By Fr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie à

The Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Obehie Campus, stood resplendent Tuesday as it hosted its annual twin celebration of the Feast Day of St. Thomas Aquinas, its patron saint, and the matriculation of new students into its prestigious postgraduate and undergraduate programs.  

The day’s solemnity and academic excellence were palpable as the event brought together an array of dignitaries, faculty, students, family members, and well-wishers drawn from the West Africa sub-region . The celebrations commenced with the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass, presided at by the Rector, Very Rev. Fr. Prof. Jude Abidemi Asanbe, flanked by  Rev. Fr. Dr. Benjamin Bala, who delivered a stirring homily, and Rev. Fr. Dr. Okhueleigbe Osemhantie Amos, amidst 53 other priests. 

In his homily, Fr. Bala charged the congregation to shun ethnicity and bigotry and to live with open disposition and accommodating spirit. They should embrace bonds , like Christ,  that transcends familial ties. In his words "scholarship without integrity is a misfit" The life of St. Thomas Aquinas teaches us the way to go

The three-part event transitioned seamlessly into the matriculation lecture and ceremonial rites. Welcoming the gathering with a profound sense of purpose, the Rector extolled the Institute’s legacy as a citadel of critical inquiry and theological engagement. 

CIWA thrives on inclusivity and objectivity, the Rector said. Here, a scholar is not merely a repository of knowledge but a seeker of truth, grappling with life’s profound challenges. Avoid cynicism, he enjoined the matriculating students; embrace open-mindedness. Together, let us build CIWA as a league of love, where collective responsibility defines our progress. Studies here are not isolated from the Church or society but are a direct response to their challenges. Thank you for choosing CIWA, and welcome to this community of scholars, he declared.  

Presiding as Chairman of the occasion, Rev. Fr. Prof. Ignatius Obinwa, a 40-year veteran of the priesthood and CIWA’s longest-serving faculty member, underscored the Institute’s distinction in global theological education.  

Beyond the Biblicum in Rome, no other institution equals CIWA in the study of biblical theology, Prof. Obinwa said. Here, the mastery of Greek and Hebrew is mandatory because understanding Scripture demands rigorous scholarship. CIWA has no room for mediocrity—students must focus on their purpose. A robust library, not a large  wardrobe, defines the serious scholar. Build CIWA with the integrity that will make you proud, now and in the future, CIWA has no space for non-academic students, he emphasized.  

The matriculation lecture, delivered by the distinguished Rev. Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Anagwo, a scholar of dual doctoral expertise, was a tour de force titled, "Liturgy, Pre-Conciliar Mass, Conflicts, and Resolutions: The Nigerian Pastoral Experience." The paper dogged deep into the evolution of liturgical praxis, weaving theological and pastoral insights with Nigerian realities. The erudite scholar, Revd. Fr. Dr. Kingsley Nze offered a response. 

As the students took their matriculation oath, led by the Registrar,  Rev. Fr. Wilson Akhigbe, the gravity of the moment was evident. The Rector’s formal reception of the new students cemented their membership in CIWA family, heralding the start of their academic pilgrimage in one of Africa’s most esteemed institutions.  

In interviews, the joy of the matriculating students was infectious. Jane Francis Enwerem, a Philosophy student, described the day as transformative: “This is my first matriculation ceremony, and to think it’s mine is overwhelming. I feel a profound sense of progress and gratitude.” 

For Dickson Promise, a Mass Communication student, the day marked the fulfillment of long-held aspirations: “I’ve looked forward to this day with great anticipation. Everything about it—the ceremony, the organization—was perfect. I am proud to be part of CIWA.” 

The celebration’s tone was aptly summarized  by Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Abel,  who quipped, “After the reggae comes the blues. Matriculation is over, but the road ahead is rigorous. At CIWA, life is lived on a higher plane; to succeed, one must be informed, involved, and committed.” This he said in view of the imminent examination and as the Institute's examination officer. 

As the sun set on a day steeped in academic, spiritual, and communal significance, CIWA reaffirmed its position as a beacon of intellectual and theological excellence, preparing minds to illuminate the Church and the world.