BY SAM OTUONYE
The Noah’s Ark that berthed and fastened on the Mount Ararat in the extreme Eastern part of Turkey near Iran after salvaging Noah and all that believed, through the flood that besieged and eclipsed that generation of wickedness, has been lying in ruins for over 2000 years. But, Saturday 24th of May, 2025, the Ark was literally resuscitated, repackaged, refurbished, reinvigorated and reenacted and put back on sail to Nigeria and it berthed on the Holy ground of Assemblies of God Church, Ogbor Uvuru in Aboh Mbaise, Imo State.
It was received with extended pomp of glorious hymns, praises and apostolic worships, with pilgrims, faithfuls and tourists making prayer supplications and snapping pictures and videos as the atmosphere was saturated with thick cloud of God’s glory and beauty. Divine joy knew no limits across the faces of the mammoth crowd as Divinity kissed the Earth amid the dedication of the one- -and-only architectural wonder, by Rev. Abel Ukachi Amadi, the General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Church Nigeria, as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo unveiled the plaque.
Indeed, the 24 Elders, Cherubims and Seraphims were bowing down in reverence and worship, ministering praises to God who has done this great thing.
High profile personalities across the globe were not left out of momentum of praise, dance and worship as Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Lincoln Ogunewe, Rev. Dr Sarah Seoh of Los Angeles, USA, Rev. Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent Assemblies of God Church Nigeria, Traditional Rulers, Captains of industry, Political Leaders, joined the ecclesiastical rock-‘n’-roll train.
The awesome event was a fulfilment of one man’s dream, who has diligently sought and contracted the grace of God through service, sacrifice and consistent investment in the body of Christ and humanity. A man that God raised from crass obscurity and penury and placed among Kings and the Famous. A man courted with the prophetic; that whether the devil likes it or not he must prosper.
Barr. Obioma Success Akagburuonye, an epitome of God’s grace and philanthropist of record, who made a vow in the heat of his travail with the federal government of Nigeria under President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 over his estates in Abuja, that if God saw him through the ordeals he would thank Him with a special offering.
The Real Estate Icon, who was accused of possessing half of Abuja lands with forged documents, a case that took him to prison for 2 years and 2 months and after 20 years victory came and financial explosion occurred, rolled on the altar in tearful exaltation and appreciation of God’s grace and mercy.
He recounted that he was made to sign his signature 99 times by Security Agents to forensically test whether he forges signatures, as his thumb print was screened 100 times to check for his conviction of any criminal activities. In the end, a Certificate of clean bill of criminal records was issued him.
“After all the ordeals God put me together as his battle axe,” Akagburuonye thundered.
In fulfilment of his promise to God and in search of a special offering he imagined a Church building in the image and likeness of the Noah’s Ark. He engaged the services of Architects and Structural Engineers to design it to fit after traveling round the World in search of such masterpiece.
Akagburuonye, a die-hard Kingdom investor and philanthropist who said he built the Church by the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit captured the implications of the Ark thus:
“The Noah’s Ark Church is a symbol of faith, obedience, and salvation. Noah’s story is a powerful reminder of God’s promise to save those who trust in Him. According to the biblical account, Noah spent 120 years constructing the ark, following God’s detailed instructions. As he built the ark, many mocked him, questioning the purpose and relevance of his endeavor. Yet, Noah persevered, trusting in God’s promises. And when the flood came, it was those who mocked him that were swept away, while Noah, his family, and the animals found safety in the ark.
“Even the snail, often slow and seemingly insignificant, found refuge in the ark, escaping the deluge that destroyed everything else.This story teaches us a valuable lesson of faithfulness and obedience to God. However, this is crucial in life because, even when others doubt or mock us.
” I searched globally for a church designed like Noah’s Ark but couldn’t find one. So, I collaborated with architects to bring this vision to life. We worked together, playing with designs until we arrived at this magnificent structure.
“This church will be a sanctuary for spiritual growth, refuge, and salvation. I believe that anyone who comes to the Ark to call on God Almighty, he or she will be saved, and their desires will be accomplished. This has been decreed by God. It’s a place for physical and spiritual safety. This is in line with the Biblical injunction that, “Anybody that comes to the Ark to call on God will be saved.”
He admonished the congregants on Sunday during the thanksgiving service to tap into the divine power of the Ark for a change of situations.
“With the Noah’s Ark seating here in Ogbor you have to tap into it for God to make the impossibilities possible for you.”
