Catholic Knights Name Alia, Okorocha, Odili, Others Ambassadors

The Knight of St. John International and Ladies Auxiliary, Supreme Subordinate Nigeria, has honoured Benue State governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, former Imo State governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, former Rivers State governor, Dr Peter Odili and others with the Golden Jubilee Ambassador Award.

The awards were conferred on them during the Order’s 50th anniversary celebration in Nigeria, marked with a Golden Jubilee Anniversary Colloquium, Award and Dinner in Abuja, recently.

The event, with the theme: “50 Years of Faith, Knighthood and Service in Nigeria,” was chaired by former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, who was represented by Sir Alex Ejesieme (SAN).

The guest speaker was His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, CON.

The celebration was led by the Supreme Subordinate President, Maj-Gen. Chuks Amamgbo.

In his remarks, Governor Alia congratulated the Supreme Subordinate Commandery and Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI), Nigeria, on the historic occasion.

Alia described 50 years of steadfast commitment to God, the Catholic Church and humanity as a remarkable milestone worthy of celebration.

“Fifty years of steadfast commitment to God, the Catholic Church and humanity is a remarkable milestone worthy of celebration. I commend the Order for its enduring legacy of faith, discipline, charity and selfless service,” the Governor stated.

Governor Alia said he was particularly humbled and deeply honoured by the conferment of the prestigious Golden Jubilee Ambassador Award, which he received with profound gratitude.

He noted that the recognition further strengthens his commitment to the service of God and humanity.

“As you celebrate this historic milestone, I pray that Almighty God continues to bless, guide and strengthen the Order for greater accomplishments in the years ahead,” he added.

He concluded: “Congratulations on 50 glorious years of faithful service!”

In her remarks, the Supreme Second Vice President, Ladies Auxiliary, Knight of St. John International, Noble Sister Irene Mgbaja Chingwe, said the Order has been a major pillar and contributor to the growth and sustenance of the Catholic Church in Nigeria in the last 50 years.

She said the Knight of St. John International and the Ladies Auxiliary are spread across the country and have been very supportive of the Church.

“Knight of St. John International and the Ladies Auxiliary have been a big contributor to the running of the Catholic Church in Nigeria. We have it in the north, in the west, in the east and in the south,” she said.

“Every year we give huge support to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) to help them in the charity work of the Catholic Church. And in various parishes where Knight of St. John is situated, we contribute so much to the running of the Church.”

She disclosed that during her tenure as President, the Order sponsored over 600 couples for mass wedding, initiated skill acquisition programmes and championed welfare programmes for members.

She added that the current leadership is building on that legacy.

“Two weeks ago, we had an empowerment programme in Agbor where we empowered over 100 vulnerable men and women. The current Supreme Subordinate President has done so much since she came into office – empowerment, skill acquisition, support for widows and the vulnerable,” she said.

She said charity remains the main tool of the Order, guided by its motto of love for all.

“We look into the grassroots. We look out for sisters and brothers who are very vulnerable, who cannot pay bills. The current President is doing very well in ensuring every sister is on the same level with others.”

On the state of the nation, Chingwe called for collective effort and inclusiveness, especially to address hardship and insecurity.

She said the Order now has over 10,000 brothers and over 8,000 sisters in Nigeria, with deliberate expansion into rural areas to make meetings accessible and to reduce security risks associated with long-distance travel.

“We move into rural areas so that someone in the village does not have to travel far to attend meetings. We open auxiliaries and commanderies in rural areas so they will touch lives in that area,” she said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Obong Victor Attah, represented by Sir Alex Ejesieme, SAN, said the 50th anniversary should be more than a celebration, but a moment for reflection on the future relevance and impact of the Order.

“What have we done for the Church in the last 50 years? To be relevant is to be indispensable. The Church and the nation should feel our absence if we cease to exist,” he said.

He recalled that in 1976 when the Order was brought to Nigeria, it was said at the CBCN plenary: “If this Order is of God, it will stand.”

“Today, we are celebrating 50 years of Knight of St. John International in Nigeria. It is of God, yes, in the affirmative. That trial that was given 50 years ago, we have survived it,” he stated.

He noted that while the Order came to Africa in 1933 through Ghana, and Liberia in 1952, Nigeria now has the largest membership in the region and has become the vanguard of the Order in Africa.

He charged members to be exemplary in character, noting that society judges the Church by their conduct, and urged them to prepare cadets and juniors who will celebrate the centenary.