By Mokwugwo Ogochukwu
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, participated in the maiden National Marian Societies Unity Conference convened at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja, where he highlighted the centrality of moral values to national development.
The conference commenced with a Solemn Pontifical Mass presided over by the Most Rev. William Amove Avenya. The Eucharistic Celebration was concelebrated by His Eminence, Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpalaeke, the Most Rev. Oliver Dashe Doeme, and other members of the clergy.
In his homily, Bishop Avenya underscored the imperative of unity among Marian societies and the broader Christian faithful. He exhorted the congregation to deepen their spiritual devotion, maintain ecclesial discipline, and serve as instruments of peace in a nation beset by division and moral decadence.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Barr. Ezeokenwa lauded the Catholic Church for its unwavering commitment to the promotion of values that underpin societal stability. He observed that the future of Nigeria extends beyond political architecture and is contingent upon a moral renaissance rooted in faith, discipline, and collective responsibility.
The APGA National Chairman further affirmed that the party’s foundational tenets of justice, equity, and people-centered development are congruent with the moral doctrines propagated by the Church. He enjoined Marian societies to remain resolute in their apostolate, describing them as indispensable stakeholders in the advancement of unity, social cohesion, and sustainable national development.
The conference assembled Marian associations from across the federation and served as a forum for spiritual renewal, inter-group collaboration, and deliberation on strengthening faith-based interventions in nation-building.
Mokwugwo is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
