“Our Culture is Our Treasure”

The lion or lioness is the school’s mascot, and pride (a group of lions/lionesses) refers to the students of Loyola Jesuit College.
Vol. 12 Number 15
A Newsletter for Parents
28 June 2015
“Our Culture is Our Treasure”
The cultural day is one of those events that we just cross off our calendars: sighing in relief that the end of
term is coming closer. This year was memorable for everyone: the staff, the students, the Afri Theatre Group, and
even our special guest — Onyeka Onwenu.
There were a few highlights and I think most of the Pride would agree. On the way to breakfast, we
noticed a lot of heads turning and whispering. A number of SS3 boys took traditional wear to a whole different level:
with wrappers around their waists and bodies painted white, they prowled to breakfast, slowly, purposefully,
giving everybody an opportunity to take a sneak peek. They truly looked like the full fledged lions that they are. We
all saw them chasing people around on the way to the chapel and at the entrance holding out their hands for a firm
handshake. It was quite funny really watching the jujus receive communion or blessing during Mass.
When we got to the Memorial Hall, Fr. Emmanuel kicked off the event with a wonderful prayer. He
introduced the special guest and, if you asked me, he looked star struck. He made me smile seeing our president in
his traditional attire lightening up like a Christmas tree because of an idol from the good old days.
Chief Onyeka Onwenu talked to us like we are all old friends and I loved the fact that she was able to connect
with the Pride regarding the latest trends, instead of giving a long dreary talk that instantly would have been deemed
boring. Then she began to sing!
The next item on the programme was the Regis and Xavier presentation. Regis house was on fire with the
Kenyan dance. It was a great start as the Xavier House dancers came up next with a Zulu war dance. Ayo Okunowo
looked cute when she came on stage. Xavier House was given a run for their money. Loyola House, “the Power
House”, showed up some serious ‘girl power’ with an all female crew. The Connelite (Connelly House) stood out for
one thing ...the energy!
(Continued on page 2)
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“Our Culture is Our Treasure”(Continued from page 1)
Ladun Orole and Amarachi Ahuokpeme had bountiful reserve of energy. They were dancing and smiling
and having fun. It was a competition; but, they were doing what they love, forgetting about the tension. I clapped
until my hands stung.
At the end of the event in the Memorial Hall, our capable dance instructors of the Afri Group gave us a
treat of their own with a performance. The drumming was lovely—the kind you feel in your chest. It started out
with a few stunts that were rewarded with a few ‘ooh’s and ‘aah’s.
The real cheering began when they performed daring stunts that reminded me of
atilogwu . I was so scared and excited that I wanted to close my eyes and have them
wide open at the same time. I think I died twice and came back when the Vice Principal
Student Life, Sr. Tina Chikezie SHCJ, accepted the invitation to dance and got on stage
with a horse tail leading the troupe. Fr. Emmanuel Ugwejeh SJ could not help himself
and broke out in a few moves. It was a good ending to that part of the day.
Lest I forget …
The food! Lunch was heaven. I live in Lagos, and even though I am Igbo,
I enjoy a good meal of amala and ewedu. The stew was out of this world. The amala
and ewedu seemed to make my taste but so do the etigi coupled with shoki dance
moves. The kitchen manager and her crew deserve a hug. Cultural day was great: the
people, the cloth, the food, and all the puzzle pieces came together and the over all
picture was beautiful.
Pearl Opara
JS2
A Day for Appreciating Our Cultural Heritage
On June 12
th
, Loyola Jesuit College celebrated its annual Cultural Day, a day for appreciation of
our cultural heritage. The theme of the day was “Our Culture is Our Treasure”.
The guest of honour was the legendary singer/actress/women’s rights activist, Onyeka Onwenu. Students
listened with rapt attention as she addressed them on culture, and the need to appreciate it. She ended her speech
with a beautiful rendition of “You and I”, one of her classic songs.
After Onyeka Onwenu’s speech, the four houses presented their various cultural dances. Regis
House presented a Kenyan dance, and Xavier House did a wonderfully choreographed dance from South Africa.
Connelly did a Ghanaian dance, and Loyola House presented a dance from Benin Republic. All the dances were
choreographed by dancers from the Afri Theatre Group, who also performed “Atilogwu”, an acrobatic Igbo dance,
that day. The dancers involved the audience by inviting the “Big Three” (Fr. Emmanuel Ugwejeh, Fr. Joe Stanis,
and Sr. Tina Chikezie) to the stage. Soon, a quarter of the students were on stage, dancing to the beautiful African
beats.
Another memorable event was the cooking competition among the houses. The
