CLASS special: Lilian & Simon's joyful celebration of Love
Vol. 2.3

Special to CLASS magazine, Houston

Saturday January 10, 2004 marked an important and unforgettable milestone for the families of Chief & Lolo Bernard Iberosi and Mr & Mrs Sylvanus Egbujionuma whose children: Simon Chukwudi McBee Iberosi and Lilian Chinwendu Egbujionuma were joined together in Holy Matrimony, in a grand, outstanding, colorful and blessed event, which spanned Aba in Abia State and Umuakah in Imo State, Nigeria.

Evidently, January 9 and 10, 2004 will remain memorable in the minds of the young couple and evergreen in the minds of all who attended. For on those days the couple had the opportunity to profess in the presence of family members, community and friends their love, and celebrate their union with them.

Engineer Simon Iberosi, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA, currently works as an MSC planning engineer at the Cingular Wireless headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers incorporated and National Black MBA Association incorporated.

The bride- Lilian-, whom the groom described sentimentally as "a beautiful, intelligent and hardworking person", is a graduate of the School of Nursing, FMC Owerri. She is a registered nurse.

On the evening of Friday Jan 9, all roads led to Umuele Umuakah, the home of Mr. & Mrs. Sylvanus Egbujionuma of NNPC Aba depot, Abia State, for the traditional wedding. The traditional rulers of Umuakah and Amazano- Eze A.C. Ojinnaka and Eze G.C. Agwubuo respectively- along with the elders of Umuele, performed the traditional rites.

Deputy speaker of the Imo House of Assembly, Chief (Hon.) Chuma & Mrs Geraldine Nnaji, served as chairpersons of the occasion. In his remarks, he had described the event as "an international one" and predicted that the wedding, the next day, would rise to the level of being "the wedding of the year". Indeed, the colorful decorations, gorgeously dressed ladies and gentlemen, musical troupes all combined to give the event the atmosphere of a carnival.

The society wedding took place on Jan 10 at St. Mary’s pro Cathedral Umuakah, with the Very Rev Fr. (Dr.) John Ukwuoma (Episcopal Vicar of Orlu Diocess) officiating. He was assisted by a college of priests, including the
Rt. Rev. Monsignor Peter Onyebuchi(Vicar General Orlu Diocess), Reverend Fathers: Joe Egbule, Tony Nwosu, Freedoline Onwumere, Victor Ekwomadu, Basil Erou, Bredan Mbagwu, Venatius Oforka, Austin Iwuagwu, Chidi Dike, F. Okereke, A Iwuanoruo, and others. The Nnajis were the principal sponsors of the wedding.

The Bride read the first reading and sang the responsorial psalm, while the second reading was read by the groom's best friend and best man at the wedding, Dr. Donatus Oguamanam of department of mechanical and aerospace engineering, Ryerson University in Ontario, Canada.

The first reading which was taken from the book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 26: 1-4 and 13-16 read in part thatŠ²a good wife is a generous gift bestowed
upon him who fears the Lord² while the gospel read by Fr. Tony Nwosu enjoined wives to be submissive to their husbands as if to the Lord, because
the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of his body the church. The homily was delivered by Fr. Basil. The homilist reflected on the question that was asked Christ in the Gospel, if it was lawful for the man to divorce his wife for any reason.  He reminded the couple and the congregation of the seriousness of the rite that the couple was about to undergo. He added "we have not come here for a joke, rather for something serious and eternal. Simon and Lilian have come here to become one".  

The joy that the couple radiated was palpable as they were married by Rt. Rev Msgr. Onyebuchi and Fr. Joe Egbule.  As a child, Simon sought the face of God, as one of the altar boys in his parish when the Vicar general was the parish priest, and Fr Joe was the head mass server.

