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Faith, Integrity Best Legacy Parents Can Leave For Children — Kaigama
By Philomina Attah
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, says the greatest legacy parents can bequeath to their children is not material property, but strong values of faith, integrity, and the fear of God.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Director of Media and Public Relations, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Celestine Toruka, and made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.
Archbishop Kaigama stated this during a Requiem Mass held in honour of Late Chief Ezinne Opara at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.
Late Opara, who passed away on May 7, 2026, at the age of 83, was the mother of Prof. John Kennedy Opara, the pioneer Executive Secretary of NCPC and Chairman of CSS Group of Companies.
Kaigama urged leaders across all sectors to serve humanity with humility and remain mindful of the transient nature of human existence.
”Christiana Opara lived well and reached the age of 83.
“The lesson I learnt from Mama Opara was to do good to others and that, as people do good to others, the world will become a better place,” Kaigama said.
The Archbishop noted that Prof. Opara remained an integral part of the Archdiocese of Abuja, stressing that “whatever affects him also affects the Archdiocese.”
He further extolled the virtues of Prof. Opara, commending his meritorious service under four Nigerian presidents as the founding head of the NCPC, as well as his current contributions to agricultural development as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSS Global Integrated Farms.
Paying tribute to his late mother, Prof. Opara described her as a loving, dependable, and deeply religious woman who served as a pillar of strength for her children.
”She taught me the fear of God, the importance of relationships, and was a source of remarkable strength to me and my siblings.
“My mother meant everything to me because she taught me all that I have learnt and am able to do today.
“She taught me how to cook, how to love, and how to pray,” Opara said.
Also speaking at the event, the incumbent Executive Secretary of the NCPC, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, highlighted his long-standing relationship with Prof. Opara.
Adegbite described Opara as a man committed to building upon the solid foundation and legacy established at the commission.
The Requiem Mass drew a prominent gathering of political leaders, diplomats, and senior clergy.
Among the dignitaries present were the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang; former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha; former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku; Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Akabe; and former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen.
Others in attendance included the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman; the Senator representing Adamawa North, Rev. Amos Yohanna; the Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; and the Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Anselm Umoren.
The remains of Late Chief Christiana Opara will be laid to rest on Aug. 7, 2026, at Umuopara Nguru Obetiti, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi
Nigerian table tennis prospect Matthew Kuti has set his sights on winning two gold medals for the country at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, as he intensifies preparations for the competition.
Kuti is targeting victory in both the men’s singles and mixed doubles events, expressing confidence in his preparation while acknowledging the technical demands of table tennis at the highest level.
“Thinking game is a very difficult game and it’s very scientific game. So I’m very, very happy that I participate in today’s game,” Kuti said.
The young Nigerian explained that his ambition is to represent the country successfully in Dakar, where he hopes to compete across multiple events and convert his preparations into gold medals.
“My challenge is to go there and take a gold for Nigeria, play many tournament and also there is mixed doubles in Dakar and singles. I want to win the two,” he said.
Kuti acknowledged that achieving the double target would require commitment and hard work, noting that he is currently in training as he works towards peak performance for the Games.
“So I will try my best. I will try what I can do because now I’m in training. So I will try my best,” he added.
The Youth Olympic Games will take place in Senegal from October 31 to November 13, 2026, bringing together young athletes from across the world in a multi-sport competition.
For Kuti, the tournament represents an opportunity to test himself against international opposition and contribute to Nigeria’s medal ambitions. His focus on both singles and mixed doubles reflects his determination to make the most of the opportunities available to him in Dakar.
With preparations ongoing, the Nigerian youngster will be hoping that his training, tournament experience and determination can translate into strong performances when the competition begins.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has unanimously supported the proposed establishment of state police, following its consideration of the Constitution Amendment Bill transmitted by the National Assembly.
The speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, disclosed this on Tuesday during plenary, which lawmakers reconvened for after cutting their recess short to consider the proposed amendment.
Mr Obasa said the establishment of state police had remained a recurring issue from the fifth to the 10th assembly, with successive legislatures discussing ways to strengthen security and protect lives and property.
He described the development as a step forward but expressed concern that some issues raised by state legislatures had not been adequately addressed.
“I am pleased that the issue of state police has received attention, but there are concerns that must be addressed to ensure that the arrangement works effectively,” Mr Obasa said.
The bill, titled the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, seeks to provide for the establishment of the State Police Service and related matters.
The speaker said further developments in the amendment process should give states greater control over policing arrangements but stressed the need to clearly define the relationship between federal and state police, particularly regarding powers, control and responsibilities.
“The functions and responsibilities of state police should be clearly defined, with appropriate provisions made for state legislatures,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for commitment to democracy and democratic institutions, as well as the Senate and House of Representatives for advancing the proposal.
Mr Obasa further called for a clear constitutional provision for parliamentary police to protect legislative institutions and preserve their independence.
He cited past incidents in which state legislative buildings were allegedly demolished or locked up at the instance of governors, describing such developments as threats to legislative autonomy.
“There should also be provisions for parliamentary police, as we have in the United States Congress and at Westminster in the United Kingdom, to protect democracy and safeguard state legislatures.
“We must learn from past incidents in which a governor could order demolition of a legislative building or have a state legislature locked up simply to serve personal interests.
“To prevent such incidents from happening again and protect our nascent democracy, we must safeguard our existing state legislatures. Establishing parliamentary police will help protect legislative institutions and ensure that independence of the legislature is not undermined,” he said.
The speaker expressed confidence that outstanding concerns would be addressed as the constitutional amendment process progressed.
The House subsequently adjourned plenary until November 9, 2026.
The Lagos assembly‘s position comes as the push for state police has crossed its most critical constitutional hurdle.
The Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill, chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, had on Friday announced that 24 State Houses of Assembly had approved the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.
According to him, the approval meets the two-thirds threshold—24 of 36 states—required under Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution for alteration.
The Working Group chairman commended the state assemblies and the National Assembly for passing the amendment in both chambers.
The 24 states are Adamawa, Delta, Edo, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, Zamfara, Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ekiti, Kebbi, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Abia, Yobe, and Kaduna.
With Lagos’ unanimous vote on Tuesday, the figure has now risen to 25, leaving 11 states yet to formally communicate their positions.
The National Assembly transmitted the bill to the states on September 16 with a 30-day administrative window.
(NAN)
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