Akwa Ibomites have been enjoined to seek first the kingdom of God and all other things will be added unto them. The Honourable Commissioner for Housing and Special Duties, Mr. Akan Okon gave the indication while addressing newsmen after the foundation laying ceremony of the Akwa Ibom International Worship Center.
The Housing Commissioner, himself a devote Christian and strong believer in God commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for allowing himself to be used by God to build a befitting place of worship stressing that it could only take a sincere lover of God to embark on a project of this magnitude.
The State he said never had a dedicated worship center hence the need for the edifice. He stressed that a place of worship was supposed to be sacred and holy and not a thorough fare where all kinds of events are staged.
Mr. Okon stated that this project was not only peculiar to Akwa Ibom State as other states including Bayelsa and Rivers also had befitting worship centers. He also mentioned the Christian Ecumenical Center in Abuja as a unique reference point.
"If our State is a State named after God, we ought to have a place of worship that is for all of us. I think we are even late in doing this, therefore i thank the Governor for allowing God use him to build this place of worship at a time as this", he said.
Addressing the issue of funding, he said it would take the effort of goodwill donations and contributions of God loving people in Akwa Ibom and beyond to actualise the project. He maintained that there were organisations outside the country that propagate Christianity and were looking for opportunities like this to contribute.
Mr. Okon gave the assurances that the project would be completed within 22 to 24 months and the need for a thorough job he said necessitated the award of the contract to a reputable firm like Julius Berger. The place he said would bring untold blessings and favour to the State and would be an identify for the people of the State upon completion.
Furthermore he said, on the part of government, there was a provision in the budget for the project which was pending approval stressing that the government of Governor Udom Emmanuel is very transparent and would declare to the public the sponsors of the project in due course. He stated that he always considers it a rare privilege to be part of building for God because of blessings associated with such opportunity. He therefore enjoined all Akwa Ibomites to key into the project through their contributions rather than condemn it ignorantly.
Responding to claims by the opposition that the project was a misplaced priority, Mr. Akan Okon referenced the initiation of the Airport project by Obong Attah which earned him series of attacks as detractors claimed the State needed no airport as there were such facilities in nereby Calabar and Port Harcourt but today Ibom airport is a major gateway to the state enjoyed by all. He urged progress loving Akwa Ibomites to ignore the opposition and continue with their responsibility of supporting government and propagating development.
The worship center he said would be open 24hours a day, 7days a week and 365 days a year to worshippers stressing that anyone was free to visit at their quiet moments to commune with God. The facility he said had smaller event rooms which could be used by denominations who were yet to have their personal place of worship.
When quizzed on the choice of location, the Housing Commissioner maintained that the site was carefully selected and planned out in conformity with the master plan of the city, making for a very serene and secure environment. He stated that the Christian Association of Nigeria would be the overseers of the facility and that an avenue would soon be provided for the public to make contributions.
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