Meritorious Service: Uyo Catholic Bishop, Clergies Eulogizes Ide Owodiong

Thousand of friends and well-wishers joined Obong Ide Owodiong Idemeko and family to celebrate his retirement from the Service of ExxonMobil after three decades of active service that cut across various departments and offices of the company, across the world.

The thanksgiving service which took place at Primary School, Ikot Ukop, Okop Ndua Erong Ibesikpo Asutan Council area on Sunday, was celebrated by the Catholic Bishop of Uyo, His Lordship, Most Rev. John Ebebe Ayah assisted by monsignors and Reverend fathers from different parishes.

Bishop Ayah, who read the gospel from Luke chapter 6:39-45 called for peace and love amongst Nigerians as Christ admonished Christians and lovers of God.

He mentioned that the world will be a better place when people relate with others with a good heart and called for cessation of the ongoing war in Ukraine and various conflicts going on in different parts of Nigeria.

He described the celebrant Obong Ide Owodiong Idemeko as a great achiever who navigated through his career in Exxon Mobil without blemish.

Ayah, who described the celebrant as a good Christian, who has supported the Church and society, urged him to continue his philanthropic gesture towards humanity, the church and the state as his reward will come from God.

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Speaking at the thanksgiving service, Obong Ide Owodiong said that the good Lord has been very faithful and good to his family all through his life.

According to Ide, “I have served 30 years plus in ExxonMobil, God provided enough for me to take care of my family and several others and further impact positively on my community from the same source of income.”

Ide further recalled that several people whom he started the journey with at the oil conglomerate have departed for eternity and prayed for the repose of their souls.

“So many of my colleagues who started the job with me the same day did not live to see their prime and retirement but here I am today back to my people in good health, very strong and ever ready to take up more challenges in life”.

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Ide further highlighted, “look around me, my wife is here and we have four children without any complication. Today, three of them are already graduates with one still in the University; we thank God for his favours.”

Ide recalled with regret, “I wish my late father and mother are here, my father died when I was only seven years old and my mother took care of me all through but died in 2010, I wish my parents were still here to see what the Lord has done for me and thank God with me today.”

Ide thanked the church for their support for him and his family and pledged to continue to work for God and humanity through his modest contributions to see the growth of the Church. “God has been faithful and good to us. We have embarked on several journeys across the world in airplanes spending hours and days on air with fear of crashing on land or waters but here we are today safe and sound, we give God all the glory,” he concluded.