60th year wedding anniversary: God has blessed me beyond my expectations -Celestine Okere declares
Chief Celestine Okere, the Aladinma 1 of Ihitte Okwe Kingdom and his family
Chief Celestine Okere, the Aladinma 1 of Ihitte Okwe Kingdom in Ngor Okpala local government area of Imo State has declared that he considers himself one of the most blessed man on earth.
Okere spoke while celebrating his 60th year wedding anniversary on December 29 at his Umueke-Ihitte, country home.
L-R: Oliver Okere (left) with his parents and former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha (middle).
The anniversary it would be noted, attracted several eminent personalities that included the former governor of Imo State Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Executive board member of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) George Aluo, who doubles as the Chairman of Nigeria National League (NNL), incumbent chairman of Ngor Okpala LGA, Chief (Mrs) Chika Ibekwe her Vice Hon Kizito Onuoha and Hon. Bede Eke, a commissioner and former member of the Federal House of Representatives.
L-R: Chairman of NNL, George Aluo (left) with his uncle Chief Celestine Okere and another guest during the 60th wedding anniversary of Chief Okere.
Chief Celestine Okere while thanking God for keeping himself and his wife, Lolo Agnes alive to celebrate said he sees himself as a man enjoying God’s special favour.
Below is the speech which he read at the occasion…
DIAMOND JUBILEE MARRIAGE ANNIVERSARY OF CHIEF AND LOLO CELESTINE NWANNAEGBULAM OKERE (THE ALADIMMA 1 OF IHITTE OKWE) AND LOLO AGNES ONYENONACHIBEYA OKERE.
Celestine Nwannaegbulam Okere was born into the family of Agunwaonuma in Umueke Ihitte in 1936.
Chief Okere had his primary education between 1945 to 1953 at St Peter Clever School now Community School Umuagbom, Ihitte.
Shortly after his primary education, Chief in 1954 relocated to Sapele in the old Mid Western region now Delta state where he stayed with his late uncle Fabian Aluo.
He secured an employment with ELDER DENSFORT AGENCIES Sapele as a casual tally clerk in 1955.
In 1958, he joined PAMOL NIG LTD Sapele as a research recorder in their research department after spending 3 years with ELDER DENSFORT.
On the 9th day of March 1964, while still in the services of PAMOL NIG LTD chief met his wife Lolo Agnes Onyenonachibeya Okere and they married the same year. Within a short time the marriage produced 9 successful children listed below;
1, Patricia Adaku Okere (Daughter)
2, Barrister Emmanuel Ezenwa Okere (Son)
3, Engineer Francis Amaghim Okere ( IT CONSULTANT UK) Son
4, Oliver Ndubuisi Okere (FCA,FCTI, FIMC,FIIM,CMC,MBA) Son
5, Celestina Ogechi Okere Okere (PHD) Daughter
6, Emelda Uloego Okere Elemchi (Daughter)
7, Samuel Osondu Okere (UK based) Son
8, Kasarachi Okere Onyeji (Daughter)
9, Kingsley Ugochukwu Okere (Son)
To the glory of God, Chief and his wife are blessed with twenty six grandchildren.
Chief developed himself and also acquired knowledge through training and this facilitated his promotions to the position of a senior research recorder with PAMOL before the outbreak of the Nigerian civil war in1967. After the Nigerian civil war in 1971, Chief relocated to Lagos and joined R T Briscoe as the premises executive. Between 1971 to 1983 Chief got trained as a carrier manager, he attended several management courses including industrial relation and personnel management courses at the University of Ibadan. In 1984 Chief left the services of RT Briscoe as the transport manager and joined intercontinental shipping line as the general manager, a position he occupied up to 1987 before he joined Nigerian braiding manufactures as their human resources manager a textile company where he managed over 700 workers and rose to the position of a general manager before he retired in June 1999.
During his 28 years sojourn in Lagos state Chief participated actively in his community work and development and that led to him being entrusted with the following positions
1, Patron Ihitte Okwe youths association
2, Chairman Ihitte Okwe Development union Lagos branch
3, Treasury IODU home branch.
On the 6th of April 2006, in recognition to his personal achievements and services to the community chief was rewarded with the title Aladimma 1 of Ihitte by his royal highness Eze Barnabas Obirieze the Okwe 1 of Okwe.
In the catholic church where Chief and his wife are committed to, he has been rewarded with so many titles. Chief has been awarded the title of Nna Nwere Ugwu and so many others. Chief is currently one of the patrons of the church and has been chairman of harvest committee for two times.
On the other hand, this common saying that behind every successful man there must be a woman. This saying is very much applicable here. Lolo Agnes Onyenonachibeya Okere born in 1945 to the family of Joseph Okereocha and Celina Mgbereagu Okereocha of Umuechem Umuhu in Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State is an exemplary woman, a role model, an epitome of an idle woman.
Her children know her as Oduru di oku. She is an accomplished trader and farmer, a disciplinarian who brought her children up instilling discipline, hard work, good morals and with the fear of God.
Lolo Agnes Okere is a devoted Catholic where she has also taken several titles including; Ezinne, NneOma, Nne Neere Ugwu etc.
In as much as there is no perfection in life, this union and family is to a large extent successful.
My wife and I started this journey some 60 years back going to 61yrs and today we are a family of eleven (11) and all are alive and prosperous in our own little ways. It can only be God.
Today my wife and I have decided to celebrate our 60th (DIAMOND) marriage anniversary with all our 9 children alive not for show of wealth or anything but just to thank God for his goodness and mercies and we have called all of you seated here to come and be part of this occasion.
I pray and wish all of you present in this occasion to also live and have course to celebrate your 60th marriage anniversary and even more with all your children alive in Jesus name. Amen.
Thanks you all for being part of this occasion.
