Dedication of Our Lady of Assumption Nnewi: Calls Grow to Honor Late Senator Ifeanyi Uba

Our Lady of Assumption Nnewi Dedication Sparks Debate Over Recognition of Late Senator Ifeanyi Uba



The recent dedication of the Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral, Nnewi, has ignited conversations across religious and public spaces, not over doctrine, but over memory, gratitude, and recognition.


At the center of the discussion is the late Senator Ifeanyi Uba, whose role in initiating and sustaining the construction of the cathedral has been widely acknowledged by many, yet, according to critics, insufficiently recognized during the dedication ceremony.


The issue was powerfully articulated in a reflective piece by Fr. Angelo Chidi Unegbu, who described the omission as painful and deeply unsettling, especially given the Church’s long-standing tradition of honoring benefactors.



In his reflection, Fr. Unegbu reminded readers that the Catholic Church has, throughout history, consistently honored those who supported its mission. Seminaries, churches, hospitals, and institutions across Nigeria and beyond bear the names of men and women, both foreign and local, whose generosity made them possible.


He cited examples such as:

-Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, named after a French mother and daughter who co-founded the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle, in recognition of their support for priestly formation.

-Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri, where student hostels were named after Cardinals Mayer, Wetter, and Tomko, honoring their contributions to the seminary’s establishment.


These examples, he noted, were not acts of favoritism but expressions of gratitude meant to encourage generosity and preserve history.



Fr. Unegbu disclosed that he watched a video where Senator Ifeanyi Uba personally narrated how he initiated the cathedral project and the immense challenges he faced bringing it to life. The account moved him to tears.


Against this background, he described it as a grave oversight that the cathedral was dedicated without giving the late senator the recognition he deserved, beyond a brief mention.


“This is not about blame,” he emphasized, “but about doing the right thing.”



Rather than calling for confrontation, Fr. Unegbu proposed a constructive solution:

that a memorial be erected within the cathedral premises to formally acknowledge Senator Ifeanyi Uba’s contribution.


He acknowledged that the omission may not have been deliberate, but insisted that oversights of this magnitude deserve correction, especially when they touch on sacrifice, legacy, and communal memory.


Addressing the reaction of Mr. James, who publicly expressed anger over the omission, Fr. Unegbu defended the emotional response, noting that it did not appear to be an attack on the Church or an attempt to abandon faith.


Rather, he described it as the frustration of someone pointing out an error, albeit in a raw and emotional way.



At the heart of the reflection is a broader message:

local benefactors deserve the same honor as foreign donors.


Remembering those who stood by communities in times of need is not only Christian, it is deeply African. Gratitude, Fr. Unegbu wrote, is a value understood even beyond humanity.


He concluded with a prayer for the departed senator:

    “May the soul of Senator Ifeanyi Una rest in peace”

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