about to happen to him and it came to pass. So also, he said Prelate Emeritus, Sunday Ola Makinde prophesied that he is going to be given a position of leadership and it also came to pass. He reaffirmed that he was born a Methodist, baptised a Methodist, Methodist has been his life and will always be.
NEW LAGOS CP LOOKED GOOD IN OFFICIAL UNIFORM
Have you seen the new Lagos Police Commissioner, Edgar Imohimi in action? He is one of the few Police men who, when dressed in uniform, will make you want to take on a police job. He was at the celebration and kept everything in order. There was calm, law and order all through the programme of event. He looked dapper in his uniform and when he got to the church, he made his way straight to the celebrant to congratulate him.
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