Umuahia, the Abia state capital will soon have an Ecumenical Center, which the state Governor Dr. Alex Otti has laid the foundation at Umuagu, in Umuahia North Council, stating that he is doing so with his personal resources.

The Center is said to have capacity for 1,000 worshippers. The event was part of his activities lined up to mark his administration’s three years in office.

He laid the foundation, in the presence of scores of clergymen and women, led by former Chairman of state Chapter, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Abia State chapter, Bishop Chikezie Elekwa and other eminent men of God, who prayed for the success of the project. Otti disclosed it was in fulfilment of his past vow to God.

Otti said, “this centre was one of the things we had vowed to do when we came into office.

“This land where we are standing was acquired in 2009 and has somehow remained fallow waiting for this day”.

According to the governor, this Ecumenical Centre will not be funded with Abia State government’s money, but solely from his private purse.

“The Ecumenical Centre is not going to be built with government money. No dime from the state government will go in there.

I have already provided the land. I bought that land in 2009, that’s 17 years ago”, he declared.

Speaking, the contractor handling the project, Architect Onuka Ukwa said that the 1,000 worshippers Ecumenical Centre will be completed according to the terms of the agreement, explaining that the design was done to cater for all churches in the state irrespective of their denominations, even as he assured that the project would be delivered within 18 months.

He said “it’s a multi-purpose, very functional building, and we hope to complete the building within 18 months from now. I would thank His Excellency, governor Otti , for his trust in us, and we promise that we will deliver the project to his very high expectations.”