Archbishop in Nigeria Lauds Catholic University for Honoring Country’s Murdered Twins
The Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja in Nigeria has lauded Godfrey Okoye University, an institution of the Diocese of Enugu, for honoring the memories of twins who are murdered in the West African countries in ritualistic practices.
In his speech at the 10th Convocation Ceremony of the Catholic institution, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama said that the “Chapel of Forgotten Twins” at the institution is a constant reminder for the people of God in the country to always pray for infants who are murdered for simply “entering this world as twins.”
“We are grateful to God for the building of the Chapel of Forgotten Twins, which the Vice Chancellor announced during the last convocation. This chapel is dedicated to the memory of all twins killed for no other reason than just for entering this world as twins,” Archbishop Kaigama said during the November 19 event.
The Nigerian Archbishop who serves as the Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University added, “This chapel will remind us to pray for all children who have been abused, abandoned and killed in Nigeria and in the world.”
Infanticide was once common in parts of Nigeria, but ministry of missionaries in the late 19th century reportedly meant it became less “although it continues, done in secret in a list of communities.”
Archbishop Kaigama went on to laud Godfrey Okoye University for a leadership role in creating awareness on infanticide, saying, “It is very good that our university has not forgotten those who were not allowed to have even a name in the world.”
The Catholic Archbishop expressed gratitude to God for the university’s tremendous success in a short time of existence.
“From a humble beginning with two faculties, the university today has six faculties with a School of Postgraduate Studies, offering courses in accredited post graduate diploma, master’s and PhD programmes,” Archbishop Kaigama said.
He added, “The latest addition to our success narrative is our College of Medicine. We cannot thank God enough for his benevolence.”
“We are also grateful to God for the many European investors who have come to our main campus because of our GO Uni-European Business Park. The business park, which will be opened on 25 November 2022 in the presence of over 100 dignitaries from Europe, is one of the biggest blessings of God to our university,” the Nigerian Archbishop said, adding that the business park was poised to make the university the hub of European investment in Nigeria and a center of excellence among Nigerian universities.
The University, he further said during the November 19 Convocation, had been included in the list of the universities in Nigeria that are affiliated with the prestigious Fulbright sponsorship.
The Fulbright sponsorship, Archbishop Kiagama said, was good news to the Catholic University. He said, “You can see how much God is doing in our university. This good news is coming in the context of this 10th convocation. We are profoundly grateful to God for all he is doing for us.”
According to the 64-year-old Nigerian Archbishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1995 as Bishop of Nigeria’s Jalingo Diocese, prayers are the key element of Godfrey Okoye University.
“Our university has always recognised God as the source of its blessings. This is why the university takes prayers seriously. Godfrey Okoye University is a praying university. We pray that this spirit of prayer and openness to God will be sustained in the university,” he said.
