Presidential candidate on the platform of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has shared pictures of himself and Bishop Peace Okonkwo, wife of Bishop Dr Mike Okonkwo, Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), at her 70th birthday celebration.
Bishop Peace Okonkwo, on June 10, 2022, turned 70.
Obi, on Sunday, posted some pictures he took at the event, saying “I was honoured to be at the 70th birthday celebration of Bishop Peace Okonkwo, the dear wife of Bishop Dr Mike Okonkwo, Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). I prayed for continuous strength even as she continues to serve humanity and in God’s vineyard.”
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) gathered that the TREM Liberty Center, Ikorodu, on June 5, organised eye screening for members of the church and residents of Ikorodu, as part of its efforts in preventing blindness in the community.
The medical programme, which was designed to detect anyone with cataracts for surgery, was organised in honour of the 70th birthday of Bishop Peace Okonkwo.
About 100 beneficiaries attended the screening which was organised in partnership with RHODAS Youth Centre and Eye Foundation, Ikorodu, at the TREM, Liberty Center, Oke – Oriya, Ikorodu, on Saturday, June 4, 2022.
Also part of TREM community impact programmes was the auction sales where residents were also provided with the opportunity to get clothes, jewellery, shoes, kitchen and other items at very cheap prices.
Members of the public were seen coming into the church premises for screening and to pick items on sales.
A Resident Pastor, Revd. Mike Egwu, explained that the eyes screening was part of the Church impact programme to honour the life of service of the wife of the Presiding Bishop of the Church.
“The auction sales and eyes screening are community impact initiatives of the TREM Liberty Center in honour of the 70th birthday of our big mummy, Bishop Peace Okonkwo. You can see that people are coming from every parts of the community to screen their eyes and also pick items.
“The eyes screening is the main programme while the auction sales that is also going on, is just a side attraction. We are trying to solve the problem of cataract through this screening. After the screening, we are going to provide medications to those in need to correct their sights,” Revd. Egwu said.
The presiding pastor also said that the Church will be responsible for any of the participants detected with cataracts.
“While the Church will be responsible for those in need of surgery, we are partnering with the RHODAS Youth Centre and Eyes Foundation. We have started and we want to continue with it. Depending on the number of people here today, we may organise another session.
“We have the mandate of the Presiding Bishop that we should go into the world and impact for the kingdom of God. It’s definitely not going to end today. Those ones that we will not be able to screen today will be scheduled for another day to continue the programme,” Revd. Egwu asserted.
“You can see on display, shoes, ties, clothes, utensils among others. Anything they pick is just N200. It’s just a giveaway and people pick them to know that what they are picking is worth more than that. It is our way of celebrating a life of impact and service to humanity, which is the life of Bishop Peace Okonkwo”.
Deacon Austin Awulonu, a chieftain of the church, thanked RHODAS Youth Centre and Eye Foundation for partnering with the Church to provide opportunity for those in need of medical assistance.
“The eyes screening is an opportunity for the Church to impact on the community. We are partnering with RHODAS Youth Centre which you know has been engaging in screening and sponsoring surgeries for cataract as part of its community outreach programmes and also the Eye Foundation,” he added.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari shared in the joyous occasion of the 70th birthday of Bishop Peace Okonkwo.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Thursday said: “President Buhari felicitates with family members, particularly her husband, Bishop Mike Okonkwo, who has been a pillar of support and encouragement for women in ministry, guiding his wife to take up leadership and spiritual roles that have turned out a blessing to many in the Body of Christ and beyond.
“While joining members of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission and spiritual leaders to celebrate with Bishop Okonkwo, the President notes her motherly position in nation building, establishing Word of Power Group of Schools for children and setting up a foundation, Women of Global Impact that reaches out to the homeless, poor and underprivileged, with support of Rehoboth Homes and Skills Acquisition Centre.
“President Buhari affirms that Bishop Okonkwo’s inspiration to promote prayer meetings at national and international levels, like the International Women Prayer Conference, since 1998, has had a resounding impact on many lives, particularly families, encouraging women to trust God and pursue their dreams, with diligence, faith and hope.
“The President prays that the Almighty God will continue to bless the renowned minister with good health, and wisdom to keep sharing her love, care and concern.”