Emeka Okeke Declares 2025 Year of Testimonies for Ekeoha Traders

Emeka Okeke Declares 2025 Year of Testimonies for Ekeoha Traders
…Lauds Dr. Alex Otti on Remodelling of Ekeoha

The popular Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba held its opening prayer for the year at the market’s ever-busy Flower Pot on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

The well-attended opening prayer with the theme, “Overflowing Grace” commenced with Praise and Worship to God led by the market’s Prayer Committee/Band.

The arena was super-charged spiritually as they sang, danced, prayed and thanked God for keeping them alive.

In his intercessory prayer, the Prayer Coordinator of Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba, Pastor Chizoba Okorie (Bishop) expressed profound gratitude to God for ushering them into the New Year.

He assured the traders that they would experience Overflowing Grace this year adding that God would restore all that the enemy has devoured in their life and business including the reopening of every blocked channel of grace. (Psalms 125:3)

Thereafter, he introduced the Guest Preacher, Pastor Emma C. David, the General Overseer of Goshen City International, Umuode Alaukwu who preached on the topic, “Grace that Terminates Vain Labour” taken from Psalms 127:1-2.

“What is Grace”, he asked. According to him, grace is God in a race. He said that grace gives a man acceptance where others are rejected adding that when a man finds grace his mockers would become his workers and he becomes the envy of his generation.

He emphasized that grace shuns protocols of men and qualifies the unqualified as well as turns mistake to miracle.

He prophesied that Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba would make room for the traders this year 2025 adding that they would not labour for another person to eat. (Ecclesiastes 6:2)

He noted that vain labour is when a man has laboured to gather but he would not live to enjoy the fruit of his labour or when a man has put all his strength to achieve so much in life and before you know it Satan would strike him down with affliction.

He said that vain labour is real (Judges 6:6) stressing that nothing frustrates a man or makes a man cry in the middle of the night like vain labour.

He expressed surprise that when people are struggling, sickness would not see them, toothache would not come but when they have gathered so much and want to relax and enjoy themselves doctors would tell them not to eat stockfish, meat and other things. He assured them that they would not labour for another person to eat.

What is the vain labour, he asked again. He said that vain labour is when a man has gathered so much and when it is time to eat, he is no more or when a woman is pregnant and at the end of the pushing doctors would come and say that she lost the child. He knelt on the altar and prayed that they would not labour in vain this year.

Pastor Emma C. David also revealed to the traders how to terminate vain labour.

According to him, they have to involve the supernatural in all that they do. He urged them not to be in a hurry but to wait upon the Lord stressing that waiting time is not wasting time. (Proverbs 3:5).

He told them to make God their business partner emphasizing that if they abide in Him, He will abide in them. (John 15:4)

He pointed out that every helper is a channel but God is the Source and reiterated the need for them to make God their partner and let their eyes be on Him always.

He also told them to be Kingdom addicts and honour men in authority in order to liberate themselves from the yoke of vain labour.

Finally, he warned them not to allow their expenditure to exceed their earnings.

At the end of his preaching, he declared that 2025 would not be a wasted year for the traders and prayed that God would restore the years the palmer worms and caterpillars have eaten in their life and business adding that there would be no loss of lives and property in the market this year.

He assured them that this is their year of overflowing grace and that their cup would run over.

He applauded the executive and entire traders for beginning the year with God and thanked them for sustaining the programme till date.

Thereafter, Augustine Okeke, the Assistant Secretary of Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba mounted the rostrum and made some announcements as directed by the chairman of the market, Comrade Emeka Okeke (CEO, Mecon Global).

According to him, the chairman of the market urged the tenants to pay their rent to their landlords as at when due and also appealed to the landlords not to intimidate the tenants with rent increment or quit notice to ensure continued peace in the market.

He reminded the traders that various sub-committees or task forces have commenced work officially in the market, particularly the sanitation and arbitration committees and urged them to abide by the rules and regulations of the market to avoid stiff penalties.

He informed them that their prayer gathering would now hold on second Thursday of every month and appealed to various zonal leaders to ensure that their own zonal prayer gathering does not clash with that of the central executive of the market or fall on sanitation day.

In terms of the security levy, which was increased to N7, 000.00, he explained to the traders that they were constrained to do so in view of the prevailing socio-economic situation in the nation coupled with the fact that the number of traders who now pay security levy has drastically reduced following the demolition of seven zones in the market as a result of the remodelling of the market.

Besides, he informed them that the engagement of an external security outfit to beef-up security in the market because of the demolition exercise as well as the new salary increment of the security men necessitated the increment of their security levy stressing that they had no other choice than to take that option, which he said was the least for them.

He acknowledged that things are really hard for the traders and appealed to them to comply so as to ensure the continued provision of adequate security in the market at all times.

Finally, he announced a personal donation of three half bags of rice to be given to three poor widows in the market as a way of keying into their opening prayer tagged, ‘Overflowing Grace’.

At the end, he handed the microphone to the chairman of Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba, Comrade Emeka Okeke for his speech.

Comrade Emeka Okeke thanked God for preserving their lives throughout last year as well as ushering them into the New Year in good health.

He appreciated the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) for the able way he has been piloting the affairs of Abia State to greater heights saying that Abians have never had it so good like this before.

He lauded him for his monumental achievements in the state, particularly the recent ground-breaking flag off of Abia Airport Project at Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North LGA as well as the Remodelling of Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba.

He assured the traders that Dr. Alex Chioma Otti means well for them. He described him as a man of his words who can never renege on his promise to ensure the timely completion of the remodelling of the market to alleviate the plight of the traders.

He urged them to sustain their total support for his administration adding that Abia State would continue to witness more tremendous transformations including Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba under his quality and people-oriented administration.

He acknowledged in a special way the presence and continued support of the Grand Patron of Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba, Chief Barth Azubuike Madubuko (JP), one of the patrons of the market, Chief Sir Christian Nwaubani (Mmirioma na Ubommiri), the central executive, zonal leaders, women leaders and the entire traders of Ekeoha International Shopping Complex, Aba for their continued support stressing that Ekeoha would continue to remain the number one market in Abia State.

He thanked the Guest Preacher, Pastor Emma C. David for his powerful and life-transforming message, saying that he is so happy that he ministered to them and blessed them.

He appreciated Pastor Chizoba Okorie (Bishop), who he described as a humble servant of God as well as the entire prayer committee of the market for their unwavering dedication.

He promised to support them in procuring a new instrument to replace the old one they have been using over the years.

He used the opportunity to clarify some of the issues bothering the traders, especially those whose shops have been demolished in course of the remodelling of the market.

According to the chairman, the affected traders should go to the secretariat of the market or office of the market master or office of the developers, Rhino Homes and make sure they obtain the subscription form and fill it accordingly.

He also advised those fond of urinating upstairs to desist from such bad habit forthwith or be ready to face severe sanctions.

He urged the traders to keep their shops clean at the end of the day’s business to avoid locking their shops.

Comrade Emeka Okeke told the traders that his office is open 24/7 adding that they are free to see him there or anywhere assuring that he would listen and attend to them.

He described the traders as one and urged them to re-kindle their spirit of oneness and work together with the purpose to succeed and achieve more in the market.

He wished the traders a Happy New Year and God’s abundant blessings declaring that 2025 would be a Year of Testimonies in their life and business.

The opening prayer attracted the presence of so many traders including Rev. Obike Ogba, Wendy Chinwe Ekenna, Hon. Jude Osuagwu, Okechukwu Onuh (Dutchman), Nneamaka Florence Nwankwo (Mrs. Atu) among others.