By Njide Ezeonyejiaku
In the spirit of Christmas, the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Awka has organised the Festival of Carols and Nine Lessons.
The event, held at the Utility Hall of ASUBEB headquarters, Awka was graced by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Ifeoma Agbaizu, the entire ASUBEB family including Board Members, Directors, Heads of Units, Education Secretaries, Officers-in-Charge, teachers and Staff of the Board; the NUT Chairman, Comrade Chika Chukwudozie, with two invited Choirs who thrilled the audience with melodious Christmas carols.
The nine lessons read by different personalities from the first to the ninth traced the historic account of the coming of Christ from the prophecies to the conception and his birth as recorded in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
In her Christmas message to the ASUBEB family, the Executive Chairman, ASUBEB, Dr. Vera Nkiru Nwadinobi stated that the gathering captured the very essence of love, service, reflection and thanksgiving.
Dr. Nwadinobi described Christmas as a season that reminds Christians of hope reborn, love shared, peace restored, and light shining in the midst of darkness.
“Christmas is a time that calls us to pause, reflect on our journeys, and to appreciate the grace that has brought us thus far as an education family”, Dr Nwadinobi opined.
She further noted that the festival of Carols and Nine Lessons is special because, beyond celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ through songs, the Board is also honouring its retirees who have given the best years of their lives to the service of education and the shaping of young minds across the State.
While appreciating the State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR for his visionary leadership and transformative agenda in the basic education sector which has entrenched a strong, functional, and future-ready education system.
Dr. Nwadinobi commended the entire staff of ASUBEB for contributing in delivering the shared vision of quality basic education to learners in Anambra State, urging them to allow the spirit of Christmas guide their actions beyond the season.
Earlier, in his words of exhortation, the Education Secretary, Anglican Diocese of Awka, Rev. Canon Jonathan Ikpeoyi commended the ASUBEB family for acknowledging God by celebrating Christ in the Nine Lessons and Carols.
Rev. Canon Ikpeoyi whose message centred on the theme: “Jesus Christ: The Centre of Existence” explained that God was in the beginning of creation with Jesus Christ His begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Advocate.
He traced the sequence of the lessons from the manifestation of the Trinity; the coming of Christ through the Virgin birth; the visit of the wise men with three gifts in fulfilment of the prophesies; and the mission of Christ to save mankind.
In their respective remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Ifeoma Agbaizu, an ASUBEB Board Member, Hon. Ify Obi urged the participants to receive the message of Christmas as a reminder that Jesus came to make us sons of God, and receive the salvation of Christ.
In a vote of thanks, Board Secretary, ASUBEB, Lady Loveline Mgbemena who was also the chairperson, planning committee, appreciated the ASUBEB Chairman, Dr. Nwadinobi for deeming it fit to celebrate Christ in ASUBEB and thanked the guest choirs, including the Glorious chambers Choral group, Onitsha, and the Church of Pentecost Choir, Onitsha for their superlative performance.
Highlights include presentation of gifts to the retirees, and appreciation for the staff who worked tirelessly during the 2022, 2023, and 2024 UBEC-SUBEB Intervention Projects documentations.
