TOPIC: THE EXTENT OF THE INTER-PLAY BETWEEN MORALITY AND CULTURE IN NIGERIAN CONTEXT
Hearts Magazine: Good day dear Fr. We are members of the editorial board of Hearts Magazine 2020/2021 edition May we be pleased to tell us about yourself?
Fr. Counsellor: Well, thank you very much. My name is Cornelius Izuchukwu Okafor. I hail from Adazi Nnukwu in Anaocha Local Government Area Anambra State. I had my primary and secondary schools in Udoka primary School and Igwebuike Grammar School Awka respectively. In 2002 I joined the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary that led me into the four walls of the seminary. After obtaining my degree in philosophy at Claretian institute of Philosophy in 2006, I proceeded for one year Novitiate experience at Works Layout Owerri, Imo State. Having completed that successfully with my first profession in 2007, 1 proceeded for my theological studies in Seat of Wisdom Seminary Owerri. Shortly before its conclusion, I had my final profession and diaconate in 2011.
After the conclusion of theological studies with the degrees obtained, I was ordained on the 13* of August 2011 by His Grace Archbishop Anthony Obinna, the Metropolitan of Owerri Archdiocese. A month after my ordination, I left for Rome in pursuance of Licentiate in Spiritual Theology at Pontifical Salesian University. Having completed that in 2014, I came back home to serve in our seminary at Ulakwo as prefect of Formation for three years and
Vocational Director for one year. I had the opportunity to obtain a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from National Teachers Institute, Kaduna and to lecture for a semester in Seat of Wisdom Seminary Owerri. In 2017 I The returned to Italy to occupy a vacant post in the general government as a Councilor. Having completed in March 2019, I was reelected as a general Councilor in the general chapter of that same year, an office I still hold till date. I am concluding my doctoral program in Pastoral theology at Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, St. Thomas Aquinas Section, Naples, as well as helping out as aParish Vicar in Parrocchia Sacri Cuori, our parish at Secondigliano, Naples, Italy.
Hearts Magazine: It may seem too direct to ask what morality and culture, as distinct concepts, are. For the sake dynamism of our wider audience, nonetheless, how do you define these concepts.
Fr. Counsellor: Morality is understood as a set of personal or social guiding principles, rules, customs, traditions, beliefs, and practices which specify proper and st acceptable forms of conduct, recognizing the distinction in between good and evil or right and wrong. On the other hand, culture, in the context of the topic of this interview, is understood as those beliefs, values, lifestyles and material objects that constitute a ur people’s way of life. Therefore, morality is universally seen in all cultures, while culture is particular to a people or region.
