Ekeoha Shopping Centre Aba Marks End of Year Prayer with Presentation of Awards to Chinyere Matthew, Others
Ekeoha Shopping Centre Aba Marks End of Year Prayer with Presentation of Awards to Chinyere Matthew, Others
The entire traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba locked their shops on Thursday, December 14, 2023 to give thanks to God for leading them safely throughout the year.
The Solemn Assembly held at the market’s popular Flower Pot under the ministration of Rev. Joshua Obi of Church of God Worldwide Mission Aba.
In his sermon, captioned: ‘Breaking Out’ taken from Ezekiel 11:1-4, the guest preacher talked about people who were put inside a pot.
According to him, putting somebody inside a pot means death, enslavement or bondage.
Thereafter, he declared total deliverance to all those that were put inside a pot, healing for the afflicted and prosperity to the traders adding that they would experience God’s blessings in their lives and businesses.
He urged the traders to surrender their lives to Jesus Christ and shun all forms of idolatry in order to receive God’s numerous blessings in their lives.
At the end of his message, there were soul-stirring songs of victory and mountain-moving prayers for the leadership and entire traders of the market asking God to bless them in all ramifications.
Thereafter, the chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Comrade Emeka Okeke appreciated the traders for turning out in their numbers for the End of Year Prayer.
He said that they organized the End of Year Prayer to thank God for preserving their lives from January to December as well as to celebrate the good things that have happened in the market within a very short time under his watch.
He appreciated the grand patron of the market, Chief Barth Azubuike Madubuko (JP) for his wise and fatherly advice describing him as their good mentor as well as past chairmen of the market, zonal leaders, the traders and other stakeholders of the market for their tremendous support.
He urged them to make God the bedrock of their lives and businesses so as to attract God’s abundant blessings in the market.
Comrade Emeka Okeke extolled the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) for his monumental achievements in different parts of the state, especially Aba and Umuahia within a very short in office as well as his great love for traders in Abia State.
He lauded Dr. Alex Chioma Otti and his able lieutenants for finding him worthy to pilot the affairs of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba and pledged their unalloyed support to his administration.
He commended the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu for his cordial relationship with traders in the state adding that he has made positive impact in all the markets in the state.
He congratulated one of their own and member representing Aba Central State Constituency, Hon. Stephen Akachukwu Ucheonye for his resounding victories in the 2023 election, election tribunal and Court of Appeal respectively and assured the traders that he would not disappoint the confidence reposed in him.
Comrade Emeka Okeke disclosed that the market has recorded numerous achievements under his leadership such as maintenance of peace and unity in the market, ensuring that Ekeoha Shopping Centre Aba remains the cleanest market in Abia State, introduction of solar energy in the market, securing partnership deal with MTN to boost availability of network in the market among others.
The afore-mentioned achievements notwithstanding, Comrade Emeka Okeke said that the market is still facing numerous challenges including electricity, poor network, high rentage for shops, menace of offshore traders known as ‘Ndi Oso Ahia’ in Igbo parlance among others.
He appealed to the state government to come to their rescue in terms of tarring the adjoining roads leading to the market, especially Ehi Road, Aba.
In his speech, Mazi Chimeremeze Okeigbo, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) described the End of Year Prayer as a welcome development, which would continue to attract God’s presence and abundant blessings in the market.
He assured them that the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) has so many good things in store for the state, especially the traders and urged them to give him their total support by paying their taxes and all government approved levies to enable the government to do more good works for them and the state at large.
He advised the executive of the market to lead by example and avoid the use of force in collecting revenue or doing any other thing in the market Alex to ensure continued peace and progress in the market.
He assured them of government continued support and prayed that God would keep on blessing them in all ramifications.
Thereafter, the grand patron of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Chief Barth Azubuike Madubuko (JP) took the centre-stage and mesmerized all those present with his incomparable oratory.
The popular and highly-respected two-time executive chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba noted with delight that the market is blessed with God-fearing leaders who understand the importance of making God the bedrock of the market since inception.
