Fides Media Living the Faith
… Parents, you are First Educators of your Children – Bishop Ezeokafor
By Alexander Johnson Adejoh
Tansi International College, Awka (TICA), Saturday, January 21, 2023, celebrated the feast day of their patron saint, Fr Iwene Tansi, Blessed. The school also received the proprietor of the college and the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, who administered the Sacrament of Confirmation on 103 candidates.
Fides gather that about twenty students of the college, who have distinguished themselves academically in the 2021/2022 academic session, were rewarded with various academic awards.
Presenting the academic champions, the Academic Dean, TICA, Rev. Fr. Patrick Nweke, noted the need to continue to encourage excelling students with awards and recognitions.
Addressing the students during his homily, Bishop Ezeokafor beckoned on them to make effective use of the fertile environment provided by the school Management and make the best out of their lives. He advised the students to listen to their teachers and abide by the rules and regulations guiding their academic environment.
‘The students have been given a good foundation; they have a very nice opportunity, and it is for them to develop themselves by listening to their teachers and getting disciplined,’ Bishop Ezeokafor noted.
The diocesan Bishop disclosed that after his tour around the school premises, he became much convinced that the ongoing building project of the school chapel would soon be completed for students to celebrate masses in a more convenient venue.
The Bishop commended the staff strength of TICA, noting that it would help the students to excel in their new academic endeavours.
He applauded the former Principal/Manager of TICA, Rev Fr Paul Onyebuchi II, for initiating the chapel project and also thanked the new TICA Management team led by Rev. Fr. Fidelis Izuakor, for the bold step which they took in maintaining the College, saying that their investment was in the right direction. He expressed optimism that TICA, in a few years’ time, would see the outcome of their investment and urged the Management to commence plans for future growth.
Bishop Ezeokafor noted that the exposure which the students would gain through conducive learning environment and other facilities provided in the college would help them know about what he called the great deeds achieved by different great minds while alive, noting that the success stories would inspire them to become successful later in life.
The School Manager appreciated Bishop Ezeokfaor for the visit and for administering the Sacrament of Confirmation on the College’s students and believed that the grace of the sacrament which the students had received by the laying of hands would mark them out from other students in the community.
Speaking to Fides, the School Manager, Rev. Fr. Izuakor, explained that Catholic Education was key for both effective academic training and moral formation of people in a particular area, saying that Catholic Education encompassed the formation of body, mind and soul.
Earlier, during his address of welcome, Fr Izuakor described the feast as an annual event set aside to acknowledge God’s abiding love, blessings and faithfulness.
The principal explained that the feast was to celebrate the memory of their patron saint, Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi. He noted that Iwene Tansi was born in Aguleri in 1903 and disclosed that at age 9, the young Iwene Tansi was baptized, became an altar boy; then a catechist, and was later ordained a Catholic priest in 1937.
He further said the College was committed to actualizing the goal of Catholic Education which was the formation of a whole child – body, mind and spirit, so as to enable the child to be properly formed in content and in character, and be an asset to himself, the Church and society.
He called on parents and friends of the College to donate towards the completion of the 1,500 sitting capacity church building, otherwise known as Chapel for TICA. According to him, the chapel was a pressing need that would also enable the College to actualize its vision of integral formation and education of the human person.
Presentation of various awards to the students and the best teacher of the year (Mr Peter Nwokolo); presentation of gifts to the bishop by the school; donations in support of the school project, as well as various entertainment displays by the students, were highlights of the celebration.
The event which was chaired by Chief Barr F.A. Obi-Okafor (Onowu Onozulu-Eze Okpuno), had the Diocesan Education Secretary, Rev. Fr. Maximus Okonkwo; the Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Anthony Nwafor; the P.T.A. Chairman, Comrade Ikemefuna Nwankwo, represented by his Vice, Prof. Mary Jude Chiamaka Igbodika; Lady of the day, His Worship T.J. Igbonacho-Akonye; Hon. Ferdinard Dozie Nwankwo (Onyendozi); Mr Peter Obi, represented by Mr Valentine Obieyem; some priests of Awka Diocese; teachers of TICA; and some parents, Old Boys Association of TICA, among other dignitaries who graced the occasion.
