Birth: I was born to the family of late N.Dr Obidi Eziekwe of Umunnebo Dusogu Awkuzu on 31^st December 1956, the very month and year he took the Noble Traditional Ozo title, and he named me Ozokwelu.

Early Childhood: My father suffered the devastating loss of his only sibling – Nwankwo Eziekwe and his four sons in early fifties at Jos, to the deadly disease small pox. This bitter experience changed his mind about western education and going abroad. He made up his mind that no child of his would go to school. Indeed he firmly believed that his late brother Nwankwo reincarnated in me. His deep pagan belief made him resist vehemently all the repeated persuasions to allow me to go to school by the members of the RCM and CMS  as that period was the time the RCM and CMS  teams were moving around campaigning and capturing children to join their schools and churches. My father rejected all of them.

Closeness to my Father: I was very close to my father as his first son, na-eseputa nri na okpesi na ikenga. He taught me many things about dibia, and language of the native doctors. He taught me etu e si abo iyi uwa. He had every hope that I would take over his work as a native doctor.

A Petty Trader: Since I was not going to school like children of my age, I took to petty trading. I was carrying earthen pot of water moving around in the market, Nkwo Awkuzu, selling water with cup to thirsty traders at one penny. From selling water I saved some money, and I moved into selling matches, bar soap, kerosene, cigarettes etc. From this I was able to have some pounds in my pocket.

Baptized: In 1967 I was talked to and convinced by one Mr. Felix Obiadi Nwoye a Legionary. In “holy disobedience” I followed Mr. Felix and started attending catechism classes taught by late Rev. Fr John Mary Anojulu on apostolic work at Awkuzu as a senior seminarian. In the same 1967 I was baptized by Rev. Fr Ferdinand Ugwueze (late) and I chose the name Peter as my baptismal name.

Thorns and Huddles: My father did everything humanly possible to stop me from going to church and follow him in his native doctor practice. He chased me out of the compound, many times. I was starved a good number of days as the available food would be that offered to idol or cooked with the meat offered to idol. He got hold of me many times and flogged me mercilessly. He hated me with passion. In all those ordeals I held my new faith, and continue to go to church.

A Mass Server: As my father’s hatred and animosity increased, my love for things of God and church activities increased too. I joined the mass-servers and Legion of Mary. As a mass-server I was attending morning mass every day and following Fr F. Ugwueze to outside masses at St Paul’s Aba and Igbariam farm settlement.

      In 1968 we were at Ukwulu as war refugees. Even at Ukwulu, I was still a mass-server following Fr F. Ugwueze to Ukwulu and Igbariam farm helping at mass with Prof. Fidelis Okafor, the former V.C. of Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam. He was a seminarian at that time. In 1969 we were at Igbariam town as war refugees. At Igbariam I was still a mass-server, serving Rev. Fr Charles Ikeme, an army Chaplin, together with Fr Joseph Ajakor, a senior seminarian then.

A War Captive: In the same 1969 Nigerian troops came to Igbariam town and captured the town, killed many young men. I was also captured together with everybody in my family except my mother who was at Anaku that day.

A War Returnee: In January 1970 I was back at home. I continued to serve God at his altar. Rev. Fr Simon Azuka Okafor of Awka Diocese came to Awkuzu on apostolic work as a senior seminarian. He gathered the mass-servers one morning after mass and said he would like to see us in school during recess. One of the mass-servers revealed to him that someone was not going to school. He asked whom the person was, and I was so ashamed and timid to own up, but went to him later and told him my ordeal. He advised me to start school promising to see my father later.

Primary School in January 1970: Having been advised and encouraged by Fr Simon Okafor, I decided to suffer the war and martyrdom again. So in January 1970 I begged one Bonboy Ogachi Okogba from my clan to take me to St Raphael Primary School Awkuzu. He took me to Mr Albert Chilokwu (late) the Head master. He put me in primary 2. I did so well in my first term examination in primary 2 that the head master promoted me to primary 3. From primary 3 to primary 6, I was always first in class. I was never second in class, I was in primary school from January 1970 to June 1973 with Distinction in my First School Leaving Certificate Examination.

Primary School Sponsorship: My father refused to spend any penny on me. I sponsored myself by making fans and ropes, baskets, brooms, pestles, nkwu for fishing and selling them, using the money for my school fees. I also did farm work for people on Saturdays and during holidays who paid me some money. These were the sources of my income with which I sponsored myself in primary school.

Entrance Examination into the Seminary: As my love to serve at the altar of God continued to increase I decided to be a priest. So in March 1973 I took entrance examination into All Hallows Seminary Onitsha. I passed very well. Now sponsorship was another big problem that faced me at this time. As God would have it, all the male teachers from Dusogu Awkuzu who taught me in the primary school went to my father and talked to him, begging him to allow me and sponsor me in the seminary. God arrested this native doctor, Obidi Ezukwe, and to my greatest surprise he not only allowed me to enter the seminary but he provided everything in the prospectus and paid my school fees in all my years in the junior seminary, from September 1973 to June 1978 when I finished in the seminary.