four houses were to prepare a two course traditional meal-the first course being pepper
soup with plantain/yam slices, the main meal a semovita and banga soup dish, and finally
zobo. Loyola House emerged victorious in the cooking competition.
Nkem Okeke
SS2
The next activity was the Cultural King/Queen selection. Each house presented a
male and a female candidate, who introduced themselves in their native languages,
danced, and translated English phrases to their native languages. The question of the day
was, “On my way to school, I saw 27 birds dancing shoki, translate.” Taofeeqat Dawodu
of Regis House answered the question with ease. She was eventually crowned Cultural
Queen, and Chidera Nwali of Xavier House, the Cultural King.
The day ended with more music and dancing, courtesy of the Afri Theatre Group.
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ACADEMIC CALENDAR 2014–2015
Please verify with the subsequent editions of the Newsletter,
as some dates will change.
THIRD TERM: April 7 – JULY 25, 2015
A & C Classes Visiting Day
June 14
Club Exhibition
June 14 & 21
B & D Classes Visiting Day
June 21
SS-3 Graduation Retreat
July 3-5
End of SS-3 NECO Examination
July 9
SS-3 Prom
July 10
Graduation
July 12
End of Term Examinations
July 13-18
End of Term Activities
July 18-24
Career and University Presentations (III)
July 22
Third Term Ends: Students leave
July 25
SS-1 Leadership Program
July 25-August 8
Service Project for SS-2 Students
July 28-August 18
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From the OFFICE OF THE VICE PRINCIPAL ACADEMICS
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD:
The Recipients of the Academic Excellence
Awards on graduation day will be determined
by weighing the averages of grades scored in
the senior secondary years. The policy of the
college is that SS-1 should account for 10%;
SS-2 20%; SS-3 First Term 20% and Mock
SSCE 50%. The grades obtained in each term
of each year will be weighed equally before
they are scaled down to the weighed average
given. Hence the recipients of the All-Round
Academic Excellence Award is the student
with the highest average as determined by the
final averages.
December 2014 SAT-1 Result: Each of the
four students who sat for the test had a total
score of 1800 (75%) and above; Obinna
Umeh who had the highest total score of 2320
(96.7%) out of 2400 also recorded a perfect
score of 800 (100%) in Math.
December 2014 SAT-2 Result: Forty two
students sat for the test; sixteen had a total
score of 2000 (83.3%) and above. Frederick
Erebor had the highest total score of 2340
(97.5%) out of 2400, and together with
Enioluwa Segun, he recorded a perfect score
(800) in Math-2.
January 2015 SAT-2 Result: Eight students
sat for the test; Obinna Umeh recorded the
highest total score of 2390 (99.6%) in this test
with perfect scores (800) in Physics and Math-2.
GRATITUDE TO OUR GENEROUS PARENT: The
college is grateful to our parent who donated
ten (10) copies of the book, Thinking Big by
Ben Carson. May God bless you abundantly!
NAFDAC CONSUMER SAFETY CLUB
(NCSC) 2013 COMPETITION: William
Aniagoh of the SS1 Class and Loyolan
Victoria Okeke of the Class of 2014 were on
28 May, 2015, honoured at the State Award
ceremony of the NCSC which was held at the
Nigerian Turkish International School Hall,
Abuja. Both had emerged first at the NCSC’s
2013 competition. Victoria was around to
collect her prize at the ceremony while
William attended the function with the Head
of the Department of Home Economics, Mrs.
Nkechi Ugwaka, who also received a gift
prize.
2015 NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY
CELEBRATION ART EXHIBITION: On
Children’s Day, 27th May, 2015, some of our
students participated in an exhibition organized
by the National Gallery of Art. At the exhibition,
titled “Let’s Fight Terrorism, It Destroys our
Nation”, some of our students’ art works were
displayed and ranked; our students emerged
winners in the various categories as listed below:
JSS - Drawing: Anastasia Akpan of JS1A
(1st) and David Adah-Ogoh of JS3A (2nd).
SSS - Painting: Tireniolu Onabajo of SS3B
(1st) and Otito Onwuzurike of SS3C (3rd).
SSS - Drawing: Ann Undieh of SS1A (1st)
and Emmanuel Ehikioya of SS2A (2nd).
SSS - Graphics: Aaliyah Nimyel of SS1D
(1st) and Emmanuella Ben-Eboh of SS3C
(3rd).
SSS - Textile: Adanma Nwachukwu of SS3D
(2nd).
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On Thursday, 7th May 2015, two of our counselors, Mrs. Fatima Osuji and Mrs. Priscilla
Nkwocha, attended the Counselors’ Seminar at the Kaplan International College, Victoria Island,
Lagos. The one day seminar was aimed at helping counselors understand the different career paths
more clearly and to develop their own thinking and outlook towards a course choice. Also,
introducing counselors to services offered by Kaplan International Colleges.
The Counselor’s duty to assist students
in their search for particular schools
that are good in particular courses was
emphasized. To achieve this, the
simple guideline was considered:

