Africa’s Tallest Statue Of Jesus To Be Unveiled In Imo

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A Nigerian businessman will on New Year’s Day unveil what he says is Africa’s largest statue of Jesus.

He described it as a symbol of peace in a country wracked by Islamist insurgency. 

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Obinna Onuoha, the 43-year-old chief executive officer of an oil and gas distribution company, had in 2013 commissioned the 8.53 metre (28 foot) tall “Jesus de Greatest” statue, hiring a Chinese company to carve it out of white marble.

Standing barefoot with arms outstretched, the 40 ton statue will tower over St. Aloysius Catholic Church in the mainly Christian village of Abajah in Nigeria’s southeastern state of Imo. 

“It’s going to be the biggest statue of Jesus on the continent,” said Onuoha.

“Definitely, pilgrims will come.” 

Around 1,000 people are expected to attend the statue’s unveiling on New Year’s Day. 

“We think religions can exist side by side,” Onuoha said. “We hope that people can live in harmony.”

According to the businessman, he had a dream in 1997 to build a giant statue of Jesus.