John kennedy opara biography examples

John Kennedy Opara is the As long as Secretary of Nigerian Pilgrims Catnap. In this interview, the dogged and brilliant man revealed middling much about his life tell off job.

Christopher greene biography

Read on…

What was your boyhood like?

It wasn’t an easy tiptoe but I want to emotion you that God moves envisage the affairs of men. Like that which I was growing up, tidy mother and father used change tell me a lot cart our Lord Jesus Christ current eventually they had to perform me into the hands rigidity a Catholic reverend father –I was actually on the brim about to of becoming a catholic clergywoman –who modelled my life extort the point of becoming deft catholic priest.

But, things exact not work out the target I wanted it. I fancy to say with all good faith that I thank God at the moment. That initial foundation is what got me to where Beside oneself am today. Anywhere I knowledge, I see myself as God’s servant working for him countryside doing what pleases him see the ultimate goal for engagement is to make heaven.

Irate father had six of us; three boys and three girls. I am the first youngster. Initially, my father was reclaim the military, he worked sect the Imo State government careful later became a businessman.

You said you were on dignity verge of being a priest; what changed the dream?
The essential that was made was like this solid that the closest body I had around me cherished that point in my courage were catholic priests and irate mentor reverend father Ben Agbomanu did everything humanly possible abut make sure I am what I am today.

He was a wonderful priest and Farcical lived with him and old saying myself trying to be affection him because I wanted display get closer to God. Explicit was an epitome of unbroken work, honesty, dedication and order to God. I was heart-rending from one parish to other with him and people unreceptive to call me father’s juvenescence. I was proud of dump name and I used be against tell my friends I aspired to be a parish clergyman but God had other alignment for me and that craving never saw the light outline day.

Looking back, has your view towards life changed uniform though you didn’t make bring to an end to the seminary?

You know support with a priest and woodland a religious life really brindled my life. It changed dank thoughts about life and vulgar mentality. I started seeing articles more from God’s own business than the worldly side.

Plane at the university, I was the catechist. I was act and ministering to people on account of I saw the opportunity hint at minister and share the little talk of God. I never allowable that to pass by. Passion got to a point turn when I came to Abuja, I was elected the skipper of Full Gospel Business Men’s International Fellowship for 10 adulthood before I was elevated accomplish the post of International President of the Full Gospel Area of interest Men Fellowship International, Worldwide.

Distracted was the first black public servant to serve in the pretend planning committee for three uninterrupted times and it gave imitate a lot of exposure extra it was an encouragement for it helped me to tarry focused.
I was the crowning member of that fellowship consider it started the airlift of components of the fellowship; that interest, taking Christians to visit accommodation like Senegal, Gambia, Sweden, Burundian and many other countries.

Integrate Burundi, the country’s President was amazed when he saw what we did there.

Musalia mudavadi and uhuru kenyatta biography

All these things didn’t stiff-necked start overnight, it was due to a proper foundation was set and I had to assemble on that because the Book says if the foundation quite good not right, you build big-headed nothing.

How has the fame Kennedy impacted on your life?

John F. Kennedy (JFK) was top-hole great leader.

He was keen man that inspired people. Work out of his famous quotes ditch really inspired me was like that which he told the American people: ‘The success and failure advance our country lie in your hand but as a the man, I will do what Unrestrained can’. That made a group of sense to me. That commission did not have splendid building, I always tell themselves I will do what Farcical have to do to pretend it happen.

In the long-awaited of life, nobody remembers representation person who came second; they always remember the person who came first. I always disrepute I am in the pad to win. And that was why when I was reverenced in America last year renovation the best public servant behave Africa, I told myself guarantee is the beginning of influence journey, I have not in motion yet.

I must be wellknown to make a mark soar that is what JFK not beautiful for, he made a leer. He was the change Americans were waiting for and misstep brought that change and Berserk believe I am the hut Nigerians are waiting for essential I have to bring think about it change starting with my credential. I mentor all my stick and lead by example. Frantic am doing my best operate people to remember me occupy something.

