The Masses Advocate

-By Ruben Mario Brodrick  ​Edo State is revving its economic engines as Skyewise Group announces plans to establish a state-of-the-art automobile assembly plant in the heart of the state. ​Dr. Elvis Abuyere, Founder and CEO of Skyewise Group, revealed that the decision was fueled by the investor-friendly climate fostered by Governor Monday Okpebholo . According to Abuyere, the administration’s SHINE Agenda has effectively turned Edo into a "preferred destination" for both local and international capital. ​Key Highlights of the Expansion ​After over a decade of dominating the Nigerian automobile retail market, Skyewise Group is shifting gears from sales to manufacturing. Here is what the project brings to Edo: ​ Local Manufacturing: Transitioning from 11 years of auto sales to a dedicated assembly plant based in Edo. ​ Youth Empowerment: A focus on building technical capacity and "financial competence" for the state's younger demographic. ...

-By Ruben Mario Brodrick  ​The Republic of Chad has entered a period of profound national mourning following a devastating string of attacks by Boko Haram insurgents that claimed the lives of 24 soldiers and two high-ranking generals.  The violence, which unfolded in the volatile Lake Chad Basin, has prompted President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno to declare three days of solemn remembrance as the nation grapples with the loss of those he termed "martyrs who fell in the field of honor."  The bloodshed began on Monday evening with a brutal assault on the Barka Tolorom military base, located on the Chadian shores of the lake, leaving nearly two dozen troops dead.  The tragedy deepened on Wednesday afternoon when a security patrol navigating the region's intricate network of islands fell into a sophisticated ambush, resulting in the deaths of two generals—a rare and significant blow to the military's leadership. ​This resurgence of violence comes as a bitter s...

​ - By Ruben Mario Brodrick ​The atmosphere at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Abudu was charged with spiritual fervor on May 9, 2026, as the Benin Provincial Evangelization Week reached a powerful crescendo.  Presided over by the Dean of Abudu Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. James Chima (Okosisi), the Thanksgiving Mass served as both a celebration of faith and a strategic launching pad for the divine mandate of spreading the Gospel.  The gathering brought together the faithful in a stirring conclusion to a week dedicated to outreach, emphasizing that the call to evangelize is not merely an option but a fundamental obligation for every believer. ​Delivering a potent message rooted in the Great Commission, Rev. Fr. Everest Nwankwo, Parish Priest of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Idokpa, drew from Mark 16:15 to remind the congregation of Christ’s direct command: "Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel."  Fr. Nwankwo stressed that this mandate is the prima...

-By Ruben Mario Brodrick  ​Standing at the heart of the Iguobazuwa Deanery on May 9, 2026, the Dean of Iguobazuwa Deanery, Very Rev. Fr. Benjamin Brodricks brought the Benin City Provisional Evangelization Week to a stirring conclusion with a message that resonated far beyond the church walls.  Addressing an expectant assembly of priests, religious, and dedicated lay faithful from the CMO, CWO, and CYON, the Dean framed the week’s intense missionary efforts not as a finished task, but as the beginning of a radical shift in the Church’s identity.  He reminded the congregation that while the week was marked by sacrifice and prayer across various parishes and zones, its true success lies in whether the Church remains "in motion."  Drawing a direct parallel to the first reading of Acts, he highlighted how Paul and Timothy were not stationary figures but travelers who carried the Gospel into the heart of the unknown, insisting that the modern Church must likew...

​ -By Ruben Mario Brodrick  The streets surrounding the Holy Cross Cathedral on Mission Road became a vibrant mission ground as the Benin City Ecclesiastical Province successfully concluded its week-long Evangelization exercise.  Drawing participants from across the Province—including the Archdiocese of Benin City and the Dioceses of Warri, Issele-Uku, Auchi, Uromi, and Bomadi—the event served as a powerful reminder of the Great Commission.  In a spirited display of faith, evangelizers were organized into five distinct groups and dispatched from the Cathedral into the heart of the Benin City metropolis, engaging residents in their homes, offices, and shops to share the Gospel. ​During the Thanksgiving Mass that capped off the outreach, Very Rev. Fr. Paul Ashoro, CRS, the Archdiocesan Vicar for Religious, delivered a stirring homily that drew parallels between modern believers and the biblical missionary zeal of Paul and Barnabas.  Proclaiming that "we a...

-By Ruben Mario Brodrick  ​In a moving encounter that bridged the gap between contemporary youth and the pursuit of holiness, The Assistant Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Evbuoriaria, Benin City, Rev. Fr. Emanuel Ogude recently conducted a deeply impactful sensitization visit to the students and staff of Holy Child Christian Academy in Okabere.  Centered on the luminous life and virtues of the late Vivian Ogu, the visit served as a spiritual wake-up call, utilizing the Vivian Ogu story booklet to weave a narrative of extraordinary grace found in an ordinary life.  Fr. Emanuel who is also a promoter of the Vivian Ogu Movement, masterfully brought Vivian’s story to life, painting a vivid picture of a young girl who balanced her earthly responsibilities with a heavenly focus, emphasizing her exemplary commitment to purity, academic brilliance, and her tireless dedication to both God and humanity. ​The atmosphere in the hall was one of profound ref...