An Anglican cleric Venerable Prof. Uchenna Umeifekwem has admonished Nigerians to live peacefully with one another as a step towards achieving total development in Nigeria.

He was speaking after his collation and installation as Venerable Archdeacon of Cathedral Church of St Faith Awka, by the Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, His Grace, the Most Revd.(Dr.) Alexander Ibezim.

Prof. Umeifekwem who was among the 16 collated and installed Canons and Archdeacons, said Nigeria can attain total development when, “we see ourselves as one as was recorded in proverbs 16:7.

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace. Any nation that is divided among itself can not exist, therefore, we need to come together and forge a common course geared toward being our brother’s keeper.”

Venerable Umeifekwem who is a professor of political science at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University also pledged to double his service to God and humanity in his new elevation in the Anglican Communion.

At a sermon during the collation service, Ven. Prof. Onyinye Okpala urged Christians to make deliberate effort to encounter God.

According to Ven. Okpala, encounter with God opens more doors for service to God and humanity.

“It profits to serve God, I’m a living witness. If you’re committed in serving God, you will definitely reap the reward. I’m a living example. Please don’t look at your status, height or fat, disregard yourself, see yourself as nothing and look on to him who is all in all,” he said.

He encouraged the newly collated Canon and Archdeacons to see themselves as ambassadors of Christ on earth by making humility and holiness their watchword.