The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr Charles Odii, recently, joined his siblings, family members and close associates to honour the memory of their late parents, Pastor Charles Odii and Deaconess Doris Odii, at a solemn memorial service held at Christ Embassy, Excel Event Centre.
The service, which was marked by deep reflection and thanksgiving, drew a select gathering of close family members, friends and associates, who came together to celebrate the lives, faith and enduring legacy of the departed couple.
Pastor Charles Odii, the patriarch of the Odii family, who hailed from Delta State, passed on exactly five years ago, while his wife, Deaconess Doris Odii, transited about 13 years earlier.
During the service, some of the children took turns to read Bible passages and share personal reflections, recounting how their parents’ strong Christian values and consistent guidance shaped their lives and anchored them in the faith. Emotional moments punctuated the tributes as family members reminisced on intimate and defining experiences with their late parents.
In his sermon, the officiating minister extolled the virtues of Pastor Charles and Deaconess Doris Odii, describing them as a couple of uncommon faith whose influence continues to resonate through their children. He noted that the solid spiritual and moral foundation they laid had become the cornerstone of the visible achievements and positive outcomes recorded within the family.
In a deeply emotional vote of thanks, Mr Odii expressed profound gratitude to all those who attended the memorial service, recalling in particular the trauma he experienced at the time of his mother’s passing. He thanked the directors, assistant directors and staff of SMEDAN for their support, as well as the management team of SME 100 and his classmates from Lagos Business School.
He also acknowledged the Managing Director of the South-South Development Commission, Mr Uffiong Akpabio, who, despite a tight schedule and short notice, honoured the invitation. Mr Odii further appreciated friends, extended family members, neighbours and relatives who travelled long distances to attend the service, noting that their presence was deeply valued and not taken for granted.
He concluded by praying that God would bless all attendees abundantly and stand by them in their own times of need, just as they had stood by his family.
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