Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, together with his friends and associates, has donated N100 million to St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Mgbuogba Parish in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as a harvest thanksgiving offering in honour of the late traditional ruler, Sir Edward Chinda. –
Chinda, who died at the age of 85, was the Eze Nyemenum I of Rumuokwuta, a prominent community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation was announced during his funeral service held at the parish on Saturday.
Speaking at the service, Wike described the late monarch as a humble, easy-going and dependable family pillar. He explained that the late chief had looked forward to participating in the church’s annual harvest thanksgiving so that his group could emerge first, a wish that was cut short by his death.
“On behalf of all of us, our friends, and associates who came here today, and in fulfilment of the harvest our uncle could not participate in, so that his group would take first position and make him happy, we will support the church with N100 million,” Wike said.
The minister also commended the parish for its significant growth, noting that it had expanded to more than 20 times the capacity he remembered from his last visit over two decades earlier.
In his sermon titled “Life is Short Compared to Eternity,” the Supervisor and Vicar of the church, Rev. Canon Gideon Genka, reminded the congregation of the fragility and unpredictability of human life. He described the late Chinda as a distinguished traditional leader, a committed servant of God and a man of peace whose humility, wisdom and dedication to the progress of Rumuokwuta and humanity would remain indelible.
The donation forms part of the tributes paid to the late monarch during the funeral rites. Officials of the church and members of the community were present at the service.
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