By Olivia Obijiaku
On Thursday, 1st October, 2026, Solemnity of Our Lady, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria, the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Pius Kagarko celebrated the Mass for the diocesan celebration of the solemnity, as well as the 66th Independence Day Celebration of the country, Nigeria. During the Mass at St Joseph Minor Seminary, Zaria, he bemoaned increasing hardship in Nigeria, maintaining that Nigeria needs intervention and spiritual restoration.
The celebrant referenced Fatima and other countries, where the Virgin Mother of Jesus, intervened through the Rosary, conveying that Nigerian Bishops requested that Catholic families pray the Rosary every day of the month for the country. Similarly, the Local Ordinary of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria, Most Red. Dr. Habila Tyiakonaboi Daboh beckoned on his flock to do same for the diocese, during the month of October.
Describing the day of one of double celebration, one for the Church and the other for the country, the vicar oriented that Nigerian Bishops dedicated the nation Nigeria, a nation in need of hope, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the same day that she gained her independence, because, “If this nation must survive, it needs a mother.”
He leaned on the first reading in which the Prophet, Isaiah presented a picture of a broken world, bad leadership, injustice, corruption, with the prophecy that a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, in describing Nigeria of the day, detailing thus, “How much does this sound like Nigeria today, a nation so richly blessed by God with human resources, with material resources, with natural resources, with faith.”
“Yet, we have known so much division, insecurity, hardship.” He continued. “Every generation has cried for that righteous leader who shall not judge by what his eye sees, nor decide by what his ear hears but with righteousness. Isaiah 11:3-4. That leader is Jesus – a leader upon whom the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord shall rest. That same Jesus came through Mary, Mary, Queen, who knows our sufferings.”
“My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we need spiritual restoration. The Church calls us all never to relent in lifting the nation, in lifting our diocese up, especially through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for real liberation and restoration from corruption. Soon after Nigeria gained independence on the 1st October 1960, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference consecrated the new nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary. That is why the Church in Nigeria celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lady, Queen and Patroness of Nigeria on 1st October, in commemoration of the consecration soon after independence.”
Fr. Kagarko implored Catholics to take up their Rosaries, shun enmity and embrace religious tolerance as ways of contributing to the betterment of the country. He led the congregation to solicit the intercession of the Queen and Patroness of Nigeria for the country and her citizens.
