Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, says godly upbringing of children is the secret to greatness.

Engr. Ikuru said this yesterday during the 2013 Fathers’ Day Thanksgiving Service at St. Simon’s Anglican Church, Ikuru Town in Andoni Local Government Area of the State.

The State Deputy Governor while acknowledging that all men were leaders but not all leaders were men stressed that “all men must define their path, and as fathers, they must find their paths,” adding that the essence of being a father is to have a child whose life, one prays and wishes, is better than his”

He encouraged fathers to make sacrifices for their children, noting that “by so doing, God will bring their wishes about their children to pass”.

Earlier in his sermon titled “A Caring Father”, the guest preacher, Architect Ucheowaji Urombo, cited the example of the prodigal son in the Bible as a lesson for fathers to be steadfast in inculcating godly virtues in their children.

He urged parents not to hesitate whenever the need arises to forgive and correct their children when they err, counselling them to lead exemplary lives worthy of emulation before their children while attending to their basic needs.

Meanwhile, as part of activities to mark the 2013 Fathers’ Day celebrations, the Men’s Fellowship of the Cathedral Church of St. Bartholomew (Anglican Communion) at Kubwa in the FCT yesterday inaugurated a fund to support widowers.

The President of the fellowship, Mr Innocent Ekeopara, told newsmen in Abuja yesterday that beneficiaries of the fund would be widowers in the church.

He said that the fellowship planned to raise N3.5 million this year year to fund the widower empowerment project.

Ekeopara said that the group was spurred by the plight of many widowers in the society, who due to peculiar circumstances found it difficult to live up to their parental responsibilities.

“You know, many people will ask, why widowers and not the widows but there are peculiar circumstances surrounding men that the society is not looking at and this has to do with men who have lost both their wives and jobs.

“In this particular project, we are looking at widowers who have enormous responsibilities but cannot meet them, we hope that we can help them offset school fees and other bills.’’

Ekeopara said that a committee of men in the church had been constituted to work out modalities for the disbursement of the fund to the beneficiaries.

He said that the project was part of the fellowship’s contribution to encourage the sustenance of strong family values and moral development of children in the church.

Ekeopara appealed to other members of the church and the general public to support the church’s initiative to alleviate the suffering of widowers.

Earlier in his sermon, the Celebrating Minister, Ven. Moses Eze, stressed the need for parents to take interest in the activities of their children and other persons under their care.

He blamed the spate of violence and other vices in the society on the failure of family values, due to the irresponsibility of some parents.

On the occasion of the Fathers’ Day celebration, the clergyman charged men to be responsive to the needs of their wives and children as enunciated in the holy books.

He said that half of society’s problems would be solved if families led by responsible parents imbibed humility, tolerance, love and the fear of God.

Our correspondent reports that the highpoint of the event was a special thanksgiving and launching of the fund.