He commended the incumbent chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Comrade Emeka Okeke for organizing the End of Year Prayer as well as the traders for turning out in their numbers including the guest preacher, Rev. Joshua Obi who he said is a product of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba for his powerful ministration adding that God would richly bless all those who participated in the Solemn Assembly.
He described the ugly incident that happened at Eziukwu Road Market, Aba leading to the sealing of the market last December as embarrassing stressing that such thing cannot happen in Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba because the market is well organized and run by God-fearing leaders.
He described Comrade Emeka Okeke as a quintessential gentleman and God-fearing leader adding that they are blessed to have him as their chairman.
He pointed out that the young, humble, respectful and indefatigable chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba started very well noting that he has done so many new things in the market within a very short time in office.
According to Chief Barth Azubuike Madubuko (JP), cleanliness, which he said is next to godliness is on the increase in the market since Comrade Emeka Okeke assumed office while security is topnotch.
Chief Barth Azubuike Madubuko expressed satisfaction with his leadership of the market and urged the traders to give him their maximum support so that the market would continue to be popular more and more.
Chief Barth Azubuike Madubuko (JP) recalled that the market was in a dilapidated state prior to his assumption of office so many years ago to the extent he had to use his personal resources to make the market conducive for business to thrive adding that everybody is now enjoying the solid foundation he laid including the government.
He lauded the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) for his monumental achievements in the state within a very short time in office, especially the on-going rehabilitation of the age-long dilapidated Port Harcourt Road, Aba by leading construction giant, Julius Berger Plc.
He described Dr. Alex Otti as God-sent adding that his quality leadership and remarkable achievements, especially in Aba and Umuahia have proved beyond all doubts that when the righteous are on the throne the people rejoice.
Chief Barth Azubuike Madubuko urged the Special Adviser to the Governor of Abia State on IGR, Mazi Chimeremeze Okeigbo to tell Dr. Alex Otti that the entire traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba are solidly behind him and appealed to him to come to their rescue by rehabilitating Ehi Road, Aba, which he said is affecting their business adversely as soon as possible before the rainy season sets in.
Chief Barth Azubuike Madubuko also used the opportunity to congratulate one of their own and member representing Aba Central State Constituency, Hon. Stephen Akachukwu Ucheonye for his all round victories in the 2023 election, election tribunal and Appeal Court respectively adding that he would not disappoint their expectations.
Finally, he wished all safe journey back to their various destinations for the Christmas and New Year celebrations adding that all of them would cross over to the New Year by the grace of God. There was resounding applause at the end of his speech and shouts of ‘Oga Bartho’ rent the air.
Thereafter, he presented different categories of award namely patrons, mayors, diamond Lady and matron to some well deserving traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba in appreciation of their tremendous contributions to the development of the market over the years.
Some of the awardees include former chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, Hon. Chinyere Matthew (Patron), Chief Emeka Idemili (Patron), Sir Emmanuel Umeanozie (patron), Hon. Innocent Anosike (Mayor), Mr. Chidiebere Igbokwe (Mayor), Mr. Kennedy Okparaeke (Mayor), Apostle Rufus James (Mayor), Mr. Emeka Odukwe (Mayor), Wendy Chinwe Ekenna (Diamond Lady), Lady Fidelia Aguguo (Matron) among others.
In his response, former chairman of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba, renowned business mogul and consummate philanthropist, Hon. Chinyere Matthew appreciated the traders for their continued love and support adding that the award would ginger him to do more for the market.
Speaking also, Hon. Innocent Anosike, one of the pioneer traders of Ekeoha Shopping Centre, Aba thanked the traders for the award adding that he would continue to render selfless service to the market.
The successful businessman and legendary philanthropist disclosed that he has served the market in several capacities including task force member, 1996, member, caretaker committee 1997-1998, elected PRO 2000-2008, treasurer Ekeoha Shopping Centre/ASMATA Youth Leader 2010-2013.
He was reappointed as treasurer in 2014-2015 before his appointment as ASMATA Vice President in 2020-2021.
The End of Year Prayer was well-attended. Some of those present were Chief Sir Christian Nwaubani (Mmiri Oma na Ubommiri), Augustine Okeke, Hon. Oriaku Ugochukwu among others.