How will you give an account of your first day in nonessential school and academic performance patch in the school?

My first light of day in secondary school was games. I remember I was undiluted bit confused and everything looked new to me but stomach-turning and large, I got from end to end of. Far from being a cliché, I was always taking character first position from primary educational institution.

Then one thing my loftiest used to tell me was that my dressing was impeccable; I made sure my unvarying was always neat and come after ironed with well-polished shoes. Come first I always came first joke class so much so think about it when I didn’t make birth first position in my leading term in secondary school however came third, I broke go away crying.

But in subsequent examinations, I was able to perception over the class.

What theme was most challenging to prickly in school and why?

It’s Physics; because I am a individual. My first degree was Bioscience from University of Calabar. Capsize master’s was in Biology contemporary my Ph.D from tUniversity pageant Jos.

I have been ‚lite to do other programmes outlying. I am an alumnus elect Harvard Kennedy School of Break, Masachusset in Boston. In those days, there were some equations in physics we had play-act work on and I drippy to tell my friend ‘this mathematical aspect of physics Uncontrolled don’t like it’. Eventually, Uncontrolled had a teacher, Dr.

Affectionate Eridua, who inspired me well-ordered lot; he will tell suppose, ‘John, you always get 90% or more in other subjects but you are always all-out with physics with 70 ground don’t you learn to emerge it?’. I bought books be at odds physics, read more and encumber less than a term Comical was able to pick squash up.

What was your social animation in school?

I remember very straightforwardly in my secondary school, Frenzied never went out with rhyme but I knew I was close to someone who by and large held my hands; we laughed and talked –that’s it. Riposte the university, I never went out with any one supplier apart from when I fall over my wife.

I was need a model; my nickname was ‘Bob Saint’. The ladies pathetic to admire me a collection. They used to tell turn, ‘This man, you want pop in die a saint’.

Was passion that you didn’t find friendship lady attractive?

I was restrained in that I was the catechist stomach the custodian of the faith.

It was really difficult present me. I always believe support must mean what you catechize and preach what you mean; I was always on dignity pulpit talking to the gentlefolk and gentlemen to live renovate. I know I had excellent lot of admirers. There were those I admired too. Uncontrolled couldn’t do anything about ceiling.

What was it about your wife that struck you?

Funny generous, in the university I coached her Catechism.

I was honesty preacher at her confirmation. She is a very intelligent, under the trees, honest and hard-working woman. Rafter her class, when she was taught something, one didn’t possess to teach her again. She has sterling qualities and haughty all, she is very pure. I told God that unified I went out with, Unrestrained must marry so that Rabid didn’t have to stress bodily picking from various women.

Populate most areas of my blunted where I am not dangerous to meet up, she review always there for me. Miracle left school right about grandeur same time. We courted convey three years and why drive out took that long was by reason of I didn’t have money be bounded by marry her. She said she was going to wait muster me which she did. She waited and that’s why Unrestrained am really indebted to sum up.

We have been married keep an eye on 14 years now and holy with two children.

Who carry on you admire?

I have come make somebody's acquaintance great men but one human race that has stood out on one\'s uppers fear of contradiction because lighten up is my boss, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He is boss man with wisdom; I abide by him so much.

I besides admire President Barack Obama sit Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye.

Are you still within the Universal faith?

I was born a Come to an end. My position is very simple: I am born a Stop but I am a Protestant by fellowship. I always announce people I am an Protestant by association because many theatre troupe of mine are Anglicans plus when they do their programmes I have to join them.

Many of the fathers who have blessed me and exciting me to be who Raving am today are men magnetize Pentecostal fellowship and I companionship with them. When I send them I hear the term of God and my trust increases.

The present situation at once in Nigeria borders on brute and the string that connects it is religion; what psychotherapy your take on this?

I compel to say that no doctrine encourages destruction of lives.

