Ahead of its grand finale next year, the Knights of Saint John International (KSJI) Nigeria, yesterday in Lagos unveiled its 50th anniversary logo.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Chairman of the 50th anniversary committee, Rt. Hon. Chevalier Emmanuel Ufuoma Okene, said that the theme of the celebration is: “50 years of Faith, Knighthood and Service in Nigeria”.

Okene who went down memory lane, disclosed that the KSJl was founded in the United States of America in 1886, berthed in Nigeria in 1975 through the concerted efforts of Col. Kevin Ejiogu, was accepted by Bishop Godfrey Okoye to operate in Enugu Diocese from where the Order began spreading in 1976, following official approval of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) when His Eminence, the late Dominic Cardinal Ekandem was CBCN President.

He further added that the anniversary celebration will kick off this year with Catechetical competition in all Grand Commanderies across the country; Catechetical colloquium in Port-Harcourt, tagged 2nd Catechetical colloquium in Port-Harcourt Dioceses; Hail Mary Jingle in various languages and presentation sponsored by the 50th Anniversary Committee.

Unveiling the logo, the Chief Unveiler, who also doubles as the Catholic Bishop of Oshogbo Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. John Oyejola,  praised KSJI for their evangelization effort and charitable works, stressing that “Your global fraternal service established in New York in 1886, dedicated to serving God and the Church through charitable works and fraternity, established a remarkable visible presence within the Church in Nigeria in the past fifty years”.

The anniversary committee chairman added that other programmes slated for the event include; 50 unique Rosary exhibition of Mother Mary framed pictures; Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, ‘heeding the call of Pope Francis to journey with hope both literally in pilgrimages to Rome and in their daily lives”; Going back to our roots- an evangelization and charity initiative to be handled through the local commanderies and Auxiliaries to include lectures on contemporary issues in our society and intervention.

The Chairman of the occasion, Rt. Hon. Chevalier Arumemi Johnson Ikhide, himself also a Knight of St. John, thanked the organizing committee for the very enriching programme lined up for the year long celebration, saying that “with the programmes lined up, this landmark celebration will impact the Nigeria Church, morally, spiritually and charitably”.

Other programmes lined up for the 50th anniversary are; Production of a special fabric to mark the landmark milestone, tagged 50th anniversary ‘ABADA’; Design and Production of Golden Chasubles for Spiritual Directors and Advisers and inter-Commandery military parade competition and Grand Commandery parade competition.

Okene who also affirmed that Order was already upbeat towards the anniversary event, revealed that there will sporting activities including Golf tournament and Erection of St John the Baptist’s statue at a parish within the Nigerian ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and a 50th Anniversary Lecture/ Award Dinner.

Other highlights of the occasion included the unveiling of the logo, donations, among others.

He added: “The unique and rich heritage of the KSJI which landed in Nigeria in 1975 as a small seed, was watered, pruned, grew, battered, stormed and stands strong at 50 to the glory of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The logo which we are gathered to unveil reflects this rich heritage of commitment and sacrifice for the Kingdom of God through efforts of the clergy, members of the Order and the labours of our heroes past whose courage and sacrifices we salute.”