By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma–Egba SAN, Abuja-based legal practitioner, Barr. Tawo Eja Tawo, SAN, and 18 others at the weekend bagged award of honour from the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, PCN, at its silver jubilee celebration, for providing humanitarian services to the church and mankind, and contributing towards the growth of God’s kingdom.
The PCN also conferred posthumous award on the then paramount ruler of Ikom, Etung/Boki Local Government Areas of Cross River State, Minen Ojong Ndoma-Egba for his numerous contributions towards the development/growth of the church.
Others bestowed with posthumous awards includes, first elder/ commissioner of Akparabong parish of the PCN in greater Ikom Presbyterian Church in the 70s, late Elder James Takim Ojong.
Apart from the posthumous award, the PCN also honoured former Chief Medical Director, CMD, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Prof Roland Ndoma-Egba, Chief Willie Tawo, and several others with awards of honour.
Giving a brief history of how the Presbyterian Church came to Akparabong community, the Parish Administrator, Very Rev. Breedvelt Awara, averred that the parish, which was inaugurated on Sunday, January 26, 1997 had E. D Williams as the pioneer Parish Admistrator, with just two congregations in Adijinkpor and Ewowor.
Soliciting for the sustainance of the tempo with regards to lending a helping hand to the church till Christ returns, the Parish Administrator, Very Rev. Awara, charged parishioners not to allow themselves go astray, advising them to remain in the house of God despite the challenging times faced by almost every Nigerian.
In his goodwill message, the chairman, Anniversary Planning Committee, Dr Henry Tiku, said, “The dreams of the Presbyterian Church congregation in Akparabong was mooted by the late Samuel Etta Odima, who brought the church to Akparabong in 1916, adding that he was an agent of the Portuguese and Syrian traders/ missionaries.”
He gave kudos to the parishioners for their contributions towards the growth of the church, stressing that all the contributions made is responsible for the infrastructural growth in the parish.
In a swift reaction to the honour, a Calabar-based legal practitioner, Barr. Ojong, who spoke on behalf of recipients of the awards of honour, expressed joy over the honour done to them, stressing that children of parents who got the posthumous award are excited, because of the recognition bestowed on to their late parents.
He maintained that the posthumous award would strengthen those who are privileged to be alive to do more when it comes to rendering selfless services to humanity.
In his earlier remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Abang Odok Ogar, who was ably represented by the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board, CRSUBEB, board member, Mrs. Nancy Awukam, commended the leadership of the Akparabong parish for the initiative, adding that awards of this nature will spur others to emulate the awardees.
