The Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria (KSM), Lagos Metropolitan Council has admitted 65 new knights and their wives into its fold, adding to its more than 2,300 members in the Metropolitan Area. The admissions ceremonies, held recently at St. Leo Catholic Church Hall, Ikeja, Lagos, kick-started with Holy Mass, officiated by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ayeni, Lagos Metro Chaplain, and Rev. Fr. Augustine Anagboso, Priest-in-Residence, St. Leo Catholic Church.
While delivering the homily, Fr. Ayeni reminded the new knights that by their admission into the Order, they are expected to be of good character and defenders of the Church. Immediately after Mass, a recollection programme; a mini-orientation on the norms, tenets and expectations of the Order was organised for the new members, led by the Lagos Metro Grand Knight, Sir Don Ezeh, and Metro President, Lady Juliet Damian-Osuigwe, the Supreme Knight, Sir Charles Mbelede, the Supreme Secretary, Sir Dan Egwu, Supreme Treasurer, Sir Patrick Ekwenta and other metro officers, who spoke to the new knights from the prism of their office.
Sir Patrick Ikemefuna, past Metro Grand Knight, and two former Metro Presidents, Lady Victoria Uzoigwe and Lady Monica Eigbe were invited as guest speakers to educate the members on, “What it takes to be good Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba.” In his address, the Metro Grand Knight welcomed the new Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba, as he traced the founding of the Order to 71 years ago, 1953, at Holy Ghost College Chapel, Owerri, with 23 members at a ceremony presided over by His Lordship, Bishop Whelan of Owerri Diocese. He said the founder, Abraham Anselm Isidahome Ojefua was a Reverend Father, a Benedictine Monk, principal of three colleges and founder of two monasteries at Awhum in Enugu State and Illah in Delta State.
He asked them to learn to be more deliberate and intentional in what they want in life, asking them to be more prayerful and spiritual, be exemplary, more loving and caring in their personal and family lives as members of a family order. He added that they demonstrate integrity, patience and professionalism in their professional, business and social lives, volunteer their time and resources, take up roles in the activities of the Order and in the Church to make positive impact, and to strive to “Be Worthy” and to “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven (Mt. 5:16).” On her part, the Metro President harped on discipline in the Order, specifically for the Ladies, requesting them to eschew gossip and use their mouths to profess things to the glory of God.
The virtues of discipline, prayerfulness, humility, defence of the Church, being charitable to the needy, use of talents to do God’s work, integrity and high moral standards, commitment to evangelisation and good causes, fortitude, courage, empathy, respect for the Order’s constitution, resonated through all the presentations from the Supreme Knight’s address, the Metro officers and guest speakers. At the end of the recollections, Sir Patrick Ikemefuna was presented a Lagos Metro Inspirational Leadership Icon and Role Model Award. while Lady Victoria Uzoigwe and Lady Monica Eigbe were presented the Lagos Metro Inspirational Leadership and Role Model Awards. The ceremonies then proceeded to the admissions proper where the new Knights were formally admitted into the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba Nigeria, in a colourful ceremony in the presence of their families after more exhortations.
