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Chimamanda Adichie Reveals Details Of Priest’s Actions At Her Mother’s Funeral (Video)

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In a special interview with TVC News which aired on Sunday, celebrated Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adichie, addressed shocking events that unfolded at the church where her mother’s funeral thanksgiving Mass was held.

Her father, James Adichie, died on June 10, 2020, and was buried on October 10, 2020.

Her mother, Grace Adichie, died nine months later on her father’s birthday, March 1, 2021, and was buried on May 1, 2021. The funeral Mass where this happened was on May 2, 2021.

At her mum’s funeral, thanksgiving Mass took place at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Abba, Njikoka LGA of Anambra State; the grieving family of Adichie sat at the front pew of the church. However, they were unknowingly about to witness a shocking ordeal.

“It was a tough day,” Ms Adichie told TVC’s news anchor Mike Okwoche.

She revealed that during his message on that fateful Sunday, the parish priest started speaking about her in an unpleasing manner, and the contents of his speech left her in shock.

“I was taken aback to hear my name.” The priest, she revealed, Christopher Eze, referred to an interview she granted months ago.

Chimamanda Adichie and her late parents

“I have never been afraid of criticism. The fear of criticism is not something I have. If this priest had written something to criticise me or even shouted at me at any other venue but the holy mass at my mother’s funeral, it would have been okay. I really would not have minded,” she said.

Nevertheless, she said she found it unsettling that the same church where her mother was a devoted Catholic and spent her last hours on earth was where she was being verbally abused on a day that was supposed to be her mother’s funeral thanksgiving Mass.

Allegations

She also alleged that the said priest had done collections of N10 from the church members who are villagers struggling to feed themselves in the past.

“Why do you need to ambush poor villagers who can hardly feed themselves?”. She shared that the same priest had also harassed her family for money when it was time to bury her father, who passed in 2020. They presented a cow to the church, and he was upset because he wanted a monetary offering. “When I gave money to the church for Bazaar, because I knew that he always wants cash, I made sure to go and get cash” because he rejects cheques and bank transfers.

A shocking revelation was that during the tenure of a previous priest in the same church, they locked the church doors to prevent people from going out until the exceptional collection was over – this she stated was one of the reasons she stopped attending church in Nigeria.

In January 2021, PREMIUM TIMES reported that she stopped attending the catholic church in Nigeria because activities became “way too much” about money, fundraising, and thanksgiving.

“What’s the point of church? We should go to get hope, comfort, and peace. But you go there, and there is so much talk about money.”

Grief

When the anchor asked how she’s been navigating the challenging period, she revealed that the priest’s actions have made the grieving process more difficult.

She said: “I cannot help but think of one of the beatitudes, ‘Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” But, unfortunately, we were not comforted, and the priest failed. He failed terribly at his duty. Instead of comforting us, he increased our pain.” she stated, still trying to come to terms with having to face such an incident while mourning. “I should be allowed to mourn my mother in peace, but I haven’t been able to because of what this man did, and I haven’t been able to because this man has not faced any consequences for his action.”
Chimamanda Adichie and her late mum
After making several complaints for the issue to be addressed, she said she was asked to write a complaint to the bishop, which she did. “The bishop responded to tell me that he would not be able to do anything, and the reason was that I had talked about the incident at the Bishop’s Conference where I had been invited to speak. Therefore he was now unable to act”.

Adichie revealed that, in reality, the bishop is the authority to discipline the priest, but given this response, it is apparent that disciplinary action will not happen.

She did not name the bishop who has refused to reprimand the priest.

With the issue lingering since May 2021, she said she and her siblings have had to deal with the emotional toll it has taken on them, but for Adichie, this is bigger than her family. “One of the reasons that I want to talk about this publicly is I don’t want what happened to us to happen to any other person. I don’t want that for anybody”.

After a video where she was responding to the priest at the funeral Mass went viral on Twitter, it became evident that many have been victims of similar incidents, especially in Catholic churches in the East. “People have had to endure all types of humiliations because they wanted to give their loved ones a befitting burial,” she said.

“Nobody has faced any consequence. We have not received an apology. The wrong that we suffered has not been righted, so how much worse would it be for the people who do not have the platform that I have?”

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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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