MAMA SPAJ, FORCE BEHIND FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN STUDENTS (FCS), ST PAUL’S ACADEMY JOS, (SPAJ), MRS. C.N. NWANKWOR, TOOK EVERYBODY BY SURPRISE

The sayings “good things don’t last” and “whatever has a beginning, has an end” are common among Nigerians of different ages, tribes and religions. 

It is therefore not a surprise when two students of St Paul’s Academy Jos (SPAJ) used the expressions, in my presence during a gathering of SPAJ students in the school. The event is the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS), which holds Fridays in the school. 

Truth be told, FCS is a special event in SPAJ. It is one event students of the school, look forward to every week. This particular Friday, what played out, sets the day, as an extraordinary one. The FCS for the day produced very special moments, made up of laughter and tears. 

The joyful moment, was when Mrs. C.N. Nwankwor, Principal of SPAJ, took the center stage to preach. The highly elated students demonstrated their regard for her with loud sounding clap, rendered in faces beaming with smiles and laughter. Immediately after the welcome clap, she mounted the stage, and the noise seized. If you think this is because of her position as the Principal of the school, it is because you don’t know my Principal. Those who know her know you are dead wrong. The clout she gathers is due to the stuff and quality she is made of. 

As usual, her sermon for the day was Soul lifting and highly encouraging, some students qualified it as Spirit filled. After the preaching; better described as light on the students path; came the prayer session that helped the Principal’s message travel deeper and the indelible mark it created in the minds of the students to perform its task. 

Soon after the joyous moments that looked like what will never end, Mrs. C.N. Nwankwor, stood up and dropped a bombshell in the name of an announcement. This announcement almost wrecked the entire students. It hit them so fast, slicing through their heart like a hot knife cutting through the butter. 

Mrs. Nwankwor’s shocker to the students is the announcement: “Today is my last outing as the Principal of St Paul’s Academy Jos…” 

There was silence, confusion, anxiety and worry all over. Some students were enveloped by the thought that they did not hear well; others cried and shed tears uncontrollably. Signs of cold shivers and goose pimples were noticed among the students, though the day is sunny and very hot. Other reactions visibly noticed among the students include “could this be true” “you can’t be serious” “why now”? I even heard a student saying authoritatively “it is not true”.

Then came the voice: “good things don’t last” and the other “whatever has a beginning has an end”. 

For you out there that want my response, I say “in good company the journey is short”. 

And to you, SPAJ students, and others, can I get more reactions?

I remain your regular Host and Anchor,

Chinazaekpere Nnabugwu, 

Reporting from St Paul’s Academy Jos.

Till I come your way again, bye!