Alphonsus Nweze
Former chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State, Mr. Dominic Ekpunobi, has been buried in his Urumkpu village, Umuoji, Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State amid ecomiums by his family members, relations, colleagues and friends for a life well lived.
The National Vice-President of NUJ, South East, Emma Ifesinachi, the acting chairman of NUJ, Anambra State, Mr Francis Epone, the chairman of Correspondents chapel, Chief Emma Ilozue, led other journalists in the State to the burial.
In his funeral message, Pastor Marame Okema of Grace of God, Umuoji District Headquarters, expressed the need for people to remember that they are mortals and therefore will one day die.
He said many people went to church, thinking that it would save them when they die.
But church does not save any man, rather it is Jesus Christ who saves a man’s soul from eternal damnation.
He then stressed the need for any body living to surrender his/her life to Jesus Christ to head off the anger of God whenever he/she departs this planet earth.
“Are you sure you are saved. Only Jesus can save, not membership of the church,” he queried.
The preacher equally stressed the importance of making sure that people were saved alongside with their family members, lamenting that today like Pharaoh of Egypt would not like Jews to go to the promised land without their family members, many are saved without their family members being saved.
He challenged the people to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour with their family members so that when death comes, they would make paradise.
“The earth is a place of preparation and it is is high time we purged ourselves of this deceit that sacrifice can bring repentance after death. We must remember God in our life time,” said the Pastor.
He said Ekpunobi served the lord faithfully when he was alive and charged his family members to continue in his footsteps.
In the funeral oration by the family members read by Emeka Ekpunobi, he described their father as a committed family man, community leader and a devout christian.
Until his death, Ekpunobi was the Chairman of Urumkpu village Patriotic Union, Umuoji, a position he used to renovate the village hall that was in dilapidation for years.
He was also a Special Marshal of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).
Ekpunobi who started his journalism career with Star Printing and Publishing Company, Enugu retired in 2010 as a Deputy Managing Director of Anambra State Newspaper and Printing Cooperation, publishers of National Light Newspapers.
On his retirement, he had a stint with The Sun Newspapers, Oracle Newspapers and Guardian Newspapers.
He is survived by his wife, Ngozi, four children; three boys and a girl and grand children.