Indentify the course of study

Search for schools online in the UK,
US, et cetera that are good for the
particular course.

Identify the University that suits
you.

A cross section of the participants at the Kaplan Counselors’ Seminar
Get information about the school,
course contents and so on from the
school’s website.
A number of courses were displayed from different fields. Our task as counselors is to start
familiarizing our students to the courses which are not common; yet, very lucrative.
It was noted that Kaplan College has her head office at Bournemouth, UK. However students
who want to offer Foundation courses at Kaplan College have the opportunity to study at their
College in Lagos, Victoria Island. Such students will be given the same opportunity as other students
in any of the Kaplan Colleges in the world and will get to apply to any of their partner Universities
into the second year.
The following were noted as Kaplan Partner Universities in the United Kingdom and the
United States of America:
UK: Nottingham Trent University, University of Liverpool, University of the
West of England, University of Brighton, University of York, and University
of Glasgow.
US: Baylor University (Waco, Texas), Depaul University (Chicago, Illinois),
Northeastern University (Boston, Massachusetts), Stevens Institute of
Technology (Hoboken, New Jersey), Marist College (Poughkeepsie, New
York), and University of Vermont (Burlington, Vermont).
Mrs. Fatima Osuji
Counselling Department
Partial scholarships are available at some of the colleges.
5
REPORT ON THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION PRESENTATION
Mr. Brian Shanley from the International Department of The Institute of Education Ireland gave
a presentation to the SS2/SS3 students who intend studying Law or Medicine in universities abroad.
The Institution offers international students the Irish Leaving Certificate (ILC), which is well
recognized and equivalent to British A-Levels.
He further informed the students that the institution has been in existence for over 30 years and
one of their greatest assets are their teachers who are not only highly qualified but have written several
books most of which are used by the institution.
Furthermore, he added that emphasis on Law and Medicine is because of
the similarity in the Medical and Legal systems in Nigeria and Ireland. Thus,
students studying Law and Medicine in Ireland will find it easy to practice
when they return home to Nigeria. LJC’S alumnus, Lanre Balogun (class of
2013), passed through the Institution and is moving on to study Medicine in
one of the prestigious Medical universities in Ireland.
Mr. Brian Stanley informed the students on the application procedures
into The Institution and further stated that the students could get as much
information as required from their Guidance Counselor.
The Presentation ended with a question and answers session which
finally ended by 1.30pm.
Mrs. Fatima Osuji
Counseling Department
*******************************************************************************************
On the 30th of May 2015, Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja received a representative from the Institute of
Education based in Ireland in the person of Mr. Brian Shanley. He was invited by the school to speak to the
students in the Senior Secondary classes about studying in the United Kingdom and Ireland. His focus was on
Medicine and Law as possible courses for our students in universities abroad.
The Institute of Education is an educational establishment which prepares high school leavers for the
Irish Leaving Certificate (ILC), a recognized certificate around the world and comparable to the British
A-Levels. The Institute of Education has a specific curriculum and well-trained teachers who work hard to
ensure that students get good grades at the end of the academic year. The Institute of Education also provides
extra classes for students in other schools in Ireland during the holiday periods. Students who graduate from
the Institution often gain admission into prestigious Universities in Ireland and around the world. LJC’s own
Lanre Balogun of the class of 2013 is but one of the many successes of the Institute. Lanre, after his graduation
from the Institute is now moving on to a prestigious medical school in Ireland.
Mr. Brian Shanley informed us on the application and admission processes into the
Institute of Education and universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Our
students were told that the medical and legal systems of Nigeria and Ireland are
quite similar. As such, students studying Medicine and Law could go to Ireland for
their tertiary education and still have the opportunity to work in Nigeria after
graduation.
Veronica Bamisaye
SS3
Our students were greatly enriched by the talk and the jovial and charismatic
personality of Mr. Brian Shanley who made the session interactive and interesting.
Who knows, soon our students may start flocking to Ireland for their tertiary
education. We are very grateful to Mr. Brian Shanley and the Institute of Education
for their time and effort spent on us. We look forward to receiving them again.
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TRIBUTES TO ALEX UKWU, LJC Class of 2012
WHAT I REMEMBER
I came to a community
With love and unity.
One with one of the tightest
ties and strongest bonds.
A year passed,
Many people met,
Moments spent
And glances made.
You were close by
I never spoke a word
As the time went by.
Someone so far
But, yet so close
with tables close by
the image I have will never leave
because this is what I remember.
Remembering Alex
Alex was always very neat and well kept.
He was a truly rare combination of maturity,
compassion and a true bundle of energy.
Alex was always a positive influence to those around
and his peaceful and calming nature will be exceedingly
missed.
Anwuli Ntima
LJC Class of 2011
Your departure was too soon
but we know you have
finally joined our own angels.
Now we are happy because
you watch over us now.
Claire Onjewu
SS2
A MENTOR, A FRIEND, A BROTHER
A wise man once said,” If thou hast no knowledge, what hast thou
acquired; but if thou hast gained knowledge, what else dost thou want”. The
biggest insult I can ever give to Alex is to say I never learnt anything from him.
The reason I am aggrieved by his death isn’t just because I have lost a mentor;
it is because I have lost a brother. Alex taught me how to play tennis, how to
be clean and most importantly, to never back out. Thank you Alex for
everything you‘ve done for me. I’m eternally grateful to you and to your Olisenachi D. Elumelu
parents that raised you to become who you were. You were a button in my
SS1
life. You held it together. R.I.P Alexander.
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BEFORE WE KNEW IT
Now, with teary eyes, we write our tributes. Something
none of us would have thought of and what we did not
expect.
Who would have thought that only three years after the
joys of moving out of the “Den” you‘d pass on into your
death? Who would have thought that you would die from
something as far- fetched as a helium leak?
Your death though too soon, reminds us that we are all
mortals to be bent to the shape of God’s plans. It reminds
us to do the best we can while the moment is here.
Your charming smile was one which melted hearts from
afar. It made people stop to think “who is that charmer in
Regis house?” It was very easy to get you mixed up with
Kene Nwosu, it was always, either Kene or Alex – the two
boys with cool personalities and lovely smiles.
You were quiet; but it was not hard to see the beautiful
character underneath. You radiated happiness in your
quiet but jolly self. We still remember you in your games
wear filled with energy and ready to play tennis which
was one of your favorite activities. These memories are all
we have to hold on to.
Now that you are gone and with God, you are dearly
missed. The Loyola Community misses you. You are
forever in our hearts and minds.
Farewell Alex!
Alex stepping out in style on the day of Prom
Nwachukwu, Adanma
SS3
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THE 2015 COWBELL MATHEMATICS COMPETITION
Grace and Preparation
