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‘Palm Sunday’: Catholic Archbishop Urges Humility, Peace
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins yesterday urged Christians to live peaceful and humble lives as taught by Jesus Christ’s symbolic entry into Jerusalem.
Martins made the appeal while delivering a sermon at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Obalende, Lagos, to celebrate this year’s Palm Sunday.
The Tide News source report that Christians celebrate the event every Sunday preceding Easter in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
He urged Christians to always conduct themselves peacefully as Christ’s followers.
Martins said that Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace and not a war-waging king.
“Palm Sunday is marked with the distribution of palm leaves, often tied into crosses to the assembled worshippers.
“Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey is depicted in an early 1900’s Bible card illustration.
“The church re-enacts or celebrates Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish His paschal mystery. Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem was recorded in the four gospels.
“Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem; the celebrating people spread their cloaks on the road while others cut branches from palm trees and spread them on the road,’’ he explained.
The Director of Social Communication, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Gabriel Osu, told newsmen after the service that Palm Sunday was a call for everyone to follow the spiritual path as Christ did.
According to him, if we are not willing to acknowledge sin as sin, and just ignore it, we are stuck outside the door of God’s mercy.
“There will be a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.
“The Jews of course expected a literal king to restore the kingdom of Israel, not realising that his kingdom was spiritual — his kingdom on earth is the church.
“Let us examine two major symbols, starting with the donkey. The donkey represents the lowest natural desires of any person.
“What this means is that for one to enter the house of God, one must subordinate one’s natural desires to that of God by repenting of our sins.
“Palm trees were used in rituals from ancient times. It was one of the trees used in the Jewish feast of tabernacles.
“The palm tree signifies a spiritual affection for the truth. It means living the truth of the word of God,’’ he told newsmen.
He said that for the over two billion Christians across the globe, including himself, the day, Palm Sunday, was a very special one for all.
“It is very special for the following reasons. It is the day we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, one week before His resurrection.
“It marks the start of what is often called “Passion Week’’, the final seven days of Jesus’ earthly ministry; the day is the “beginning of the end of Jesus’ work on earth.’’
He said that Palm Sunday began with Jesus and His disciples travelling over the Mount of Olives.
Also speaking, the Parish Priest of Saint Timothy and Titus Catholic Church, Isheri, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Okuoma, urged leaders in the country to emulate Jesus Christ’s teachings of service and humility.
“Jesus showed humility even unto death for the benefit of humanity, not minding he was mocked and shamed, he still asked God to forgive those who tortured and killed him.
He said that the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem which led to the festival of Easter showed that when Nigerians believed in Him, they would be victorious no matter the obstacles.
“This week is considered the most holy of all the weeks during the church year; Christians should deeply ponder on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ during this sacred period.
“If we cannot forgive those who offended us and make peace with them, our prayers and fasting during this Lenten period will be meaningless and useless,’’ he said.
At the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Akponan, urged Christians to show forgiveness to one another, just as Christ forgives those who tortured and killed him.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
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RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.