It was a joyous and memorable occasion at the General Headquarters of the United Church of Christ, located at No. 12/14 Obioma Street, Enugu, on Sunday 21st June, 2026, as Ministers of the Gospel, Church members, family, friends, and well-wishers gathered in large numbers for a thanksgiving service marking the ordination and enthronement of Apostle John Chimaobi Egbo as Bishop and General Overseer of the Church.
In his goodwill message during the service, the Executive Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Area, Mayor Sunny Afurobi, congratulated Bishop John Chimaobi Egbo on his successful enthronement and urged him to build on the solid foundation laid by the church’s founder, the late Apostle Samuel U. Egbo.
He made it clear that it was incumbent upon the new Bishop to ensure that the founder’s visions and aspirations for the church are fully realized.
Mayor Afurobi recalled that while growing up, Apostle Samuel U. Egbo was a source of pride to the people of Isuochi, describing him as a respected religious leader and a shining example of dedication to God’s work.
The Mayor noted that the late cleric was among the pioneer sons of Isuochi who established a Pentecostal Church that became one of the leading churches of its time, adding that Apostle Egbo inspired many young people to aspire to greatness and service to humanity.
He pointed out that leadership is about inspiring, motivating, guiding, and creating a pathway for growth and development and reminded the new General Overseer, who is the first son of the church founder, that the responsibility before him is enormous.
Mayor Afurobi further encouraged him to lead with wisdom, honesty, humility, and integrity, stressing that these virtues remain essential qualities of a good shepherd.
The Council Boss therefore called on members of the church to work in unity and support the leadership of the church for greater progress as well as pursue the realization of the founder’s outstanding visions, including the revitalization of the Theological College at Amuda and the completion of other unfinished projects.
He further advocated for the construction of a state-of-the-art Church Cathedral in Isuochi, to better serve the growing congregation and the wider Christian community.
Mayor Afurobi used the forum to charge members to actively participate in the democratic process by obtaining their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and supporting credible leaders during elections, pointing out that the church has a vital role to play in promoting good governance.
He commended the developmental strides of Governor Alex Otti in Abia State and urged eligible voters to obtain their PVCs to support merit, accountability, and quality service delivery in governance.
Responding, Bishop John Chimaobi Egbo expressed profound appreciation to Mayor Sunny Afurobi for honouring the occasion and for his goodwill, support, and valuable counsel, describing his suggestions as thoughtful and timely.
The Bishop revealed that part of his vision and mission is to raise one billion souls for Christ through his Kingdom Enlargement campaign.
He pledged to embrace the challenges outlined by the Mayor and called on ministers and church members to support him in advancing the church’s mission and impacting lives positively.
