Msgr Sylvester Mgbemfulu, who recently retired as a priest of Awka Diocese after reaching the canonical age of 75 years, has described the return of schools to the Church as the most fundamental, amongst other achievements of Peter Obi as the Governor of Anambra State.

Msgr. Mgbemfulu, who has been in the seminary for over 40 years, 38 of them as the Chemistry teacher at St. John Bosco Seminary Isuaniocha, Anambra State, was speaking on Monday when Mr. Peter Obi paid him a “thank you visit” at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Nibo, Anambra, where he is residing.

Mgbemfulu, who described the visit of Obi as “surprising,” prayed to God to contribute to protect Obi from the snares of the enemy and to give him the grace to continue to serve God through his goodness to humanity.

Responding, Obi said he read about Msgr Mgbemfulu after his retirement, how committed he was as a priest and as a teacher and how he spent the better part of his sacerdotal call on school apostolate and decided to visit him.

He further said the visit was to thank him for contributing to the education of the youth, which he described as the best contribution for the advancement of the society.

On Msgr Mgbemfulu’s commendation for the return of school to the Church by his administration, Obi said it should rather be the other way round.

His words: “It is actually the government that should thank the Church for rising up to the requirements of managing education in the state that saw the state coming first in external examinations.”

Obi also said that he insisted on visiting Msgr Mgbemfulu because he has always believed that those that sacrificed for the state and institutions of the state deserve to be celebrated at their old age. Obi said that “the celebration comes in different ways, including naming institutions not just after politicians but after people like the Monsignor as well as prompt payment of the pension and gratuities of pensionable ones.”

On ground to receive Mr. Obi was the President of Bosco-Savio Old Boys Association and a lecturer at Oko Polytechnic, Mr. Celestine Ostende Oguegbu, who described Msgr Mgbemfulu as a rare teacher and Obi as also a rare leader who recognises the rightful people for commendation based on their real and positive contributions to society.

Making the votes of thanks, the Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Nibo, Rev. Fr. Sylvester Duru, said Obi’s visit was inspiring for people like him who were also the product of Msgr’s thirty-eight years of intense and fruitful scholarship.

•PHOTO: L-R; Fr. Sylvester Dunu, Mr. Peter Obi, Msgr Sylvester Mgbemfulu and Mr. Celestine Oguegbu when Obi paid a visit to Msgr. Mgbemfulu at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Nibo after he retired as Chemistry teacher of at St. John Bosco Seminary, Isuaniocha for 38 years.

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