Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko Celebrates 45 Years of God’s Faithfulness in the Ministry with Pomp
Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko Celebrates 45 Years of God’s Faithfulness in the Ministry With Pomp
It was pomp and ceremony as Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko of the Assemblies of God Church celebrated 45 years of God’s faithfulness in the Ministry.
The ground-breaking celebration held at the popular GIA Event Centre, No. 5, Aba-Owerri Road, Aba on Sunday, December 15, 2024.
It attracted a galaxy of distinguished personalities from all walks of life, family members, relatives, the people of Abiriba among others.
The esteemed presence and enthralling performances by some notable celebrities in the nation’s movie and entertainment industry added colour to the occasion.
The splendid occasion commenced at 2.00pm. It was compered by a renowned Master of Ceremonies, Kalu Kingsley Ude
(TWOCANTOK)
The majestic entrance of the celebrant, Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko alongside his lovely wife, amazing children, relatives and friends set the well-decorated venue agog.
When they were duly seated, Rev. Joshua Oko said the opening prayer and thereafter the ceremony progressed swiftly from one stage to another.
In his short sermon titled, “God’s Faithfulness”, Prof. C. C. Okereke expressed profound gratitude to God for the life of Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko describing his 45 years in the Ministry as 45 years of Dedicated Service to God marked by unwavering commitment, unrelenting passion and unshakeable faith.
He said that Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko’s journey into the Ministry is a testament to his perseverance, resilience and dedication to his calling.
He noted that they gathered that day not only to celebrate his longevity in the Ministry but also to honour him for his commitment to the betterment of the people and society at large.
He extolled his remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life adding that there are so many fine lessons to be learnt from the life of Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko such as perseverance, resilience, passion, compassion among others.
According to him, Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko’s life shows that with determination and faith, even the most daunting challenge would be surmounted.
He stated that his life is a glaring example that setbacks are not the end of life but rather opportunities for growth and renewal adding that he also inspires others to pursue their calling with unwavering enthusiasm and dedication.
Prof. C. C. Okereke noted that Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko’s life reminds them of the importance of empathy, kindness and understanding in their interactions with others and paid glowing tribute to his selfless service to God and humanity.
He appreciated him for the countless lives he has touched and transformed stressing that the celebration of his 45 years in the Ministry is a remarkable milestone and a reminder that true excellence is not measured by years of service alone but by the depths of one’s commitment, sincerity of heart and impact on the life of others.
He eulogized Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko’s life as a shining example of excellence in the Ministry for which they would forever remain grateful for his tremendous achievements.
He congratulated Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko on his remarkable 45 years in the Ministry and prayed God that his journey would continue to be blessed adding that his legacy would also continue to inspire generations to come.
Thereafter, it was a deluge of endearing tributes from family members, his children, grand children and others.
In his speech, the celebrant’s elder brother, Rev. Joshua Oko expressed great delight for the celebrant’s love and unwavering dedication to the service of God and humanity.
He disclosed that Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko received his calling at a tender age and thanked God for given him the courage to accept it and be able to excel in it.
He described him as a true man of God and prayed God to give him more unction to continue to function at all times.
On his part, Chief Sir Ikoro Ogbuja congratulated Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko on his milestone 45 years in the Ministry and prayed God to grant him the strength to continue.
In their address three of his grandchildren extolled his shining virtues, achievements in the Ministry and prayed God to bless him with long life, good health, wisdom and more strength to continue serving Him and humanity.
In his tribute, one of his sons, Anderson described his father as a role model not only in the Ministry but also in other spheres of life.
He said that Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu is a lecturer, an entrepreneur, a counselor and highly innovative adding that his creativity inspires him in so many ways.
He described his father as a good family man – loving, caring and generous. He said that his unwavering commitment to God’s work does not make him to shy away from taking good care of his family.
According to him, he provides for his children and others, especially the less-privileged, pays his school fees, buys textbooks for him, encourages him to do his school homework, pays his school fees, buys textbooks for him, disciplines him when necessary, leads them in morning prayers and always trains them with the Bible.
He described him as a man of peace and wished him more success in the remaining years of his ministry and prayed God to continue to grant him more years so as to do more in his service to God and humanity as well as to enjoy the fruits of his labour.
Contributing, his daughter, Kalu Nnenna Azu said that they are celebrating their father’s absolute faith in God and appreciated him for being a good and faithful servant of God as well as for teaching them to live a life of purpose.
She said that she would remain eternally grateful to him for his exceptional guidance and for making her what she is today.
She extolled him for being an incredible dad and quintessential leader in whom they are well-pleased and wished him God’s abundant blessings.