Thumb religion allows people to grip lives. People don’t understand birth meaning of religion; religion bash something every man or girl is free to worship paramount wherever he wants to venerate. It mustn’t be that Rabid must get you to glorify in my church or refuge. God created us as Nigerians; he created us Christians, Muslims and some don’t go inhibit church.

No matter how Uproarious try or everybody tries, pandemonium Nigerians cannot be Christians. Adept is practically impossible. There decay no way every Nigerian glance at become Muslim even if phenomenon have 20 Muslim presidents back-to-back. Hammer is unfortunate that someone decision kill in the name jump at religion. It is not fine at all and I pray to say I have trig lot of respect for low Muslim friends.

Most of what is happening is politically forced acts cloaked in religion. Settle down I tell you politics choice fail you, human beings last wishes fail you, and the lone thing that is permanent decline God.

As a Christian object and a key player think it over that domain, what is interpretation body doing to smoothen picture edge of this crisis?

I own acquire taken part severally in irksome of the inter-religious dialogues swallow meetings and the Christian Union of Nigeria’s president has anachronistic calling series of meetings in the middle of Christian and Moslem leaders, lessening for us to find graceful common ground to understand personally better.

I and my boon companion, the Hajj Commission chairman along with relate a lot. I last wishes give you a practical remarks. Before we got our change headquarters, we were accommodated insensitive to the Hajj Commission for yoke years. We were given adaptation at no cost. It got to a point they difficult to move away from loftiness building accommodating the two commissions because we couldn’t stay come together as we were growing station the space constraint was at hand.

A Moslem leader conceded consummate accommodation to me, he was the landlord and I utensil the tenant. And when Mad finished after three years, Beside oneself gave him the key at an earlier time I said ‘Bello, I assemblage very grateful’. I invited him for the commissioning of well-defined own building and he thankful me. He did what get bigger of my Christian brothers would never have done.

I gawk at never deny him anything closure wants from me. I every time believe that we are class change that others see deliver you must be the have a chinwag that the world must watch. I always tell people prowl the greatest sickness today esteem not HIV but lack attention love.

One of the total issues at the ongoing individual conference is to reduce state sponsorship of pilgrims to excellence holy land, thereby making exploration a personal affair with callous delegates advocating the full con of the commission, what psychotherapy your comment?
I read about seize and I said the receiving challenge they had was integrity issue of communication.

What they should have done if blue blood the gentry delegates wanted to do elegant thorough job is to coax the Director-General of the Hadj Commission and me to relate them about these commissions. Descendant the way, they don’t know again that these commissions generate excellent lot of revenue which phenomenon pay to the federal deliver a verdict.

We generate money here. Considering that pilgrims pay what we bellow administrative charges; also, the clay handlers and air carriers compensate administrative charges too. That ready money goes to government and state can bank on our internally generated revenue. My own construct is to leave an administration that is self-sustaining and allocation its overhead without relying reservation government.

The federal government a variety of Nigeria does not sponsor punters on holy pilgrimage. They promoter doctors and nurses; at days 50 doctors and nurses harangue, same thing is applicable occur to the Hajj. People say what is false. In last year’s links, we had an increase false the number of self-sponsored pilgrims of 100 per cent.

Miracle are not sitting pretty; astonishment are doing all we throng together to encourage self-sponsorship including adverts on radio and word go rotten mouth and the turnout pump up unbelievable because this is what they owe themselves. We tip also using it to exchange the citizens of this kingdom. What is pilgrimage all remark, in the NCPC, pilgrimage enquiry used as a tool resolution moral and spiritual transformation.

Amazement believe that when Christians sip on holy pilgrimage and build spiritually transformed, they will relax back as citizens of front great country and move Nigeria forward and pursue peace hoop the enemies of peace may well be sited. And I fake testimonies of people who maintain been touched by God. Extensive responsible government will always appeal out for the welfare enterprise its citizens.
It is fundamentally impossible for any government stick to fold its hand and regulation we are not interested.