The reception took place at the premises of the church. Dignitaries like Hon. Ngozi Ogbu (IMHA), Chief & Lolo Uchenna Onyeanu- Deputy Commissioner of police Imo State, Eze Charles Nnajiemere- Eze udo 111 of Amurie, Mr. Athan Ogoh- Special Assistant to the Governor (Economic Affairs- Foreign), Hon. Chief(Dr)Obinna Duruji- Former Commissioner for Education Imo, Chief(Dr.) Richard Nwachukwu- Publisher African Herald in Dallas, Major Festus Onyeari, Attorney & Mrs.Bernard Nwaiwu- President Igbo Community Association of Dallas-Fort Worth, Attorney & Mrs Chris Nwachukwu, Mr Nnamdi okoro, Mr. Oliver Iheme, Mr Emeka Iwunze, Mr Ify Iwunze, Nze Cosmas Okoro, Nze Ben Nnawuihe, Mr. & Mrs Emeka Odueze, MR&Mrs CJ Odueze, MR& Mrs Charlie Ike, Mr Sabby Agwumezie, Sir & Lady Benji Mbagwu, Chief & Lolo Iheme(Uduakomiri 1), Prof. & Mrs. Mike Dike, Prof & Lady Mazi Ojiaku, Chief(Dr.)Barr & Mrs Jude Ezeala, Major Festus Onyeari, Engr Bob Ezendu Dike, Chief & Lolo Eddy Ikwubuo, MR &Mrs. Appolo Nnaji, Dr Marshal Madu, Mrs. Jude Anwukah, Mrs Mary Anyibe, Mr & Mrs Cy Ahamefule, Dr. Mercel Ifeanyi Osuchukwu, Mrs. Jovita Nganwuchu-Achife, Engr.Elias Igwegbu, Engr. Dayo Onasanya, Engr. Mitch Debrah, Engr. Ijere Kanu, Engr. Ikemefuna Okereke, Engr. Gabriel Ifezue, Engr. N Igbokwue, Engr Belon Duru, Barr. Chinedu Nganwuchu, Mr. Eddy Duruoha, Mr.& Mrs Eddy Anokwute, Chief & Lolo Alloysius Nganwuchu, Chief & Lolo Nicholas Nnabue, Chief J. C. Onyeari, members of the Unique Committee of Friends Club, Imo State, and many more, were seated under well laid out canopies supplied by Kanayo rentals of Orlu. There was abundance of food and choice drinks. 

The chairman of the wedding reception event was Chief (Dr) Simon Amanze Odueze - Igwegbajiri Egbe 1 of Umuakah and the proprietor of Alline Home Health Care services in Dallas. The masters of ceremonies were Mercel Madu and Benedict Agwubuo.  

The wedding cake was presented by Mrs. Rose Egeonu who stated that CAKE just like LOVE has only four alphabets. For her it is an acronym for Caring, Admiration, Kindness and Endurance. She therefore enjoined the couple to always live by the words that CAKE represents.  After the cutting of the cake the couple danced and was showered with gifts. The couple handed out souvenirs in return.

The groom, Simon, completed his primary school in 1976 with distinction, from Central School Umuakah; graduated from Federal Government College, Enugu in 1981; between 1981 and 1986, he studied electrical engineering at the University of Lagos, Akoka Yaba. He completed his NYSE at NEPA Akure, Ondo State in 1987. From 1987 to 1989 he worked at General Electric Company Iganmu, Lagos as Sales Engineer. He came to the United States in September 1989, for further studies. He did post-graduate work in Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas, where he also completed his MBA degree in December 2001. He worked at Ericsson Inc, in Richardson, Texas, for eight years and left as a Services Project Manager.

CLASS magazine, with reporting from Chioma Agricola

-- GOOD NEWS....

The couple was recently blessed with a bouncing baby boy- Chukwumalijem Kenneth Iberosi. He was born on May 19, 2004 at 4:07 a.m. GMT, at the Federal Medical Center Owerri. He weighed in at 3.2 kg (7.1lb). His Baptism and Church dedication took place on June 26 &27 2004, at St. Mary¹s Catholic Church Umuakah. Engr Elias C. Igwegbu, Head of Integrated Services Group, Shell Port Harcourt and Mrs Chizoba Perp Dike (Nee Iberosi) (RN) of Sacramento California, were the God Parents.