by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The University of Jos (UNIJOS) has organised a Festival of Nine Lessons Christmas Carols and Tree Lighting ceremony, to start demonstrating that, “we have something in common – something that we should actually celebrate.”
Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, disclosed this during the Christmas Carols at Aliyu Akwo Doma Hall of the University in Jos recently.
During the event, he observed thus: “There are quite a number of our brothers and sisters, who unfortunately have not made it to this day. It is not by their doing and, again, it is not by our doing or knowledge that we have found ourselves here today.”
He stressed that, “They are also counting down, praying to God that we will also see the 25th day of December, 2023, to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
“This is the reason why we are here to commence the celebration of Christmas Carols and also, as you can see that, after the Christmas Carols, we have introduced something that we call the Tree Lighting ceremony,” he stated.
“Subsequently, my experience is that the second item we are going to do will probably be doing it on the first of December or first week of December, so that we begin the countdown of Christmas that is about all over the world.”
The Vice Chancellor further explained that, “Our Lord Jesus Christ has made the moment before us, which will make all of us remember those events and also look forward to it in particularly Christmas Day.
“We want to remember the goodness of our Lord in each and everyone’s life as far as the University of Jos is concerned. We know that the year 2023 has not been an easy one with academic and with management of the University, but we thank God Almighty that we are here as He continues to encourage us with his grace and mercies.
Prof. Ishaya noted that, “In all the activities we have undertaken throughout the year, that is why the management of the University decided that it is important that we organized – and begin to organize – the Christmas Carols in the University of Jos.
“For the very first time, in fact alone, when we came aboard we asked – why we have not been doing so well when we go to the airport, we go to the shops and see slots of organizations demonstrating that they are happy.”
The VC disclosed further, saying, “The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we therefore feel that it is important and passionate for us as a University to also emulate that – to demonstrate to both ourselves that, indeed we are passing, and God has taken us throughout the year and we are happy to celebrate.
“While we contemplated about this and said it is good to actually start this particular Carols, but it was actually a little bit late, because ideally we should have been able to celebrate this when all students are in ground.”
He said, when he had the discussion with the two Chaplains, they said it was a little bit late because the two Chaplaincies hard already organised their different Carols, but thought that we should go ahead and do it.
The VC, nevertheless, observed that, the few mistakes they had made they can correct them subsequently in the next year, saying, “We will make sure that all the two Chaplaincies within the University will all come together towards organizing a good Christmas Carols for the University.
Our correspondent reports that there was Drama Play by some students of the institute on “how to live in peace with one another” and a special message on the 9 Lesson of Christmas by Very Rev. Prof. Pic Onwochei, and the Carols was rounded-up with the Tree Lighting ceremony.