First Awka Woman To Attain Rank of Controller in the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mrs. Okafor Feted
In a clear demonstration of “women supporting women,” over one hundred and eighty women and friends have gathered in Awka, Anambra State’s Capital to celebrate one of their own, Mrs Glady Mma Okafor, the first Awka Woman to attain the rank of Controller, Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS.
Mrs Okafor, a registered nurse, midwife, counsellor and criminologist is the Controller, Custodial Service Medical, Zonal Headquarters, Lagos.
The reception started with a thanksgiving mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral Awka
Mrs Okafor was only one out of the two women among thirty seven persons promoted to the rank of Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service in 2019.
The Celebrant popularly called Diamond by her friends and well wishes, a multiple award winner from her workplace, the Church, and her community is being celebrated to shine the light on the importance of girl child education in empowering women and making them major players in decision making at different levels of society.
Her friends, women and professionals in education, Law, politics and governances, media, arts and entertainment, medicine, business, agriculture, and science and technology hope therefore that the ceremony, beyond celebrating Mrs Okafor, will encourage other young women to aspire to reach the peaks of their career and service to humanity.
Leading, the litany of tributes to the celebrant, Rev Fr Celestine Okah, a visiting priest from the Redemptionist Renewal Centre Ibadan in his homily at the thanksgiving mass, likened the selfless virtues of Mrs Okafor to that Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus who played a selfless role not minding protecting her reputation in bringing salvation to mankind.
The Chairman Planning Committee for the reception and President General, Awka Development Union of Nigeria, Women Wing, Barrister Mrs Oge Ekweozor described Mrs Okafor as a woman who fears God and understands that whatever position she occupied in life is meant for service to humanity.
The Husband to the Celebrant, Engineer Christopher Okafor who said her marriage to Mma Okafor was God’s gift to him, also said her wife puts all she have in impacting the lives of others seen in the services she has rendered to the Church, her community, Awka and the society in general.
In her own words, the celebrant, Mrs Okafor, filled with joy for the new rank and God’s blessings upon her life, advised young women to always be hardworking, show dedication and commitment in all they do as those are the only ways to receive eternal reward.
Other testimonials from the Chairman of the Occasion, retired Rear Admiral OP Ozojiofor, the father of the day, Lt. General Chukwukadibia Obiakor, the mother of the day, Hon Justice Celine Nweke Rtd and Mrs Franca Ozojiofor, the secretary of the planning Committee and many others praised the selfless attitude of Mrs Okafor and asked women to show unique difference wherever they find themselves.