The Cowbell Mathematics Competition took place on the 14th of March, 2015
at the Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada. It was very tedious
preparing for the test but in the end, by God’s grace, my efforts paid off.
Omon Iyoha
SS2
There was a lot of tension during the test and I put all my efforts in
being both speedy and fastidious. I am very grateful to all the people who
encouraged and assisted me through the preparation and writing of the
exam especially God, my parents, my teachers and my friends. I hope to
excel in the second stage of the competition. By God’s grace I will.
Gratitude for the Opportunity to Participate
The preparation for the Annual National Cowbell Competition
began with two preparatory tests within the school. The exam was
challenging and left me with a very useful experience. It was the first
competition at the senior secondary school level that I had participated in.
I am thankful for the opportunity and experience of participating in the
Cowbell Mathematics Competition.
Awele Bill Uwagwu
SS2
*******************************************************************************************
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART ANNUAL CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATION
The theme for the National Gallery of Art Annual Children’s Day was well chosen to
highlight the current state of Nigeria. Held on 27 May, the prize giving ceremony for the
competition was interesting, and brilliantly animated .
As soon as we entered the place, we were acknowledged. The actual presentation of the
awards was preceded by various speeches and word of advice from respected persons and
brilliant performances from various schools.
We were each given booklets containing information about the event
and the winners of various positions. We were all excited by the fact that
Loyola Jesuit College had bagged most of the prizes.
One of the things I found very invigorating was the guided tour of a
section of the gallery where the award winning artworks were displayed.
Seeing the art works of our very own LJC students brought smiles to our
faces.
Ann Undieh
SS1
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MAY 27
“… the courage of having done the thing before.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Experience they say is the best teacher. May 27 was a day for gaining experience. For the past five
years, we the members of the class of 2016 have observed our teachers and other members of the Loyola
Jesuit College staff go about performing their duties. In our ignorance, we assured that it was a life of ease
and luxury. That, however, is not the case as we were opportune to discover on Children’s Day.
We all anticipated the excitement of the 27th and the day lived up to expectations. In the morning, we,
the students, donned our freshly pressed trousers and blazers and stepped into the roles of the people who
have led and guided us for five years. As the Head boy, I was lucky to intern as the Principal of the college. I
discovered that his job did not merely involve writing out expulsion letters and taking long walks.
It’s actually of a more complex and delicate nature. It requires him to show
attention of equal level to everyone on the compound: the students and the staff. It was
then I sympathized with W.C. Fields, “I bear no prejudice. I hate everyone equally (not
really).” I also learnt that in such a position of power, one must learn cooperation both
with his superiors and with those working under him. Above all things, humility is the
key for anyone who intends to succeed as a leader.
The most important gift that we received on the 27th was the courage gained
from experience. When we find ourselves in these positions in the, not too distant,
Kumbaya Okorie
Head Boy, SS2 future, we would consider ourselves ready and we would step into action with
boldness because half the courage, is the courage of having done the thing before.
Ralph would agree with that assessment.
BEYOND MY IMAGINATION
As part of our many customs here at Loyola Jesuit College, the students are privileged to take the
spots of the very teacher they so desire. This is an annual gift to us on the 27th of May (Children’s day).
With great enthusiasm, I decided to take the part of Bro. Ignatius of the Society of Jesus - a Social
Studies teacher in the junior class. This choice was honestly just for its pecks. Who wouldn’t want a day’s
ownership of a laptop or to walk about the campus taking outstanding pictures. With these benefits on mind,
I embraced the break of the day with fiery optimism.
However, I was faced with something totally unexpected. Contrary to my expectations of the
Internship day being “fun-filled”, it was a rather onerous experience. This day appropriately shed light on
the lives of the teaching staff of ‘the Den.’ As Bro. Ignatius’ intern, I cannot deny my much accrued
appreciation to him. The various challenges and tasks such as: marking books, attending class registration,
distributing scripts, preparing the P.S.E. programme, and scrutinizing reflections, editing articles and getting
students to write articles which he is renowned for, made me realize the amount of energy expelled on
a normal day as a teacher.
By the end of the day, I was filled with emotions antithetical to the very
optimism which began the celebration. However, these feelings were for a good
cause. Drowned in the fatigue of a teacher at the end of every day, I come to
terms with the hard work involved in impacting knowledge. I understand better
the perspective of a teacher. I have finally become mature enough to understand
and appreciate the efforts of our teachers. And I thank God everyday for their
very existence and for the privilege to gain from them.
Chibuzo Akpe
SS2
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ON THE VISIT OF SERVICE PROGRAMME MEMBERS TO THE IDPs:
A PERSONAL REFLECTION
The Head Girl, Chidinma Kimberly Chioke (SS2), was the VP Academics on Children’s Day
As a child fortunate and blessed enough to be born with a silver spoon, I’ve been so ignorant of
the suffering around me. Being “protected” by my parents from the world outside of mine, I had not
really seen things. That’s why when we, the members of the service programme, visited the camps
for Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in the outskirts of Abuja, I was horrified. I came face-to-face with
unprecedented, vicious and raw poverty. How did we have so much in Nigeria yet others have close to
nothing? I was left remarkably speechless.
It was a “camp”, yes, but nothing like I’d ever seen or imagined. They lived in cardboard houses.
They wore enough just to cover their embarrassment, at least some. But others wore just shirts, boys and
girls alike. They looked so underfed and malnourished. I couldn’t stop the water from my eyes.
The motto of my school is “Service of God and Others”. In serving others, we serve God which
according to the little red book is one of the reasons for our existence. God says to us, “whatever you do
to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me”. Now I understand what that means vividly.
Sunday, 31st May, 2015 was the day members of the Service Programme visited the IDPs as
part of our way of giving back to our society. About thirty of us left the school for this journey. We took
along so many items we thought would be useful for them. We also bought stationeries and some food
items so that we could make them smile and be happy no matter how temporary it’d be. We also put together
a little performance for them. It’s an experience that no matter how hard I tried, I could never forget.
I must say that this experience was a huge eye-opener for me. It’s changed me. It has made me
realise that I must be grateful to God. It has made me to see that there are people in worse conditions
than I could have ever imagined, yet they smile everyday as though nothing is wrong. However, we
need to heal the world and make it a better place for us all. We need to help and love one another no
matter the class. For LOVE is the greatest gift of God to us.
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNIUON AND CONFIRMATION REFLECTIONS
Nothing Short of Refreshing!
