By Olivia Obijiaku
Former Parish Priest of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Very Rev Fr. Prof. Joseph Haruna Mamman celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for the graduating members of Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS) of the parish, charging them to express gratitude to God, their parents and everyone who contributed to their success stories. Certificates and awards were presented to graduands.
Leaning on one of the day’s readings in which St Paul thanked Philippians for supporting his missionary work, the clergyman observed that Paul was not only grateful to God, but also to those who supported him, making his work easier and doable. He also told the story of the daughter of a mechanic, who after obtaining her certificates and completing the National Youth Service, went to her father’s workshop, and knelt down in appreciation for the sacrifices of seeing her through her tertiary education, in addition to telling her father that the certificates were his, in the real sense of it.
“Go back with your certificates and thank your parents like the story I told you” The priest told them. “They have done so much to bring you to where you are. Do not forget them. Let us appreciate what others do for us. We must never undermine our parents, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, and all those who in one way or the other contributed to making life easy for us. We should never take them for granted.”
“After these years, you have known hardship, you know hunger, you know struggling during exams, sleepless nights, you have been able to suffer. But today, through the help of God, you have been able to achieve what you have achieved successfully. So, I say to you today, as you are appreciating God for being with you these years, you also need to appreciate those who supported you: your parents, your lecturers, the university, the government, your colleagues. All of them joined to lead you to where you are today, in one way or the other.”
On the harsh realities confronting Nigerians, including unemployment, he pointed them to a brighter future that awaits them, assuring them of the possibilities that abound in seemingly impossible situations in the country. He then charged them to trust God for what He can do for them.
“Nigeria is difficult but I am telling you, it is not impossible. You will make it as you made it here. Go out there. Do not be afraid. Jesus told the apostles, ‘Do not be afraid. I am with you.” God is with you. So, do not be afraid. The future is brighter than it is now. God will guide you on the right path. God will provide jobs for you. You will become great people.”
Prof. Mamman, who served in the parish for two decades, seeing to most of the developments that make the parish what it has become, thanked the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Dr. Tijjani Danlami, the other priests who served in the parish after him, and parishioners, for maintaining the place of worship. He also told them how delighted he is anytime he visits the parish, even as he prayed God to keep keeping and blessing them abundantly.
