Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has celebrated Rev. Fr. Dr. Valentine Kelechi Anyanwu on the occasion of his 20th priestly anniversary, commending his dedication to God, the Catholic Church and humanity.

Otti attended the anniversary celebration on Sunday, August 23, 2026, at Blessed Michael Tansi Catholic Parish, Aba, where Fr. Kelechi serves as parish priest.

The event was attended by members of the clergy, family members, parishioners, friends and other well-wishers.

Congratulating the celebrant, Otti thanked God for his life and ministry, describing him as a blessing to the people.

“I would like to use the opportunity to congratulate Father Kelechi Anyanwu on his 20th priestly ordination. We thank God for his life, thank God for what He’s doing with him, and thank God for the blessings that he has been to our people,” the governor said.

Otti also commended Fr. Kelechi for his intellectual and literary contributions, noting that the priest had authored about 23 books since 2000.

“For you to write, that means you must read. If you don’t read, you cannot write. So Father, thank you for blessing us with your knowledge and your wisdom,” he said.

The governor urged those who had obtained copies of the celebrant’s latest book to read and engage with its contents.

Describing the anniversary as a celebration of two decades of “unflinching devotion, sacrificial service, and faithful labour in the Lord’s vineyard,” Otti praised Fr. Kelechi as “a humble servant of God, an exemplary shepherd of souls, and an outstanding administrator.”

He highlighted the priest’s service as Director of Sacred Liturgy and Protocols of the Catholic Diocese of Aba, as well as his pastoral leadership at St. Joseph’s Parish and Blessed Michael Tansi Catholic Parish, both in Aba.

Otti also acknowledged Fr. Kelechi’s role in the establishment, equipping and commissioning of the Blessed Michael Tansi Jubilee Hospital, describing it as the first parish-owned hospital in the Catholic Diocese of Aba and a testament to the priest’s commitment to holistic evangelisation.

The governor further praised the celebrant’s simple and unassuming disposition, inspiring homilies and concern for poor and vulnerable people.

He prayed for continued wisdom, strength, good health and increased grace for Fr. Kelechi in his priestly ministry.

“On behalf of my family, friends, the Government and good people of Abia State, I warmly congratulate you on this memorable occasion. Congratulations and happy Twentieth Priestly Ordination Anniversary, Father,” Otti stated.

In his response, Fr. Kelechi thanked the governor for attending the celebration. He recalled that Otti had also attended his 10th priestly anniversary before becoming governor and had returned to celebrate with him at his 20th anniversary.

In a light-hearted remark, the priest joked that if Otti returned for his 30th anniversary, “he may be a President.”

Fr. Kelechi also commended the governor’s administration for what he described as progress in Aba, recalling Otti’s visit to Owerri-Aba about eight years ago, when he promised to reconstruct key roads.

He noted that Ohanku Road, Obohia Road and Ngwa Road had since been completed, describing the projects as evidence of the governor’s commitment to Aba’s development.

The highlight of the celebration was the unveiling of Fr. Kelechi Anyanwu’s latest book, Avoiding Abuses in the Liturgy of the Mass.

Also present at the event were the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu; Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Aba Central, Senator Darlington Nwokocha; and other distinguished guests.