The First Holy Communion Mass was nothing short of refreshing.
The communicants were dressed in immaculate white showing their
purity. The lectors were intriguing as they recited the readings, reminding
us of the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Abuchi Muoneme, S.J. put
us in active mood, engaging us in singing and dancing to songs of praise.
He also made us reflect on the birth of the church: Pentecost. It seemed like
the Holy Spirit was descending on us once more as the choir, dressed in
their black robes, sang the Hymns of the Pentecost. The mass was animated
by the thanksgiving with the communicants and well wishers dancing
down the aisle happily. It ended on a celebratory note with everyone
dancing to the recessional hymn. It was indeed a memorable experience.
Miriam Dogo
SS1
My Communion Experience
At the start of Mass, I was excited but scared at the same time. I
was scared because I thought I would a mistake when taking my
communion. But, then I prayed to God for a good communion and
guess what happened, it went great and all the dresses were nice and the
chapel was decorated well.
Itohan Ojeikere
JS1
Eziamaka sang very well and Mass was excellent, and let me not
forget ...my parents came!
The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
It is not every day we celebrate the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We may already know the
story of the Pentecost, but the unending question is : “How do we use our gifts?”
Father Abuchi Moneme, SJ, who animated the Mass, woke us up (quite literally) to some
important life questions and at the same time gave the whole congregation something to laugh
and smile about.
The recently certified communicants also had something to smile
and think about. The beginning of a new fellowship with the Body and
Blood is definitely something worth celebrating.
And let’s not forget the angelic voices of our choir, who made a
beautiful, melodic addition to the sacred celebration.
At the end of the day, we still have to ponder, all the gifts we are
given, have we used them well?
Abasiakan Udobong
SS1
12
CONFIRMATION MASS
On the 23
rd
of May 2015, something radical occurred in Loyola Jesuit College. Forty-nine
members of the Pride were confirmed. During the trial leading up to this moment, we could all sense the
anxiety of the confirmation candidates. Nevertheless, on that day, it was all smiles.
Lucky for us, the mass was celebrated by John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the metropolitan
archbishop of Abuja. The Chapel of the Good Samaritan was decorated to the hilt,
courtesy of the Decoration Committee. In fact, all members of the pride played their own
little parts to make sure it was a memorable day. Those to be confirmed came out in the
beautiful and stunning white garments to signify their purity. The mass was animated with all
forms of gusto.
After the mass, the newly confirmed and their close friends (as well some “famzers”) Oluwasegun Omole
engaged in devouring the food brought by their sponsors within thirty minutes. The bellies of
SS1
the members of the Pride were filled “most firmly”. Truly a day to remember!
COME DOWN HOLY SPIRIT
“Veni Sancte Spiritus!” The Holy Spirit was received by all those present during the Confirmation mass
on the 23rd of May.
After numerous tests and lessons, the 47 Loyola Jesuit College confirmation
candidates were ready to receive the Lord fully. The candidates dressed in white
garment, carried a purity likened to that of Jesus, with spotless heart, having confessed
the previous day. And the gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, piety, power, understanding,
counsel and the fear of God) were sealed into the heart of the candidates in the form of a Onosetade Ijewere
SS1
gentle tap on the cheek.
13
THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
The sacrament of confirmation for me simply describes the outpour of the Holy Spirit in us. It is the
sacrament we receive whereby we invite the Holy Spirit into our lives to make us strong Christians.
On the 23rd of May in the year 2015, I made a choice and many of you may think I made a decision which
would fade away. No, I made a choice and that choice was to accept fully, all the graces provided by the Counselor
and to manifest those graces in me for my benefit and for the benefit of mankind. I decided to get confirmed.
For this choice to be fulfilled, I had to go through catechism and this helped me learn more about the
sacrament, the Christian faith and other necessities. I had to sit for a complex test in order to prove that I
was worthy to receive the sacrament. And finally, on that day, I had lots of talks with Jesus and the Holy Spirit
during meditation in order to prepare and place myself in a state of grace for the sacrament. We then had confession
for the absolution of our sins so that we can stay clean for receiving the graces in us. After that came the dress
rehearsals to prepare us for the Holy Mass and the roles to play during the Holy Mass.
Standing on the corridor of the Jesuit Residence of Loyola Jesuit College,
dressed in white and having my confirmation name tagged on my dress, I meditated
saying, ‘Come O Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the
fire of your love. Send forth your spirit and they shall be created and they shall renew
the face of the earth’. After meditating those words, I felt like I was indeed worthy to
have the Holy Spirit in me. Then began our procession and the celebration (Holy Mass)
began.
Now when the time for the anointing with the oil of chrism came, his eminence
blessed me and I felt like I was filled with the twelve fruit and seven gifts of the Holy
Spirit.
The day was an exciting and graceful day for all candidates and we were all
happy to become soldiers of Christ and adults in the Church.
Jennifer Oziri
JS2
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It all turned out well!
It all started when I wrote my name for confirmation. I knew I was making a big decision because it meant I
would have to miss Saturday games; but, I knew it was worth it. Since that day, I kept on going for catechism classes
but sometimes I was not around like two or three times.
After first term, I was not really sure I was going to get confirmed; so, I kept going for classes consistently.
After second term, since there were some ups and downs, I told my mom about confirmation and she said: ‘do not
worry’. Then, she bought me my white cloth. It was when I saw the cloth that I started getting nervous. I began to
imagine so many things: what if I am not among the final set of people chosen to be confirmed?
In third term, we had a test on the second week and I got half of the total score. Fr.
Jide S.J., the chaplain, announced we had another test. I took it seriously and I literally
read my life out of it. At the end of the exam, when the result came out, a JS one student
told me that I passed; so, I did not believe him. Hence, I went to check the notice board
where the list of students who passed was placed. I came seventh overall and I was so
happy. I was so sure that I was getting confirmed.
After two weeks of rigorous training, it was the D-day, the confirmation day. We
had auditions to be lectors and again I eventually emerged as the one to read the first
reading during Mass. I decided to pick the name Anthony because of St. Anthony of
Padua, my patron saint. We had our confirmation Mass and it was successful at the end of
the day. Indeed, we all celebrated.
Chidubem Ezeana
JS2
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15
IF YOU’RE READING THIS IT’S TOO LATE
On the 28th of May 2015, the French Embassy came to Loyola Jesuit College.
Honestly, I was rather uninterested at first. I have been studying French for a while but I was
not planning to study in France neither was I interested in missing my siesta.
On the way to the chapel where the talk was to be given, then my friend Bolu and I
walked past a white Institut Francais car with a dark man sitting in front. She greeted him,
‘Good afternoon’ and he ignored her so I tried ‘Bonjour Monsieur’. It worked wonders
because all too soon we were having a conversation in French.
Chisom Aghaji
SS2