Similarly, his son, Victor Azu Kalu appreciated him for his unwavering commitment to God and always reminding them to put all their trust in God and make spiritual matters the most important thing in their life.
He thanked him for all the good things he has done for him and the entire family. He lauded him for his enviable legacy and unimpeachable integrity stressing that they have opened so many doors for them.
He wished him well adding that he would live very long to celebrate many more years of God’s faithfulness upon his life and family.
In his remarks, Engr. Kalu Azu said that he is the best dad he has ever seen and appreciated his hard work and commitment to God and his family.
He recalled the hard times they experienced when they were growing up in the family and how his father used to wake up at 3.00am to sing “Draw me Nearer, Nearer to me, Draw me Nearer, Nearer to me”.
According to him, whenever his father began to sing the song know that there is virtually nothing to fall back on that day, however, he said that God always found a way to see them through their tough times adding that it is a testament of God’s love for them.
He noted that his father has paid the price and expressed profound joy to be alive to see God’s numerous blessings in his father’s life.
He thanked his father for laying a very good foundation for them and wished him long life, good health and more fruitful celebrations ahead.
There was a musical interlude and many side attractions featuring exciting performances by notable comedians, showbiz impresarios and gospel music legends.
Anderline Nanas set the stage abuzz with her spectacular performance as she showered encomiums on the celebrant describing him as a humble, loving, caring and dedicated servant of God and an inimitable role model to all and sundry.
Thereafter, renowned comedians, Shedrack and Meshack thrilled the guests with their vintage performance that made them to roar with laughter.
Another popular comedian, Johnson Okebulu Inah known as MC Jay did not disappoint the teeming guests when he mounted the stage. The Abiriba-born celebrity also put up a remarkable performance to the admiration of all and sundry.
Gospel music legend, Samuel Anya (aka Osuofia Otunkpo) set the stage on fire with his timeless tunes and the guests went totally gaga, jumped out of their seats and danced to the glory of God.
In his speech after the side attractions, the celebrant, Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko thanked God for His faithfulness upon his life and calling.
He appreciated all those who came to celebrate his 45 years in the Ministry with him and his family and wished that Rev. Isaiah – the man who converted his mother to Christ and his mother in turn converted him and Rev. J. C. Okonkwo were around to witness the epoch-making event.
Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko reflected on his journey in the Ministry in the past 45 years and said that the Almighty God has been faithful to him.
Going down the memory lane, he said that he opted to do the work of God in the rural areas instead of Aba where they had wanted to post him initially.
To this end, he was posted to so many rural areas including Umuagu, Obolo, Aboh Mbaise, Ezinnachi, Lokpa Ukwu, Umuaku among others where he served for 21 years before God brought him back to the same Aba he refused to be posted initially.
But today as he marks his 45 years in the Ministry, he looked back and said that the Almighty God has been faithful to him.
Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko said that his story has changed stressing that there are immense rewards in serving God faithfully.
According to him nothing can stop God’s appointed time in your life be it your location or your enemies. He said that he is richly blessed today in the name of Jesus.
He recalled how God used a widow secretly to change his life when he went for his first degree abroad and nearly got stranded after his first year.
Hear him: “My senior brother, Kalu sponsored me to study abroad. He paid for my first year in the school. After my first year, the money he paid expired and the school wanted more money. He issued them a posted-dated cheque and it bounced. He issued them another one and it bounced too. They said, “Do you know the meaning of bounced cheque or are playing with us?” Before I knew it, they evicted me from the hostel and allowed me to attend lectures only without accommodation, feeding or any other provision.
They said that at the end of the semester if I failed to pay they would send me back to Nigeria. They were very clear and strict about it and I was worried. I had to go to the chapel and prayed for God’s intervention. After some hours I saw a revelation. A hand came through the ceiling and gave me money. I was startled. I only saw a hand, no face. And I said, God what are you saying? After praying, I went to the football pitch to play. And one day as I was going for lecture I passed through the President’s office, he sighted me and sent for me. He said Kaluu (he used to call me Kaluu instead of Kalu), we are worried about you. What can you do? You are passing your courses very well and we want you to continue.
He told me that an idea occurred to him. He said that he would be travelling to the United States of America (USA) to preach the following week and he asked me to bring my picture and that of my family saying that he had my academic record with him. He told me that after preaching in the US, he would tell them that one of his students who is intelligent is about to drop out because of money and if anybody can help him to finish, let the person help him. He said that he is not making a promise to me but for the sake of Christ that he just want to try. After that he asked me to go and pray saying that what he told me was not a promise, anyway. So, he left for the US and when he came back he said do I know what happened. He told me that he appealed to the churches and at the end, a widow approached him, looked at the pictures and offered me scholarship, not just for me alone but for my family on the condition that her name, picture, phone number, nationality and anything about her would not be revealed to me. She wanted to remain one hundred percent anonymous.