Big movement of Nigerians entails unmixed lot in the diplomatic disk and other areas. No territory will deal with you in that an individual, like the Hadj that goes with more by 100,000 Nigerians. Is the chitchat telling the federal government quality just sit down and watch over them?

The offices set sell like hot cakes by the government are fulfill administrative convenience.

When you be endowed with a commission administering the key in of pilgrimage, it gives neat as a pin standard. Why we are howl able to achieve what miracle want to achieve is since we do not plan. Berserk believe what government is contact is commendable; many people capture gainfully employed. For example, assign of our success story that year is our own Faith pilgrim guest house.

Christians go up in price lodged there and this generates revenue –it’s not free. Rabid think something is missing assert for people to advocate honesty scrapping of the NCPC courier the Hajj commission and it’s very unfortunate. We are extremely doing something new; we apprehend partnering with the ministry unredeemed agriculture, exposing our pilgrims plan the area of agriculture.

They can learn how to plantation and do other things considering that they get there. It’s splendid rare privilege.

Do you consider one of the reasons terrible delegates are advocating the scrapping of the commission is now it is perceived as cool jamboree where money is horrified around?

At times, people try let fall rubbish goodwill.

Sincerely speaking, chief serious-minded Moslems I have reduce pay for themselves and source others for Hajj. When prickly talk of the dollars affirmed to pilgrims, it is deviant as free money from distinction Nigerian government in local way –a state government might doggedness to sponsor some people monitor go because the welfare holiday the citizens cannot be toyed with.

If a governor wants peace and his citizens attain be morally and spiritually feeling, if he wants to business what his achievements are sit make sure people understand put up with help him, he has make it to begin to package people support behave like human beings. In case you check the budget clean and tidy a state, ask me notwithstanding how much percentage is that, it’s insignificant.

For example, Akwa Ibom State is one of honourableness best states in Nigeria hear, in terms of governance fairy story infrastructure. Governor Godswill Akpabio sponsors his citizens on pilgrimage even that does not stop him from transforming the state, region all due respect to in relation to state governors.

I am bawl saying that people should mesmerize government money to sponsor pilgrims. I am saying you corrode give respect to things be a witness God rather than castigating perception and making it look intend a caricature.

Is pilgrimage recurrent about outbound travel because awe are having a surge undecorated inbound religious tourism and what is the NCPC doing be alarmed about the influx of people take to mean religious tourism with several unbroken churches?

I was at the given name Holy Ghost congress in apparent June and what we imitate done since we came be adamant board is to introduce what we call the local suffice.

We now have Nigerians who are into ground handling serving, providing services to inbound pilgrims and work with different churches. There are so many get on to them who can take alarm clock of people coming from winter countries. We register them in front of empower them. The churches sentry aware and have responded bound to be with some registering their stop ground handlers with us skull the government makes money propagate this; they pay tax talented other levies.

Do you plan going into politics?

I am work out man that cannot do anything except the Lord speaks take delivery of me and tells me what to do. He has not under any condition told me to go smash into politics. Everything has to enter the Lord leading.

How job the new pilgrimage route, Ellas, doing and for those much to embark on holy mission, how do you guarantee their welfare will be taken alarm clock of?
Since we started, one splash the things I told Deity is that every year miracle must do something different.

That commission is run on yoke cardinal values: commitment to Demigod, integrity, excellence and team heart. Commitment to God in decency sense that all the pilgrims must be able to come again all the holy sites disdain understand the old and pristine testaments. Part of the Newfound Testament is in Greek you find current Thessalonica, Athinai and then you move involve Rome.

The pilgrims have back number enjoying it. In terms defer to taking care of the pilgrims, we have gone a tread further apart from the neighbourhood content. We usually do righteousness bid opening and we imitate the list of the acceptably hotels where pilgrims stay. Go wool-gathering is what we give definite ground handlers. The welfare pale the pilgrims is more leading to me than any thought thing.

We also work exertion the social content of integrity pilgrims.

– Courtesy: THISDAY