We eventually went for the talk. I was somewhat saddened by the lack of enthusiasm a
few students displayed but I was cheered up by the few dedicated students who showed a
passion for it.
There were three men there to talk to us that day, two of them are French. They told us of the advantages of
studying in France and quite a lot about France.
I was thrilled when the Head Girl called me to give the vote of thanks – in French. So when I’m asked how I
would feel about studying in France, Je reponds: “Ce n’est pas une mal idée’’. Did you want to hear the talk they
gave us? Well, if you’re reading this it’s too late.
THE BEAUTY OF FRENCH
At first thinking the programme was going to be a waste of time, it actually
taught me a lot about what I can be in the future. Why should I just have my hopes
high on one university when I could go to France for a cheaper fee receiving the
same quality of education.
Firstly, France is a beautiful place and has the highest number of tourists
around the world. They are up there in the world of science and technology.
I would like to become an engineer and so it will be a big success with a lot
Thwandall Philemon of profits. I could get a higher chance of scholarship education. As far as French
Class of 2019
education is concern, I have a seventy percent chance of succeeding in life.
GERMAN GIVES JOY
Learning a new language earns you a good number of things: it earns you
respect; it gives you an advantage over your peers, et cetera.
Recently, there was a German programme in LJC that was organised by the
German embassy. The fascinating thing about this programme for me is how learning
one language opens up so many opportunities. Again, learning a new language
such as German shows to me how interconnected languages are. In fact, learning a
Oluwasemilore Adeyinka new language like German gives room for the possibility of learning other languages.
JSS2
Of course, since language is embedded in culture, one cannot learn a new
language without learning the culture of that language. Hence, learning the German language entails
learning the German culture. It is interesting to know that Germany is referred to as the land of ideas.
Getting to see the documentary on Germany leaves me with no doubt that Germany is indeed a
land of ideas. It just invites you to the world of possibilities. Without mincing words, most of our parents
want us to be lawyers, doctors, engineers et cetera; but none of them has ever emphasized learning a new
language. No matter how demanding this may be, learning a new language gives you an edge and an
advantage over others. For this reason, one can still be an engineer, a doctor, lawyer, and so on with the
mastery of a new language. Indeed, learning a new language gives joy!
16
BEYOND COMPARE AND SIMPLY INCREDIBLE
“Bero, have you carved out the “Village square” letters for the hut?” “When are you coming to design the
hut?” “Make sure you come out by 7:ooam to cook, not at 7:30am.” “Bero, a lot of people have been looking for you.”
“You’ve not even submitted a painting entry for your house.” All these comments flooded my mind on Thursday as I
came out of the Memorial hall. For the love of God, how was I to attend to all these people? ( Am I meant to divided
myself into twice?)
Finally, the Cultural day we had all
been waiting for has come and gone. June 12,
2015 was an amazing day and completely over
the top. Thanks to the Decoration Committee,
our visitors were welcomed into our very own
shrine, “Village square,” located at the
roundabout. The SS3 boys were dressed as
fetish masquerades and made the shrine look
real.
I recall Ugo greeting everyone as he
said, “Sanu da zuwa.” Aondona stood so still,
he could pose as a statue. I lot of people took
pictures with him. There was even an African
depiction of the Last Supper beside the dining
hall. These centers became tourist attractions
in the college.
The main event started in the Memorial
hall. Immediately, I was done cooking I had to
run to hostel and change to my traditional
attire. Fortunately for me, I was early to
experience the various presentations from all
the houses. Not to sound prejudiced but Xavier
house’s dance presentation blew me away.
Ayomide Sanusi, Emmanuella Ben-Eboh, Tire Onabajo,
and Bro. Ignatius Idoko SJ, display some culture styles
I watched a remarkable war dance
from the Zulu clan. The boys jumps were swift
and accurate; and the dancers were dressed in
beautiful attires which were spotted with
cheetah prints. But even Xavier house could
not beat the Afri Theatre dancers, as hands
flew, legs dived and bodies somersaulted.
These dancers were applauded with a standing ovation for their daring stunts, Evel Knievel had
nothing on them. What made their performance incredible was the fact that they seemed to hypnotise the audience
and place them in never ending line with the music.
The LJC crowd was amazed as Sr. Tina burst exuberant moves on stage and
Fr. Emmanuel displayed his cultural robotic skills. I really cannot say who was better
because I was surprised they could even dance.
The Guest of Honor for this year’s Cultural day, the Nigerian icon, Mrs. Onyeka
Onwenu gave us a speech to ponder upon. She advised us to act like Nigerians and hold our
heads high wherever we go, even beyond the borders of Nigeria. She also advised us to have
fun and experiment on the various aspects of life like music and fashion, for she also did the
same in her youth; but everything should be done in moderation. She graced us with her
wonderful voice when she sang, “You and I” which was the first song to seamlessly
combine English and a local Nigerian Language. She was given a standing ovation as she got
off the stage. I was overwhelmed.
In all my six years, I have never seen a Cultural day celebration as incredible and
hectic as this year’s. There was so much energy and time put into it.
Emmanuella Ben-Eboh
SS3
17
The Roaring Achievers
We, the Roaring Achievers (members of the Junior Achievement Club), had been aware of the
annual Company of the Year Competition organized by Junior Achievement Nigeria since March. The
thought of the competition excited us all, so we began throwing our ideas together. ‘Why not make a
plane? Or even a car?’ joked some of us. Over subsequent meetings, more ideas rolled in – more feasible ones.
Upon receiving the official invitation to the competition (on 6th June, 2015), we were quick to
respond, and we did so positively. However, as we drew nearer the day of the competition (23 rd June,
2015), we had to question ourselves if really we were ready for it; besides, there were loads of assignments
and school work at hand. But that is where sacrifice came in – and this certainly was not in vain.
The Roaring Achievers pulled up at the venue of the competition feeling quite confident. We
had rehearsed our presentation to perfection and everything seemed to be in place for us. As the other
participating schools arrived, our confidence began to drop at the sight of burglar alarms and other sophisticated
products being displayed. Things were now much heated up and truly, the competition was on. Each
company (school) came forward and presented their product(s) and the judges assessed them accordingly.
It had been a long day at the competition, and everyone was eagerly thirsting to hear the
announcement of the results. We felt we had done well enough, and we were hopeful to walk away with
at least one of the awards. The first award (for Corporate Social Responsibility) was given, but no, not to
us. Then, the third and second positions were awarded, and we still had not been called forward. Now,
tension had built up in the room; we could not come back to school empty-handed. All hope seemed to be
lost, but we still had our fingers crossed.
‘And the winner of this year’s Junior Achievement Company of the Year Award is …’ the M.C. said
before giving a brief pause, ‘…the Roaring Achievers!’ That very moment, we all jumped out of our seats
with jubilation. We were all dumb-founded. I mean, we won! Getting on stage to accept the award, it was
all thanks to the club members (who worked together diligently towards our success), the club moderators
(who supported and guided us through it all), the school (for granting us the permission to represent
