Pamae, thank you very much for the birthday wishes. I will like to type some extensive text about you, about how we first met, and how far we have come. But I won't...

Pamae, thank you very much for the birthday wishes. I will like to type some extensive text about you, about how we first met, and how far we have come. But I won't do  all that. I want to rather, gift you this. I am posting this here because when I was writing it, I felt something. I don't know what it was. But a story like this needs to be heard because it has remarkable content. I know that this story is going to bless someone's life, maybe not in FECA Nsukka, but someone is going to benefit from it. 

My FECA Story by Agbo Ebube Edith

"I joined FECA officially in 2018, but I've always known FECA because of my brother who is a FECAite and then he joined FECA in 2014 or thereabout. So, I started hearing of FECA through him and then his friends, FECAites, would come and visit and I loved them. They were young and not boring.  And one thing that I like about FECA Jewels is the way they dressed; the way they wear corporate, so I wanted to join FECA and be wearing corporate actually. I wanted to be dressing like them; I just wanted to be behaving like them. I was in SS 1 that time. So, because of that, I did not have any hope of attending FECA because there was no way I could leave my house and be coming to fellowship. 

"So the first time I attended a FECA program was in 2014. That was Praise Capade. So my brother invited us. And then he told us that there is going to be food, drink, rap, and all those plenty things. You know what we told you when we came to your school to invite you for Freshers banquet, ehh? Ehe. So I came there and I saw somebody preaching. The first person finished talking, the second person finished talking, next thing was that they were doing Praise and worship, I now called my brother and be like, 'When are they starting?' Like, this was not what I came here to do. So after everything , I enjoyed the program. Finally, we ate and they gave us Gala and Happy Hour. FECA liked Gala and Happy Hour back then. So that was it. I was now studying hard to finish secondary school and get admission and become a FECAite. 

"So in my SS3, FECAites came to my school, St. Cyprian, for Freshers Banquet, and then I attended. And I did not want to come back. Like, I didn't even want to go home. I was literally crying, because I did not tell my mum where I was going, if not she wouldn't have allowed me to go for the Freshers Banquet that day. So, there was no where I could sleep after the program. So they now told the Jewels and they were like, I should sleep in the hostel. And that was Ma Ugomma (nee) Onwuchekwa. But then, I went home. 

"I love FECA so much, I did not get admission in 2016. I got admission in 2017. So I did not join FECA after graduating from secondary school. But I joined FECA in 2017, and I was happy. The first week I was in fellowship and that day, they asked me to come and give testimony. And I could not talk, like, just like Mamae Mawuli...No, I was not as timid as Mamae. I was not timid. I felt I was bold until they told me to come and give testimony and then I found out that I could not talk. I was shy. And the Assistant General Secretary then, I came to fellowship with her and she did not tell me that she'll call me. The next thing I heard was, 'Let's make welcome Ebube Agbo for her testimony.' And my brother was there looking at me. I did not know what to say, I did not want to fall his hand, so I gave the testimony I gave, and later, I went back to the moderator and say, 'Sorry, sorry, I forgot something. I now said the rubbish again and went back to my seat. And I started coming to FECA. I love FECA. 

I love FECAites. I like the way they are passionate about God, the way they are doing it without stress. They are dong it and it looks as if it is not stressful. They are calling you as if you are paying them; they're giving you; they're coming to visit you, as though they have all the time in the world. But they didn't. So I actually admired that, about FECAites. 

" And then, when I used to come to FECA in my first year, I used to wear slippers. After a while, I realized that everyone was wearing flat shoes and corporate dress. I had to, I had to hustle money and buy flat shoes and corporate dress, and the way they dress made me to like it. But I was still loos-guarding. So, I now started to dress well. I bought flat shoes and started wearing flat shoes. And then, I also wanted to serve. And I'm grateful to FECA for service. I am. Nobody cajoled me to serve because I served as the Financial Secretary in the last tenure. I did not know anything. I wanted to be like these people: to be bold like them; to be knowledgeable like them; to be responsible like them. I wanted to just be like them. I wanted to serve. I did not know what to serve as, even when I went for interview, they asked me what I wanted to serve as and I said I did not know. Which unit are you in? I said Ushering Unit. I did not know anything. I just wanted to serve and wanted to grow and I knew that FECA service was going to do that for me. So I served in the last tenure, that's the 2018-2020 tenure.

