NEWS
New Leader of SECAM says ‘Greatness is Service”
Bishop Richard Kuuia- Baawobr of Wa, Ghana, who is to be made a Cardinal later in August has been elected as Head of the ‘Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar’ (SECAM).
This is contained in a statement made available by Fr. Mike Umoh, Director, Social Communications,Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, on Thursday in Abuja.
Umoh said the 63-year-old Ghanaian Bishop, who will travel to Rome to receive a ‘red hat’ on August 27, has said that he sees his new mission as a cardinal as “an invitation to serve.
”Kuuia-Baawobr has led the Diocese of Wa, in North-West Ghana since 2016.
He is known locally for his charity and care for people with mental disabilities in a country where the stigmatisation of mental illness is still high.
Six years ago, he launched a Diocesan Street Ministry which brings together parish volunteers and health care professionals.
It is aimed at providing care and medical assistance for people with mental disabilities who have been abandoned by their families.
“I always think of the two sons of Zebedee who are struggling for the seats, one on the left and one on the right.
“At that moment, Jesus reminds them that their greatness is in service, that he has come to serve,” he said.
The Bishop was elected president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), at the end of the African bishops’ plenary assembly in Accra, Ghana.
The Bishops gathered at the 19th Plenary Assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar in Accra Courtesy of SECAM.
Before he became Bishop of Wa, Kuuia- Baawobr was the first African to serve as the Superior-General of the Missionaries of Africa, commonly called the “White Fathers” for their distinctive white cassocks.
His vocation as a Missionary of Africa provided him ministry experiences in different regions in Africa.
After his ordination to the priesthood in 1987, Baawobr served in a Parish in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He later moved to Kahangala, Tanzania to take on the role of formator for the order after finishing a licentiate in Sacred Scripture and a doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.
Baawobr also spent time in France, studying Ignatian spirituality at Le Chatelard in Lyon and working for five years as the director of the missionary order’s formation house in Toulouse.
While acting as the superior-general of the White Fathers from 2010 to 2016, he was named vice grand chancellor of the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies.
Pope Francis later appointed him as a member and Consultor of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Born in Tom-Zendagangn in the Wa diocese, he studied at a village school and the St. Francis Xavier Minor St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary before he entered the diocesan seminary in 1979 at the age of 20.
This was after discerning his vocation with the Missionaries of Africa.
He studied for his novitiate in Fribourg, Switzerland and then completed his theological studies at the Missionary Institute, London.
He was professed as a member of the society of apostolic life in 1986.
He will be made a cardinal along with 20 others in a consistory in Rome on August 27.
He said that at first, he did not believe that Pope Francis had named him a cardinal until he received a call from the nuncio. “
“From the surprise, I came to accept it as an invitation to serve,” the Bishop said.
“As a priest, that is my first calling, to serve God, to serve his people,” the man of God said.
Umoh sated that a delegation from the diocese of Wa will accompany the Bishop to Rome for the August consistory.
He will become one of two new cardinals from Africa, along with Bishop Peter Ebere- Okpaleke of Ekwulobia, Nigeria.
However, he said that it has been challenging getting visas for everyone who would like to come with him to Rome.
The Bishop said that he wants to make the trip “an occasion to pray and to grow in the faith,” for the Ghana delegation with pilgrimages to Basilicas in Rome .
“Possibly a pilgrimage to assist so that we pray for peace for ourselves and for our families and for the nation.
“It comes down very strongly that we are not alone in this mission.
“And the Holy Father is inviting us to share, to collaborate with him.
“I think from there also I draw the message that wherever we are, if people are needing our collaboration.
”This is in order to attain a specific goal, we should offer that with joy and humility and simplicity,” he said.(NAN)
From Samuel James, Ilorin
The Kwara state command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has organized a Medical Outreach, Security Summit and Award Night to mark its end-of-year activities in the state.
The event which was organized by the Tanke Division highlighted the Corp’s commitment to community service, security enhancement and the recognition of excellence.
The event started with a Medical Outreach that aimed at improving health and well-being of elderly residents in the Tanke community, as free medical tests were conducted to demonstrate the Corps’ dedication to social responsibility and care for the welfare of citizens.
The Security Summit, which followed, focused on strategies to enlighten neighborhood safety and foster greater collaboration among stakeholders. It also centered its discussions on proactive measures to tackle security challenges and to enhance collective efforts toward ensuring a safe society.
The event also culminated in an Award Night to celebrate officers and stakeholders who have shown outstanding dedication, professionalism, and contributions to public safety.
While addressing the gathering, the State Commandant, Dr. Umar J.G. Mohammed, who was represented by the Area K Commander, ACC Kehinde Adebayo, extolled the officers for their unwavering commitment to duty, and explained that recognizing hard work and dedication is not only to motivate personnel but also to inspire excellence and strengthen service delivery.
In his remarks, the Tanke Divisional Officer, SC Oyinloye Yinka, explained the importance of the event, describing it as a platform to appreciate officers for their resilience and to encourage stakeholders’ involvement while reinforcing the Corps’ mandate of safeguarding lives and property.
Oyinloye further appreciated the stakeholders for their unwavering support, acknowledging that the division’s achievements were made possible through the collaborative efforts and partnerships.
The State Command however reassured of its readiness to sustain these initiatives and to deepen community engagement, and enhance operational efficiency in the years to come.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 1,850 personnel to guarantee a seamless and secured yuletide celebration in Kogi State.
In a statement signed by the Command Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Aliyu, noted that the Kogi State Commandant of NSCDC, Esther Akinlade, carefully chose these personnel from various units, encompassing the Operations department, Special Rapid response,Agro rangers, Female squad Intelligence, and Critical National Assets Infrastructure departments.
According to the statement, the Commandant emphasized that NSCDC in conjunction with sister agencies, is dedicated to ensure a crime-free environment in the State before, during, and after the festive period considering the peculiarity of kogi State bordering nine different States including FCT.
“Commandant Akinlade urged the youth to abstain from involvement in any form of social misconduct or unlawful activities that could disrupt law and order as anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law.
“She urged the public to observe the celebrations with moderation and to relay any credible information concerning any form of criminal activities and hideouts to the relevant authority thereby contributing to the preservation of the relative peace prevalent in the state” the statement added.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has given owners of the 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja, a fresh two-week ultimatum to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or risk final revocation of their allocation.
This was contained in a statement issued at the weekend, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister reiterated that the primary interest was not for people to lose their lands, but to get them to make necessary payments to the government.
The statement read; “It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, a list of 3,273 allottees/title holders that were yet to pay for their C-of-O were published.
They were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the 3,273, a total of 2,511 complied, leaving 762.“Yesterday, notice of withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published.
“Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two weeks grace has been given.
“Consequently, the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment on C-of-O will have till January 3, 2025 to pay, or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.
“After January 3, 2025, there will be no further extension and withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final.”
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