By Izunna Okafor, Awka


It was a moment of fecund deliberations and expositions on Saturday, as the Father's Fellowship of the Chapel of Redemption, Unizik Temporary Site, Awka, organized a one-day colloquium, to herald the 2021 Father's Sunday celebration.

The event, which had both the fathers, the clergy and other members of Chapel in attendance, also featured thematic lectures and discourses.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of Father's Fellowship in the Chapel, Dr. Chike Nwankwo noted that event was one of their activities slated for this year's Father's Sunday, and further explained that it was aimed at creating an avenue for interaction on certain issues relating to fathers and their roles in the family and the society at large.

He equally used the forum to invite all and sundry to come and fete with the Chapel Fathers as they mark their day tomorrow.

Delivering a lecture titled "He that Has Gone Wrong" at the event, Prof. Harry Obi-Nwosu noted that issues surrounding gender roles and gender equality had become notably topical and diversely opinionated in the society, thereby raising the question of 'how did things go wrong if at all?'.

While opining that a male is a man because of the biological endowment, and a woman a female because of biological endowment; he also gave an overview of the expected qualities and responsibilities of males, both historically, contemporarily and biblically; even as he noted that "Indeed, whosoever is the man who works hard in honest labour and deploys the proceeds to the service of his family as well as provides leadership to the family is a functional/good husband and father," he said.

Prof. Obi-Nwosu, a professor of Clinical-Forensic Psychology, further asserted that marriage had to be between responsible males and females, as it takes a man and woman who have genuinely accepted Christianity (hence can conquer their love anew everyday) to make a truly happy family.

"To put things right in our homes, we must remove the logs in our eyes before the specks in other's eyes. ...The man is wrong who scores below 70% and he is bad if he refuses to change/adjust," he added.

Earlier in his own lecture, titled "Father, a High Priest and Pathfinder in Current Security Challenge", Pastor John Ifejika who noted that a good father would definitely reflect the love of the heavenly Father, also traced the origin of Father's Day to June, 19, 1910, when Sonora Smart Dodd held the first official father's day at YMCA in Spokane Washington, USA in appreciation of her father and civil war veteran, William Jackson Smart.

While revealing that the 36th President of United States, Lyndon Johnson, in 1966, finally signed a presidential proclamation declaring 3rd Sunday of June every year as Father's Day; Mr. Ifejirika, a public affairs analyst, also testified that Father's Day had become a day to honour not only fathers, but also all men who act as a father in one's life, as well as adult male friends.

Citing 1Cor3:1-4, he identified two types of men to include the 'real men' and the 'mere men', and highlighted the features and roles of a real man, with their respective biblical references. He top-ranked priestly role, leadership, provision and protection as some of the major roles of men, and also identified some of the causes of insecurity in Nigeria, even as he charged the men to always endeavour to be real men, rather than mere men.

In his remarks, the Chaplain, Chapel of Redemption, Unizik, Ven. Dr. Obiorah Alokwu appreciated the fathers for including such program in their activities for this year's Father's Sunday, even as he appreciated everyone who attended and contributed in one way or the other to the success of the event. He also joined his own voice to invite everyone to come and witness and celebrate the Father's Sunday with the Chapel Father, as the day promises be glorious, sonorous and humourous than ever.