Fr. Caius F. Kakaba, OSA, principal of St. Augustine's College, in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, wanted to make known to the rest of the Order the work that our academic institutions are carrying out in favor of democracy and civil responsibility.
As a result of the recent disturbances in the African country, plagued by discrimination and religious persecution, especially bloody against catholics in the area, the college reinforces its commitment to build a more prosperous country, focused on "inclusion" and student participation and youth in the democratic process of the nation.
Hopeful results
These were precisely the issues addressed during the last national competition organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) at the end of last year and which were, as Fr. Kakaba comments in his letter, a great opportunity "to promote academic excellence; as well as to encourage healthy competitions and the participation of our students" as an exercise of "responsibility".
The two contestants from our school who represented the North Central Zone were Zemsuk Naanlong Miskoom, 16, and Gertude Denaan Kwallu, 15, in classes 11 (SS 2) and 10 (SS 1) respectively. The duo scored two "clean wins," as Father Kakaba points out, at the State Zonal and Regional levels, as well as at the National Zonal level, which entitled them to represent North Central Zone in the grand finals held at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly on November 24, 2022.
In the last and "exciting" final of the exercise, our students obtained a remarkable 4th place.
In its seventh edition, the competition was attended by Senate President Ahmed Lawan and other members of the National Assembly.
A well-deserved third place
Likewise, the College Principal recalled the school's participation in another competition, the NNPC, with the best schools in the country, after having been the best at the state and regional levels. After a close competition in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, "we obtained third place among the best colleges in the country".
At the end of his open letter, Father Kakaba thanked the Prior Provincial, Fr. Anthony I. Kanu, "for his invaluable support and encouragement to the project"; the Jos South Zone Education Directorate, the Plateau State Ministry of Secondary Education "for their moral support at all levels of the competition" and also the "staff and management of the college "for their tireless efforts to ensure quality education to these future leaders".