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New Leader of SECAM says ‘Greatness is Service”

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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)

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NEWS

FCT HOS: Why President Tinubu Extends Atang’s Tenure By 6 Months

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By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved the extension of Atang Udo Samuel, as the the Head of Service, HOS,  for Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, in order to stabilise and consolidate the ongoing process in repositioning, the administrative structure of FCTA.


In a memo that was obtained by Daily Asset, and signed on behalf of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, by the Chief of Staff, to the Minister, Chidi Amadi, in Abuja.

The memo stated that Atang’s  tenure was extended for six months with effect from Wednesday 27th March, 2024.
The memo reads, “I am directed to refer to the above subject matter and to inform you that His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has graciously approved the extension of your service for a period of six months with effects from Wednesday 27th March 2024 when you would have attained the mandatory age of 60 years.

“The extension of your service premised on the need to stabilise and consolidate the ongoing process to reposition the administrative structure of FCT Administration occasioned by the recent inauguration of FCT civil service commission”.
It would be recalled that Forty Seven years after creation, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) finally got a Civil Service Commission, a few days ago .
On that same day, FCT Head of Service, HOS, Udo Samuel Atang, and ten Permanent Secretaries chosen from Directors of the FCT Administration, took their oaths of office.
And on Wednesday 27th of March, the HOS attained the mandatory age of 60 years for retirement in civil service.

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FGGC Benin Emerges Winner of 2023 National Senior Secondary Schools’ Debate

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government Girls College, Benin has emerged overall winner of the 2023 National Senior Secondary Schools’ Debate Competition.
This remarkable achievement came after fierce competition from schools across the six geo-political zones of the country.


The grand finale of the competition was organised by the Senior Secondary Education Department, Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Tuesday.

The topic debated on was “Democracy has done more harm than good to the nation.”
The students of FGGB Benin impressed the judges with their outstanding performances, securing the overall first position, while Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba and Federal Government College, Potiskum, secured the second and third position respectively.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, said the competition was aimed at igniting the student’s quest of academic excellence and the growth of critical thinking abilities.
Sununu, represented by his Special Adviser on Project, Mr Rufai Adamu, charged the students on their continued contributions to the intellectual enrichment of the society.
“The debate exercise is an effective method for developing students’ critical thinking skills as well as a spirit of inquiry and reasoned conversation.
“The topics discussed throughout this competition have spanned a wide spectrum of issues, reflecting the diversity and complexity of the world we live in.
“From socio-economic challenges to environmental concerns, the students have demonstrated an impressive ability to grapple with multifaceted issues and present well-reasoned arguments.
“As we witness the grand finale, let us remember that education is not merely a means to an end but a lifelong journey of discovery and growth.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the education system continues to foster critical thinking, creativity, and a sense of civic duty,” he said.
In her remarks, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the event convener, Director, Senior Secondary Education Department in the ministry,  said the competition was designed to promote effective critical thinking and development of excellent oral and written communication skills.
“As we all know that debate promotes critical thinking, boosts confidence and promotes effective communication skills, encourages teamwork, It stimulates independent research, supports democratic values and tolerates opposing views.
“It increases knowledge sharing and professional attributes to mould and bring about a successful career. It equally fosters a sense of unity among students by encouraging open, respectful and constructive debates on a topic of national importance,” she said.
Meanwhile, the President General, Unity School Old Students Association (USOSA), Michael Magaji, appealed to the ministry to go beyond debating but introduced a global initiative just as the UN global club to bring students to the current levels of global thinking.
 Highlights of the competition featured cash awards as FGGC Benin got a cash prize of N150,000 while FSTC Yaba got a cash prize of N100,000.
Other consolation prizes were given to the students by Cisco Network Academy, Skool Media and USOSA and the Ministry of Education.

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We’re Meeting Our Targets on Airport -Kuje Road Construction – Wike

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By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, haom Wednesday,  expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of the ongoing road constructions in Kuje, Kuje Area Council.
The roads that were inspected by the Minister included, the six-lane dual carriageway from Airport Expressway to Kuje Junction and the five-kilometre dual carriageway from Garage Junction to LEA Secretariat, in Kuje.


The minister explained that the five-kilometre dual carriage way from Garage Junction to LEA Secretariat was nominated by the council’s chairman and stakeholders in the area.

He said that the contractor has done earth work covering 2.
5 kilometres, adding that what would follow was the drainage.
According to the Minister, “The Area Council Chairman and the stakeholders in Kuje were the ones that nominated this road. And the road is 5 kilometers and just like what the contractor said, they started from where they have difficulty so that by the time they get to where there is consent they would have sorted out the issues.
“From what they have said today, they have done the earthwork to 2 kilometers and they said before the end of the year they would have completed this particular road.
“And the one from the airport to Kuje city here, which is being handled by the Arab contractors, you can see that their work is going on very well.
“And with the quality of work we are quite satisfied too. The contractor said before the end of the year they would have completed the earthwork. It gladdens our heart that we are meeting our targets.”
Earlier, Mr Shehu Ahmad, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, said that the road, linking the Airport Expressway to Kuje township would cover 11 kilometres.
Ahmad explained that between the airport expressway to Kuje junction, the road would cross over two rivers and also cross over the Outer Southern Expressway that would link the city centre with Gwagwalada Expressway.
He added that the Airport Expressway to Kuje Junction would cover nine kilometres, while the remaining two kilometres would extend backward towards Kyami District.
He explained that one of the major constraints affecting the delivery of the road was the presence of five towers belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) along the road corridor.
The FCDA boss added that TCN have been contacted and have agreed to relocate the towers, stressing that until the obstructions were removed, work could not take place in the affected areas.

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