By Bassey Asuquo
The governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade, has been installed as the International Ambassador of The Lutheran Church of Nigeria as he donated five million naira (N5m) to support the church.
Ayade was installed as Luther Ambassador International, Redeemer cathedral, Calabar, on Sunday with Dr. Inyang Asibong, Commissioner for International Development Cooperation (MIDC), also installed as a Deaconess of the Lutheran Church.
During the investiture, the National President/Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Christian Ekong described the installation as symbolising sacred responsibilities and God’s call to serve Him in that capacity.
The Archbishop added that the choice to installed His Excellency, Gov Ayade was borne out of his relationship with the church. First, for appointing their daughter to serve in his administration and having being a blessing to the church even while she was the Commissioner for Health and now as MIDC Commissioner, she has touched lives including members of the church and secondly, for the fact that Governor Ayade is God fearing and religiously sensitive for his constant consultation with church leaders in the administration of his Government.
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The ArchBishop also described Dr. Inyang Asibong as a light to the state and Nigeria who while serving and still serving as the Commissioner has not abandoned the church, she has facilitated to the return of the Lutheran Hospital Yahe, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State, she has served as secretary of the church welfare committee, inducted as a Dorcas Group 1 Ambassador of the church, Zonal Patroness of the Cross River South Zone of Luther messengers among other positions held.
Reacting to the investiture, Governor Ben Ayade, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Prof. Ivara Ejemot Esu described the event as God’s highest call to serve and thanked the church for acknowledging the good works of the Governor and his daughter and Commissioner, Dr Inyang Asibong.
Goodwill messages and Donations were delivered by Her Excellencies, Dr Linda Ayade, wife of the Executive Governor, Mrs Omotunde Ivara Esu, Wife of the Deputy Governor, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Eteng Williams, Chairmen of Local Government Councils, Members of Cross River State House or Assembly, Members of Executive Councils, Former Deputy Gov, Barr Efiok Cobham,Dr/Barr Mrs Frank Ayade, Permanent secretaries, Top Government officials and Church leaders who felicitated with the new inductees.
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Highpoint of the event was a presentation by the Deputy Governor on behalf of the Governor the sum of N5,000,000 to support the church building.
