Nigeria’s First Catholic Church to Be Reconstructed at Ode-Itsekiri

Nigeria’s first Catholic Church/Monastery at Ode-Itsekiri (Big-Warri) in Warri South Local Government Area, Delta State is to be reconstructed/remodeled into a world class religious and tourist centre, Fresh Angle International has gathered

Chairman of the Diocesan Committee on Planning and Implementation of the reconstruction/remodeling project, Prince Godwin Toritseju Emiko made the disclosure at a press conference held at the Catholic Cathedral, Warri, Saturday January 20.

The Catholic Church known as St. Anthony’s Monastery but called “Satoni” in local parlance at Ode-Itsekiri, was designed by Rev. Pattazio and built between 1690 -1692.

In a statement by G.T. Emiko and ace broadcaster, Chief Julie Coker, they explained that the objective of the project is to put in place a world class religious and tourist centre to be listed by the UNESCO just as it is intended to create job opportunities and re-establish the good work of Evangelism and Conversion started at Ode-Itsekiri by the Capuchins and early Europeans Missionaries.

According to them, the ambitious project which is estimated to consume a whopping N1.7b, already has the blessing of the Bishop of the Warri Diocese, His Lordship, Dr. John Oke Afareha and the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, even as the Delta State government has been duly notified of the proposal.

The statement revealed that a fund raising programme for the realization of the project is slated to be launched sometime in the month of April 2018 first in Warri, then by August at Lagos and December at Abuja respectively.

They noted that the  3-acre massive land donated for the project by the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II of blessed memory has been cleared since 2014 at Big-Warri.

The Reconstruction/Remodeling Planning and Implementation Committee members also solicit for the support of all well-meaning Nigerians to donate generously to make the dream project a reality.

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