By Olivia Obijiaku
A Mass of wake was celebrated on Wednesday, 22nd May 2024 for the happy repose of the soul of a former Parish Council Chairman of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Dr. George Amale Kwanashie who died on 25th April 2024 at the age of seventy eight.
Presiding over the Mass in the parish, the Catholic Chaplain of the University, Very Rev Fr. (Prof) Peter Tanko acknowledged that Dr. Kwanashie contributed so much to the establishment and growth of Catholic Church in the University, asserting that, “George Kwanashie carried the Catholic Church in his heart wherever he went to.
He did quite a lot to build this parish up.”In a Special Tribute to the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University in the late 1990s, the Vice Chairman of the Council, Prof Vincent Abba expressed that, “As the parish mourns the passing of Dr. George Amale Kwanashie to the great beyond, the parish is thankful to God who by His grace made him a worthy pillar and channel for the growth and development of the Catholic Church and community at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
As Parish Council Chairman, Dr. Kwanashie was quite involved in the development and enrolment of the Catholic Church on the main campus of the Ahmadu Bello University, in 1987. The name, ‘Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish (OLQPP), through a vote by parishioners.
This reflected the desire by parishioners to have peace on the campus since ABU Zaria, at the time had become synonymous with crisis. He was very involved with work and visits to the outstations of OLQPP which were referred to as ‘Maguzawa’ villages around Giwa LGA, Kaduna State and some parts of Kano State.
He very well identified with Catholics in minority communities and continued to advance the work and mission of the Church in the late 80s and early 90s.
We all pray that Almighty God, whom he dedicatedly served will grant him a merciful judgment.”Speaking on behalf of the family, the younger brother to the deceased and a former Vice Chancellor of Veritas University Abuja, Prof. Mike Kwanashie thanked the parish for the honour given to his brother and their family. He thanked all those who have continued to maintain the parish even as he solicited support for the clergy.
