By Ifeanyichukwu Ibe
An Italy-based Imo State-born businessman, Mr. Francis Okwara from Eziachi Autonomous Community in Orlu LGA, on Saturday, 25th May, gave out his daughter, Vivian Chidinma Okwara in marriage to her heartthrob, Mr. Tony Nwaikpo of Nsu in Ehime Mbano LGA. The event which started with holy matrimony church service at St John’s Anglican Church, World Bank, Owerri, was followed by a lavish reception.
The bride’s father who interacted with the reporter at Foret Event Center, Owerri, the venue of the reception, expressed joy over the marital union between his daughter, Vivian and Mr. Tony. According to him, it is the desire of every father to witness such a beautiful ceremony, having laboured to train his children. Mr. Okwara, also disclosed his delight in his daughter Vivian whom he described as a lady with good virtues, and one who would bring joy to her husband.
Visibly elated, Mr Okwara, stated: “My daughter is one of the best. She is a daughter that every father would always be proud of. She is humble, industrious, God-fearing and very intelligent and possesses good qualities that every husband desires in a wife. I am proud of her and happy for my son-in-law for being lucky to marry this jewel. It is also the situation with her sisters, because I did my best to give them sound moral and a academic training.”
Mr Okwara, flanked by his wife, Mrs. Chinwe Okwara, used the opportunity and advised the new couple to strengthen their love for each other and to always rely on God. He also urged them to be patient and tolerant of each other for them to have a successful married life, while praying for God’s blessings, guidance and fruitfulness in their marriage. He further expressed his gratitude to the participants for making it to the occasion and for their support.
Earlier in his sermon during the church service, Venerable Ebenezer Okafor, emphasized that God instituted marital union for the benefits of mankind, and stressed the need to allow Him direct the affairs in families. The clergyman also enjoined Mr. Tony and Vivian to always cherish the gift of each other through the demonstration of fidelity, love, affection and tolerance, and to always work towards making their union stronger and one that others should emulate.
On his own, the Chairman at the reception, Pastor Sampson Charles of the Living Faith Church (Aka Winners Chapel), while expressing joy and optimism over the marital union, urged Mr. Tony and his wife Vivian to prioritize God in their home towards achieving success. He revealed that the best way to achieve the desired taste, peace and stability was to embrace as well as put into practice the principles of God in marriage as laid out in the Scriptures.
“It is a very fantastic wedding indeed, well organized and well attended and by the grace of God, it is a wedding that has a future promise. My advice to them is to follow what the bible says, husband love your wive and wife submit yourself to your husband,” Pastor Charles declared, and used the medium to congratulate them, while praying for the success of their union.
The occasion had in attendance personalities from various walks of life within and outside the country who came to rejoice with the families of Nwaikpo and Okwara over the wedding of their children Tony and Vivian.
