Speech Delivered by Archbishop-Desigbate Dr. Isaac Idahosa Odiri (PhD), Guest Speaker on the Occassion of the Convocation and Ordination Ceremony Int’l Christian University (I.C.U.) Nig & Overseas on Saturday, Sept 2, 2022
PROTOCOLS
The President of the International Christian University (ICU),
Your Grace, Archbishop Prof. Chidi Okefi; the Vice-President, His
Eminence, Prof. Harrison Okechukwu; the Registrar, His
Eminence, Prof. Samuel Mba; the Academic Dean, His Eminence,
Prof. Chukwu; all well respected, honored and distinguished invitees and eminent personalities, leaders and fathers in our
esteemed Body of Christ present here today; I greet you with peace and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is a great privilege and honor for me to be invited as a Guest
Speaker for this epoch-making event of the convocation and
Ordination of well-deserving people of God here today. I hereby
express my gratitude to the highly revered academic and spiritual leaders at ICU.
There is no better time in our nation and our time than this occasion to celebrate the grace of God upon this great institution of theological learning and the resilience of the administrative
and academic men and women who are driving and running with the vision over the years.
The leadership and alumni of this great institution are well respected, honorable and eminent members of our society and
nation. Many great personalities and worthy ambassadors have been produced by this great institution of Theological learning;
the Nigeria nation is proud of you all.
Nigeria, now, is at a crossroad where we need divine direction on the way forward to enjoy and maximize our God-given resources, both human and materials; we are at a space in our national journey where we need a paradigm shift and change the narratives of the seeming constant darkness that pervade
the horizon of our great nation.
We all, as a people and as the-called of God in Nigeria, need to
bring the needed light to bear on the landscape of our national
and personal lives if we are indeed the light of the world.
I sincerely believe that this great institution has produced and
possess great human capital to direct our nation towards the
light of God and get this nation back on her feet.
Hence, I encourage this great institution to come up with a divine blueprint, and get it out into the public space, on how we can
make the Nigeria dream to be fulfilled.
Hon Kehinde Alex Bankole Bags Honorary Doctorate Degree from Prowess University USA
Your inspired suggestions, proposals and direction shall go a long way to make our people and our nation to return to the Lord. Our dear leaders and professors, I appreciate the grace of God
upon your lives and for still upholding the hope of God in our people and in our nation with the great work you are doing at
ICU. I pray that our Lord Jesus Christ, shall continue to uphold you and your families, and grant you the desires of your hearts beyond measures.
Consequently, I want to advise the graduands and the ministers
being ordained today to appreciate the grace of God upon your lives and I pray for fresh oil of grace and divine calling upon you as eminent church fathers and leaders shall send you forth for the work the Lord has called you.
Personally, as an alumnus of this great institution, I shall make myself available in whatever capacity I am called upon to join you all in lifting the name, vision and resources which the
International Christian University (ICU) needs and requires from
time to time.
We need, at least, a permanent landed property for this great
institution. I promise to join hands with you all and other
resourceful personalities in our nation and internationally to
ensure that we build a befitting edifice and structure for our
great theological university.
As I round up, I want to enjoin us that we should keep praying
for our nation and enquire from the Lord that His sovereign will
be done in Nigeria as we approach the 2023 elections.
May the Lord keep you and guide you, may the Lord make His
face to shine upon you and may the Lord grant you peace in the
mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Thank you all for listening.
Shalom!
Archbishop-Designate Isaac Idahosa Odiri, PhD
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