them), and most of all, God Almighty (for making all the activities of the day possible). So diligence,
determination, commitment and teamwork paid off in the end.
Somtochukwu Odita, SS2
Club President/CEO
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Junior Achievement Nigeria Competition
“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”
On June 23rd, 2015, nine members of the Junior Achievement Club and one club
coordinator set out to participate in the annual Junior Achievement Nigeria Competition
FCT. The Roaring Achievers (the company) were determined to come home victorious
and to make our school proud. There was about twenty-seven schools altogether,
eighteen of which were competing for a spot in the 2015 National JA Competition to be
held in FCT this year. Only the top three companies would continue to the next level.
We were also informed that the winners of the National Competition would be
travelling to Gabon to represent Nigeria in the Junior Achievement Africa Competition.
The judges stressed that this year they were focusing on the product. Four of the Roaring
Achievers gave a beautiful presentation on their products which were: Air Freshener, Tie
and Dye Shirts and Accessories. Although there were many products from other schools
such as Coconut Oil, Soap, Security Devices, Solar Powered Fish Dryers, Bags, e.t.c. the
Roaring Achievers stood out.
Before the MC announced the winners he quickly digressed to a quote from the
popular book and movie, Animal Farm:
“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”
The MC stated that if any animal were more equal than another, it had to be the Lion.
With that, he called on the Roaring Achievers to receive their first place award.
The Roaring Achievers set out that day on a mission to ensure the hard work of
their company all session did not go in vain. And surely they did not disappoint.
Udoka Ezekwe, SS1
Secretary of Junior Achievement
19
Our Sole Survivor Dedicates her Degree to the 60 Angels
Kechi Okwuchi, our sole survivor in the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash recently graduated from the University of St.
Thomas in Houston, USA. An economics major, Kechi was the student speaker at the 2015 Commencement
Ceremony, and she dedicated her degree to the LJC 60 Angels. Here is the inspiring speech she gave:
Fellow UST graduates of 2015, we have finally made it. This stadium where we sit, the moment that this
ceremony represents, we all walked different arduous paths to get here, but we have finally made it to
the beginning of the rest of our lives.
When we first started at the University of St Thomas, many of us had no idea what to expect from college
life or college studies. Many others, however, had a clear educational goal, a chosen career set in stone that they
wanted to carve a path towards. I would fall under the first category. Five years ago when I first arrived on the
UST campus as a freshman, I had no major, no definite career plan, and very high expectations. The only thing I
knew for certain was that I was ready to soak in as much knowledge as I possibly could for as long as I
was a student at this esteemed college. I changed my major twice, and I know I am not alone there.
(Continued on page 20)
20
(continued from page 20)
However, as I stand on this platform today, looking into the face of each
and every graduate sitting before me, I realize that it is no mistake that we are here
today. Being here means that we have struggled through numerous courses and
exams and dabbled in multiple areas of study, trying to find our niche. It means
that we spent our time at UST searching for our calling, for what felt right, for
what we truly enjoyed to learn, or at the very least, what we could tolerate. It
means that after years of engaging in this scholastic search, we eventually found
something that stuck, something that we felt would finally give an answer to that
nerve-wracking, burdensome question that every student has heard at least once:
‘Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?’
Now, I know that everyone here has their reasons for pursuing a higher education, and I want to tell you
mine. You see, to me, this degree is not just a degree. It is a gift to the 60 students that died in a plane crash I was
in 10 years ago. It represents the fulfillment of a promise I made, to those students and to their parents, that I
would reach this important milestone on behalf of those they lost.
As a plane crash survivor, I have been through many trials and have had to overcome numerous obstacles
in order to make it this far. I could not be here today without help from God and from those around me. I suffered
from third-degree burns over 65% of my body, so the healing process has understandably been a slow one, one
that continues even now. Because of my accident, I had been out of school for so long, from ages 16 to 20, that
by the time I was deemed ready to rejoin the student population, I was overeager and overzealous, despite the
fact I wasn’t sure at the time what I wanted to do with my second chance at life. But all that time away from
school had caused me to forget the struggles that came along with being a student: the rigors of pulling
all-nighters for exams and preparing for presentations, all while trying to be responsible in our personal lives and
disciplined in our preparation for the outside world.
Considering this, I had to reflect on the meaning of the term “survivor.” In my reflection I realized that
the struggles of a student are real, and to overcome them all in order to be here today… that word
“survivor” undoubtedly applies to us all. It was in this reflection, still, that I learned a very important lesson,
and that is the fact that one cannot judge the extent of another person’s struggle based on their own experience.
While I will not underestimate the difficulties I have faced in my journey toward full recovery, I will instead pray
that you all join me in surviving all future challenges with the help of God and those around us.
So, fellow “survivors,” where do we see ourselves 10 years from now? After all these years as college
undergraduates and graduates, many of us have finally found the perfect response to that question. “I will be a
neurosurgeon at a renowned medical facility.” “I will be a middle-school teacher with a family of my own.” “I
will be the CEO of my own business.” But for the rest of us who still get palpitations at the mere thought of
being asked this question, I want to tell you something exceedingly important: it is okay to still not know.
As I have already said, this is the beginning of the rest of our lives.
There is no doubt that today represents a significant landmark that we simply
cannot undervalue. However, it is also significant that we realize we are
not expected to have all the answers yet. What this great school has done for us
is to set us on a path of self-discovery with more knowledge and life experience
than when we first arrived at UST. Added to that, we are also taught to carry the
qualities of faith and character into whatever career path we choose to follow.
This is a core teaching which sets us apart as UST graduates, and no one out
there in this big, exciting world can take that away from us.
And so, my prayer for us all is that in response to that mind-boggling question, we can at least say this:
“Ten years from now I see myself happy in a field of my choosing that makes me feel like I matter, and where I
can make a difference as a leader of faith and character.”
Fellow UST graduates of 2015, I say to you, congratulations!
Thank you.
21
Parenting Corner
Are you one of the parents who do not want their children to touch a computer mouse let alone
have anything to do with or on the internet? Knowing how the internet works will boost your
confidence level and help you, as a parent, to provide support and supervision – and protection too –
to your children as they surf the internet. Here are links to some websites where you can learn more
about the dynamics of the internet in relation to some potential risks that children and young people in
general could face as they use this exciting tool, and how you can mitigate those risks:

