By Olivia Obijiaku
The clergy, religious and lay faithful of the Catholic diocese of Zaria were at the Good Shepherd Parish, Graceland Zaria, Friday, February 7, 2026, to pray for the happy repose of the soul of a late 4th Degree Knight of the Order of the Knights of Mulumba Nigeria, Zaria and Samaru Sub-Councils and the Ezeigbo Zaria II, His Royal Highness, Igwe Sir Vitus Ibe Unogu, who passed on, December 22, 2025, at after a protracted illness at the age of 77.
Presiding over the Mass, the Local Ordinary, Most Rev Dr. Habila Tyiakonaboi Daboh expressed belief that the deceased, whom he described as a wonderful man is in a better place. He intimated that they are at the Mass to serve “as witnesses and to pray, especially for him and to also remind ourselves, that as we are, so he was, as he is now, so we shall come to be. And so, we need to prepare ourselves, so that when our own time comes, we will be ready to go.”
Bishop Daboh commiserated with the family, assuring them that they are not alone. He clarified that, “This thing did not just happen. God allowed it to happen for a reason that you may not know now. But in everything, the glory goes back to Him, because He gave him to us and He has decided to take him back to Himself.”
In his homily, the Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Christopher James, who also identified with the bereaved, implored the living never to allow any material possession or influence to obscure them from the reality of death, because a time will come when the world will move on without them, without their permission.
“The fact of the matter is that someday, the world will continue without us –whether we like it or not. No matter how powerful you think you are, no matter how influential you think you are, a time will come, when you will not be there. What happens? My brothers and sisters, we do not know the day. The mystery is that none of us knows who will be the next person. This says a lot about what we must do in getting ourselves ready.”
“And this calls us to a life of humility. The word we hear this evening is just a simple reminder to every one of us, that death is a reality. We all have to take this clothe someday. But before then, we are gathered to profess our faith in the Resurrection. We believe the power of Resurrection. We believe that Christ died. He resurrected and we believe in the life after here.”
Representatives of the Knights of St Mulumba; Catholic Men Organization of the diocese and the parish, Catholic Woman Organization of the diocese, Laity Council of the parish of the parish, all paid life transforming tribute to Igwe Unogu, who will be greatly missed among other virtues, for his humility, kindness and immeasurable contributions to the Church in Zaria.
