By Olivia Obijiaku
While delivering the homily at the Mass he celebrated before his First Official Visit to Seat of Wisdom Academy Zaria (SWAZ); Commissioning of a New Academic Block; Blessing of the Grotto of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom and the School’s Cultural Day Celebration, on Saturday, June 21, 2025, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Most Rev. Dr. Habila Tyiakonaboi Daboh narrated how he used a stone as chair in primary school.
His Lordship also disclosed that he wrote with his fingers on the sand, instead of pencil, telling SWAZ School children how privileged they are to have pencil, pen, table and chair.
The bishop who thanked the Director of the School, Rev. Fr. Dr. Julian Ibe and the staff, for the good work they are doing in the school, charged them to make good use of their opportunities; prepare well for greatness and make their parents and teachers proud, by being morally and academically balanced.
“You are so lucky that you have parents who are looking after you.” Bishop Daboh told them. “Your parents are always preparing you to go. They are providing what you need to go to school. A lot of us did not have this opportunity. I was sitting on a stone in Primary 1, s-t-o-n-e. When I was promoted to Primary 2, I thought I was going to get a chair. But I had to carry my stone, from Primary 1 to 2, and from Primary 2 to 3. Are you sitting on stone?”
“During our time, we wrote on the floor with our fingers. Some of your parents did the same. But you are not using your fingers to write. You either use a pencil or a biro. We did not have tables to keep our books. We did not even have the books. But today you also have lockers. Let me see you make As and we will be proud and show people that you are academically very intelligent. Your attitude and behaviour are also important. You must be morally good also.”
“So, the best thing you can do for your parents is to make them proud. Concentrate and read. Nothing good comes easy. If you want to succeed, this is the time to start planning and preparing. Thank God you have the opportunity. Your parents and teachers love you. So, you have everything and you do not have any reason not to succeed.”
Bishop Daboh encouraged parents on the investment they are making in the lives of their children. He acknowledged that they may not have had such opportunities themselves, but implored them to continue doing their best, so that, “they may have the capacity to take care of you when you are old.”