"FECA service is going to mold you. Most of you were surprised when you heard that Prayo, Miracle Edwin, was in first year. Even when we go for outreaches and she tells people that she is in first year, they don't believe it because someone in first year cannot be this sensible, cannot be this wise. But that is not what FECA leadership does to you. Praise God. And then, when I finished serving as the Financial Secretary, I still wanted to serve again because FECA service is just good. Like, it's just good. You're going to love it. 

"It was in FECA that I grew. I thank God for Mamae Joy Agbo. She taught me. She was actually the one that made me - I actually wanted to come to FECA, but she is the one who asked me to always come. Praise God. And to come early. Praise God. So, I'm grateful to her for all the teachings and everything. 

"Another thing about FECA is that FECA gifted me friends. Praise God. People like Samuel Nzoputa, Mamae Joy Agbo, Tochukwu Tagbo, Papae Victor, Kosi Adaba, and Mamae Mawuli. In FECA, you get friends, legit friends. Someone mentioned something about the Senior members that when they come back, they are still together. That is what we do here in FECA. You're going to have friends, friends that are for life. So, it's left with what you make out of FECA, of what you make out of your stay here. All these things that I am saying, I'm not the only person in the tenure then. I was not the only Fresher then when I was a Fresher. But what you choose to make out of what we are doing here is what you are going to come out with. Praise God. But just be coming and be very intentional , sensitive and observant. And learn. 

"Another thing that I like about FECA is the bond, the sense of family...what's the word? Familyness or famillyhood? Praise God. I could go on and on,and talk about FECA but FECA has really helped my life. I was not like this, hope you know? That they did not born me like this? I was not even like this in 2018. And then, if you're a FEACites and you're serious with FECA, you're going to be distinguished. Praise God. Like in my class, you'll just be different. People'll just be asking you why you're unique. FECAites are unique. Everywhere they are. Do you know? You'll just know that there is something about this person. When they come, when they take responsibilities, the way they instruct you, you will just know that this person knows what he or she is doing. And, I'm grateful to FECA for that. Praise God. Because FECA has helped me. FECA has taught me how to talk, how to dress, including God's word. Praise God. And then, I am bold now. I cannot be intimidated. FECAites cannot be intimidated. Because there's this thing that FECAites always carry and you just know that you cannot talk to this person anyhow. Praise God. Unless you're not learning anything in FECA. But when you are intentional about growth, you'll see that you'll be growing. You'll change. But the few times that you have been coming, have you not seen growth in your life? Praise God. FECA will teach you how to be responsible. You'll know how to combine FECA and school. You'll know how to call people with the little money that you have. You'll know how to give to people with the little that you have. Praise God. 

"FECA has taught me how to be responsible; how to give; how to sacrifice; FECA has toughened me, because I'm the last born. But this is not how last born children are, baa? But then, FECA has toughened me; FECA has given me sense. Praise God. If I can do all these things, you can do them too. I thank God for those ladies that started FECA and for the people that kept FECA so far. I'm really grateful to God for FECA. I don't know what I would have been without FECA. I don't really know. Imagine I missed the will of God for my life! So FECA is a gift, one that has been gifted to you. So you treasure it. You don't take it for granted. When you're being called, visited or invited to come for fellowship, you don't take these things for granted. Because these leaders that you're seeing here will not be here forever. So you learn how to take responsibility. Praise God. So I want you to grasp this gift that God has given to you. Praise God. After your stay here in UNN, you'll not be seen. You're still a FECAite but you'll not be coming to Bible Study and fellowship like that. So this is your time. Praise God. Now that you're young and vibrant, you grasp the gift of FECA and make the most of it. Praise God."

                                                                Agbo Ebube Edith,

                                                               President, FECA Nsukka chapter (2020-2022).