Ndoma-Egba Builds 1,000-Seat Capacity Church For His Hometown

The Catholic Church, Our Lady Queen of Peace, in Akparabong, Ikom local government area of Cross River State

Former Senate Leader and Chairman of the governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba has donated a house of worship to his community in Cross River State.

The Church, said to be 1,000-seat capacity for Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Akparabong, Ikom was officially commissioned on Tuesday, May 29.

Speaking, Ndoma-Egba said that the Church was a fulfilment of a promise he made to God when he was 11 years old.

He thanked his wife, Amaka, whose birthday coincided with the dedication, and who supported him in building the church.

He said construction work started in 2003 and was grateful that the Church was finally completed and ready for us.

On his part, the officiating clergy, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Abuja Ecclesiastical Province of the Catholic Church, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan used the occasion to condemn the proliferation of hate speeches and the spirit of disunity in the country.

The clergy said it was not just enough to build a beautiful church, but that Christians have to live by faith and charity.

According to him, "The church of God is supposed to be a sign and instrument of what great things God is doing in our world. Our church should be a sign of the goodness of God so that anybody who has seen the church will say this is how God's community should be.

"This is particularly important today when religion has almost become something else. With harsh language, hate speech, and always believing it is just me and my religion, others are finished.

"The Christian faith, particularly the Catholic church, is wonderful but please let us not forget that God has given us a wonderful community. We must be signs and instruments of his mission on earth. We should be found to be constantly there working for peace and love. Not just thinking only about how we can be saved, how we can prosper against others. No. I do believe by God's grace that we have enough Catholics in this country to make a difference, if all of us whereever we are turned ourselves into signs and instruments".

He urged Christians to "Pray for the nation which we live. We are not alone and what happens to our Nation is not only our concern, but our responsibility. If we do our part we can make a difference in our country.

"We pray that God should continue to show us the way, change the hearts of evil people, give wisdom and courage to those whose duty it is to lead us in our daily lives and grant peace and security to our nation".