…As Asagba, Others Honoured At Catholic Men’s Summit
BY RITA OYIBOKA
The Parish Priest of Emmanuel the Saviour Parish, GRA, Asaba, Rev. Fr. Israel Dibia, has charged leaders to embrace purposeful and service-oriented leadership that uplifts others and aligns with the mission of the Church.
He gave this charge today at the 2025 Leadership Summit of the Catholic Men Organisation of Nigeria (CMON), Asaba Region, held at the Parish in Asaba.
The event also witnessed the conferment of awards on 33 distinguished individuals, including the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, in recognition of their selfless contributions to the Church and society.
Delivering the keynote address through his representative, Rev. Fr. Anthony Isioma Egbunonwor, Fr. Dibia noted that leadership, especially in the Church, must go beyond titles and positions to reflect deep personal commitment to a common mission.
“Leadership is not simply a title or position. It is about influence. It is the ability to guide others towards achieving a common goal. If we use our leadership to divide, destroy, or create conflict, we have missed the mark,” he said.
He called on leaders to model integrity, discipline, compassion, and vision, emphasising that their actions must consistently align with their words and mission.
“True leadership is not about domination or hierarchy; it is about service. As leaders, we must be examples and custodians of purpose and vision,” he added.
Fr. Dibia stressed the need for leaders to foster community, communicate effectively, and understand the organisations or causes they serve. Quoting John Maxwell, he said: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
He warned against leadership that fosters division or confusion, stressing the need for clear, meaningful communication, strong community bonds, and consistency between words and actions.
“No one succeeds alone. We must invest in relationships and trust. Leadership is about service, serving God, the Church, and humanity,” the cleric stressed.
In his welcome address, the Regional Chairman of the Catholic Men’s Organisation, Asaba Region, Dr. Michael Emeshili, highlighted the critical role Catholic men play in shaping the moral and spiritual framework of society.
He described the summit as a platform for reflection, learning, and leadership development rooted in faith.
“As we gather here today, we are reminded of the importance of our role as Catholic men in shaping the spiritual, social, and moral fabric of our society. We will draw inspiration from the teachings of Christ and strive to become better leaders, husbands, fathers, and sons,” he said.
Dr. Emeshili expressed gratitude to the organisers, facilitators, and donors for making the event a success and urged participants to open their hearts to the transformative lessons of the summit.
One of the awardees, the daughter of the Executive Director of Projects at Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Eloho Okorodudu, expressed appreciation for the recognition.
In her acceptance speech, she said the award affirms that selfless service to the Church and humanity does not go unnoticed.
“I feel honoured and happy to get this award. It makes me realise that I’m being seen and that my efforts and selfless service towards the development of the Church are being recognised,” she said.
Okorodudu encouraged other faithful, especially the youth, to commit themselves to serving God and humanity, even when such efforts are not publicly acknowledged.
“Even when you are not recognised, God sees you and rewards you more than anyone,” she added.
The summit brought together Catholics faithful, clergies, dignitaries, and other stakeholders, including the Executive Director of Projects on the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Olorogun Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu; the member representing Oshimili South constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly is Hon. (Barr.) Bridget Anyafulu; Pharm Paul Enebeli; amongst others, deliberated on faith-based leadership principles, celebrate excellence, and build a stronger community anchored in Christian values.