http://www.learnnowbc.ca/lnbcresources/cybersafe/default.aspx

http://kidshealth.org/kid/watch/house/internet_safety.html

http://www.geeks.com/techtips/2006/techtips-27apr06.htm

http://www.cyberbee.com/safety_sites.html

http://life.familyeducation.com/safety/computers/48196.html

http://centerforparentingeducation.org/library-of-articles/kids-and-technology/keeping-kids-safe-in-cyberspace/
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Reminders
Requests for Embassy Appointment: Parents are encouraged to attend to all consular

appointments, including processing of visas and passport renewals, during the holidays. Students
will not be released for consular appointments when the college is in session. Please take note.
Flight Tickets: The college vacates in less than a month. Remember to send your ward’s flight

tickets promptly to travel@loyolajesuit.org
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Death of Two LJC Parents

Dr. Speaker Tsema Tite, the father of Miss. Onome Tite (SS3), died recently in Kaduna.
The funeral arrangements are as follows:
Requiem mass - 30 June 2015, St John's Catholic Church, Kaduna, 5. 30pm.
Burial Mass - 3rd July 2015, St Peter Catholic Church, Ekete, Delta State.
Interment follows immediately at Tite's compound, Okolor Waterside, Udu LGA, Delta State.

Dr. Amaechi Nwaiwu, SAN, the father of Master Kamsiyochukwu Nwaiwu (JS2), died in Owerri
recently. The funeral details are yet to be announced.
22
The Children’s Day National Gallery of Art Competition
Our star artist, Emmanuella Ben-Eboh (SS3), receives a prize for her outstanding entry at the National Gallery of Art Competition
Harvest of Prizes: Outstanding LJC student artists pose with their teachers, Ms. Chinonye Igbokwe and Mr. Femi Ogunseye
23
2015 Cultural Day in the Den
Liturgical dancers during Cultural Day Mass
Some handsome “spirits” also spiced up the day!
Onyeka Onwenu, our special guest, delivers her speech (tops) and smiles away as she enjoys the activities of the day
24
2015 Cultural Day in the Den
Acrobatic Atilogwu dancers in at their best, entertaining students, staff, and guests of the college on June 12, 2015
The VP Student Life, Sr. Tina Chikezie SHCJ (left), and the Principal, Fr. Joe-Stanis Okoye SJ (right), dancing on the stage
The president of LJC, Fr. Emmanuel Ugwejeh SJ doing a special dance on stage
25
2015 Cultural Day in the Den
On Cultural Day, St. Ignatius’ statue dressed up as a chief
The Cultural Day welcome centre: the Village Square
The Crowns of the Cultural Day Queen and King, and price items for other Cultural Day awards on display
26
2015 Club Exhibition
Some of the products displayed by different clubs during the 2015 LJC Club Exhibition
27
Strike a pose: Aren't they just lovely? Yes, our culture is precious and beautiful!
Some artworks displayed on Clubs Exhibition Day
Exhibition Day: Itohan Ojeikere (JS1), a special facial art.
28
The Roaring Achievers
Meet the winners of the 2015 Junior Achievement Company of the Year Competition, Northern Region—The Roaring Achievers!
Some officials of the Roaring Achievers show-off their award after they won the 2015 JA Company of the Year, Northern Region
29
From the Principal
Fr. Joe-Stanis Okoye, SJ.
Excellence by Another Name: the Magis
The theme of our 2015 Cultural Day was “Our Culture is Our Treasure!” On that day,
we celebrated our culture in various ways as Africans and as Nigerians; but we were also
celebrated as member of Loyola Jesuit College whose culture is the pursuit of excellence. The
dynamics of the culture of excellence aptly captured by Ron Berger, an American educationalist,
who said, “The key to excellence is this: It is born from a culture. When children enter a family
culture, a community culture, or a school culture that demands and supports excellence, they
work to fit into that culture. It doesn’t matter what their background is. Once those children
enter a culture with a powerful ethic –an ethic of excellence –that ethic becomes their norm. It’s
what they know.”* This cannot be said better as it portrays exactly the life at Loyola Jesuit College.
Excellence is everything in Loyola Jesuit College. We sing it in our school song. Our
teachers challenge and invite students to imbibe it; our students always aspire towards it. We
all endeavour to model it for one another: we live in it and we live for it. We call it by another
name, the magis. We always go for the magis!
As we celebrated our way of life on Cultural Day with songs, dance, food, worship, and
through other tangible expressions, we were deeply aware that our culture was not limited to
those expressions. We know that our culture is who we are, what we do, and how we do things.
As members of Loyola Jesuit College, we are conscious of the foundation on and from which
we live and do everything that we do –our fundamental attitude to life, the pursuit of excellence.
By excellence, we do not just mean “having done well,” as the term is popularly
understood, and we do not mean the feeling or assurance of the Nigerian expression, “I pass
my neighbor”. Rather, when we pursue excellence, we seek to go not only beyond mediocrity
and superficiality, but also beyond any limits of goodness or greatness that may have been
previously achieved by us or by others. When we pursue excellence, we seek to attain greater
“depth”: to extend our competence in every important dimension of our life, to attain greater
harmony and accord with what is good and right, to deepen our love for others and our union
with God. Hence, excellence is something that we do not ever regard as an achievement;
rather it is a going concern—our way of being in the world, our way of life.
In this edition of the The Pride of Loyola newsletter, I hope that you will perceive the magis in the
stories and works of our students that we share with you. I hope that you too will cherish the magis,
which is our culture and our treasure.
Thank you!
* Berger, R. (2006). Fostering an ethic of excellence. The Fourth & Fifth Rs (winter).
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