That was her condition and till today I did not know who paid my school fees. I saw the money but I did not see her face, I did not know her name or her country.
From the money she sent to me I brought my family. They assigned a family accommodation to us in the school. They gave me money to go and hire attendants to cook for us, wash our clothes and also clean our apartment. They placed my family on salary and every month the money would drop and we paid the cook from our pocket money.
The widow said that all the people in the photograph should go to the classroom, not just me alone and all of us went to the classroom. So my family became an academic theatre. In the morning all of us would leave for our different destinations and come back in the evening.
The whole thing was like a miracle. In the process my wife took in. The school clinic took care of her until when she was about to deliver they referred her to one General Hospital where she delivered safely.
I knew that the scholarship did not cover her hospital bill. So I was worried on how to get money to pay for it.
On the day they prepared their bill, I came to the hospital and they said that the medical director wanted to see me. I went to his office and they told him that I am the child’s father and the man said how can he know that I am the father of the child and I brought my identity card and showed him. He said Federal Republic of Nigeria. I said yes.
He brought out his pen from his drawer, drew two lines across the paper and signed his signature on top of the lines saying that students do not have money.
He turned to me and said that I can go and take care of my baby. I did not spend a dime. They even issued the birth certificate to me without collecting a farthing from me.
God has been so wonderful and faithful to me. Without that first degree I would not be a doctor today. So the widow contributed so much to whatever I am today. But there is no way to see her. She refused to be seen. She refused to be known. She refused to be thanked”.
At the end of his deeply moving experience, he stressed that he wants to transfer that anointing of favour to ten families.
He said that the widow paid in thousands of dollars for him and his family that time in 1989 when one dollar was 70 kobo.
He disclosed that what he wants to give the ten families as Christmas gift is really a peanut to what that widow spent on him and his family.
Nevertheless, he said that the favour and anointing that widow impacted on him would be passed to the ten families saying that they would prosper and experience breakthrough in 2025 as well as connect with their destiny helpers so that their story would change in Jesus name.
The beneficiaries of his ten half bags of rice and ten cartons of tin tomatoes were Mrs. Regina Adaku Nwachukwu, Mrs. Chidinma Akpara, Mrs. Chinyere Nwosu and Mrs. Nwakaego Anaeme from Abia Arise, Aba North Chapter while the remaining six persons Mrs. Ugo Ogbu, Mrs. Olanma Chinagorom, Mrs. Mary Igboko, Mrs. Ezinne Simon, Mrs. Vivian Anya and Miss Miracle are from Revival Gospel Mission, Aba.
Thereafter, he invited a priest to pray for them. The priest said that the glory of the Almighty God that is resting on Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko, which touched him to do this for them will rest on all of them in the name of Jesus Christ.
He told them that this is just the beginning stressing that 2025 will be a year of testimonies for all of them.
He said that the miracle the Almighty God that protected him gave him that if you are talking about it people would say it is a lie shall be their portion in the name of Jesus Christ.
He prayed for the power of the Almighty God to touch all that has not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and personal Saviour as well as for God to uplift Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko and his family to enviable height in Jesus name.
In their respective speeches, the beneficiaries expressed profound gratitude to Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko for his unprecedented gesture and prayed God to bless him more abundantly.
The highpoint of the occasion was the cutting of Rev. Dr. Azu Kalu Oko’s 45 years in the Ministry cake in Jesus name.
In his vote of thanks, Engr. Kalu Azu thanked all for joining them in celebrating God’s Faithfulness in their father’s 45 years in the Ministry.
He expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of guests and wished all safe journey back to their various destinations.
The celebration was a huge success. The celebrant and his family spared no expenses to host their teeming guests to an awesome and unforgettable reception.
There was more than enough to eat and drink including a variety of mouthwatering delicacies, fruits combo, assorted barbecues, grilled fish, pepper soup and many more. They also gave out expensive souvenirs to all their guests.
The celebration attracted the presence of so many dignitaries, groups and clubs from far and near including Dr. Onuoha Oju (HoD, Computer Science, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba), Hon. Julius Alfred (member, Steering Committee, Abia Arise, Aba North Chapter), Onyeanu Okidi and members of Obu Ihuoma International, Port Harcourt, members of International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) among others.