A Prefect-Teacher at All Hallows Seminary: I did my WAEC in May/June 1978 and did very well. I was retained to teach, Literature in English, Mathematics and Igbo as well as general choir master, under Fr. JohnBosco Akam, from 1978 to 1979.

Senior Seminary: I was among the seminarians selected to go to senior seminary by His Grace, Archbishop F.A. Arinze in 1979. I collected my prospectus from the Rector Msgr O.P. Achebe. On presentation of the prospectus to my father for money for the items, his hostility started again. He told me plainly that he would never allow me to be a priest. I went to Lagos, Kano, Enugu and Nkalagu to the people I considered my relatives explaining my financial problems, but nobody gave me anything, only promises.

      In October 1979 I went to Bigard Memorial Seminary Ikot Ekpene with (₦200.00) two hundred naira Msgr O.P. Achebe gave me after my teaching at All Hallows Seminary plus ninety five naira (₦95.00) I got from other people.

Seriously Sick: I had a lot of problems at Ikot Ekpene, no money to buy things like books, provisions and other necessary things, and I had nobody to run to for help. I was highly selective in my feeding from my childhood and so my greatest problem at Ikot Ekpene was feeding. I faced malnutrition and consequently I became seriously sick. Our Rector Fr Gregory Ochiagha told Clement Aghadinuno to take me home for they thought I would die, I could not go home alone. I reached home and Fr Raphael Ebedeagu my Parish Priest took me immediately to Borromeo Hospital where I stayed for weeks.

Survived: I was available in the parish at Awkuzu whenever on holidays, at morning masses, helping the choir, teaching catechism etc. Many parishioners knew my plight and so they were giving me money ranging from one Naira to a hundred Naira, that plus what I got from my places of apostolic work sustained me for my eight years in the senior seminary. It was a very hectic moment for me, a very difficult journey to my priesthood but God helped me to survive.

Rev. Peter Obidi: To the glory of God who really called me to this holy office and sustained me in the midst of the biting financial difficulties, I was ordained a deacon in 1986 and on 22^nd August 1987 ordained a priest by the saintly Archbishop Stephen Ezeanya.

Academic Qualifications and Certificates:

·         Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy (B.Phil.)                                         1983

·         Bachelor’s Degree in Theology (B.D.)                                               1987

·         Higher National Diploma in Accountancy (HND)                             1996

Priestly Ministry since Ordination:

·         Parish Vicar Sacred Heart Parish, Odoakpu Onitsha –                      Oct 1987- Oct 1989

·         Parish Priest Our Lady’s Parish Umuoji –                                          Oct1989 – Oct 1992

·         Parish Priest St Charles Lilu –                                                            Oct1992 – Jan 1997

·         Archdiocesan Accountant and Auditor Archbishops house Onitsha –Jan 1997 – Jan 2000

·         Parish Priest St Anthony’s Nkpor –                                                    Jan 2000 – Jan 2003

·         Archbishops house (2^nd time) Archdiocesan Accountant and Auditor – Jan 2003 – Jan 2006

·         Internal Auditor Oluchukwu Microfinance Bank Ltd-                      April 2001

·         Part time Lecturer Accounting Blessed Iwene Tansi Major Seminary Onitsha- Oct 2004 – Oct 2006

·         St Alphonsus Parish Nkpor Uno –                                          Jan 2008 – Oct 2015

·         St Mary’s Parish Awuda Nnobi –                                           Oct 2015 – Oct 2019

·         St Theophilus Parish Nkwelle Ezunaka –                               Oct 2019 to Date

Offices Held:

·         Financial Secretary Old Ogidi Episcopal Region.                  2000 – 2003

·         Financial Secretary (2^nd time) Old Ogidi Episcopal Region 2008 – 2009

·         Financial Secretary Archdiocesan Synod Committee.           2004 – 2005

·         Financial Secretary Dunukofia Episcopal Region.                 2010 – 2015

Chaplain to Organizations and Statutory Bodies:

·         Archdiocesan CGO                                                                1997 – 2000

·         Archdiocesan Apostleship of Prayer                                      1997 – 2000

·         Archdiocesan Couples for Christ                                            2000 – 2003

·         Old Umuoji CWO Zone                                                         1990 – 1992

·         Old Nkpor CWO Zone                                                           2000 – 2003

·         Nkpor CMO Zone                                                                  2008 – 2015

·         Nkpor CWO Zone                                                                  2008 – 2015

Member of some Archdiocesan Committees and Councils:

·         A member of Presbyteral council                                            1993 – 2023

·         Member of Archdiocesan Finance committee                        1997 – 2000

·         Member of College of Consultors                                          2000 – 2002

·         Member committee for 2^nd Papal visit to Nigeria February – March   1998