By Fr Pat Amobi Chukwuma
Human life begins at conception when the male sperm and the female egg (ovum) fuse together. This process is known as fertilization. The product of fertilization is called the embryo, which develops in the womb. At its final stage of development it becomes the fetus. When the fetus develops fully, it awaits the process of birth. It may be a baby boy or baby girl. It then grows gradually from infancy to adulthood.
According to Martin Heidegger, man is a bundle of possibilities. This means that humans have the capacity for various actions, experiences and potential outcomes. In other words, individuals are not fixed or predetermined; rather they possess a wide range of potentialities. This potential activity starts unconsciously in the womb. Hence, when a baby is born, it is automatically issued a Birth Certificate.
My Birth Certificate is still intact with me. It reads: “I certify that Patrick Amobi Chukwuma was born at 12.05 p.m. on 1st day of April 1963 at R.C. Maternity, Jos, Plateau, Nigeria. Registered Authority: T. Uzoh.”
You can see that I am a product of April Fool and made in Jos. This Birth Certificate was awarded to me on my birthday through the hands of my parents. They handed it over to me when I grew up and became somebody. Where is your own Birth Certificate?
In those old days, a child began school when his fingers could touch its left ear from above the head. But nowadays, a child begins school when its hand touches his or her stomach. Things have drastically changed. No wonder children come out of primary school younger in this age of noodles.
Thus, I started the old crude nursery school in my town, Aguluezechukwu (God’s own town) during the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War. I began my primary education towards the end of the war in my town. I was retarded, both by the Civil War and late growth. After the Civil War, my parents took me and my three siblings back to Jos where I was born. There, I continued my primary school at Our Lady of Fatima Boys Primary School, Jos. Later, the lot fell on me to return home to live with my paternal grandmother.
Thus, I finished my primary education at Central School, Aguluezechukwu, where I got my First School Leaving Certificate. This is my second Certificate. I wanted to join my father in his business in Jos but he refused. He forced me into secondary school.
As time ran by, I got admission into Aguata High School, Aguata. I stayed with my paternal grandmother as I shuttled daily to school with an ancient bicycle. To avoid being pulled down academically in West African School Certificate Examination because of hard daily home chores, I entered into the boarding house against the will of my grandmother. This gave me room to study harder.
By this time I had already started nursing interest in entering the seminary for the Catholic Priesthood. Hence, I made a pact with God that if I obtained a good result, I would proceed; if not I would go straight into full business. God being so kind, I got an excellent WAEC result. This is my third Certificate.
One thing led to the other, I was considered by the then Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Albert Kanene Obiefuna of blessed memory, to be among the candidates he sent to the then Bigard Memorial Seminary, Ikot Ekpene, Philosophy Campus (now St Joseph’s Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene).
There, I studied Philosophy for four years and came out in flying colours in 1988 with a Bachelors’ Degree from Urban University, Rome. This becomes my fourth Certificate. Then, I went for one year teaching apostolate at St Dominic Savio Seminary, Akpu in Orumba North, Anambra State.
Afterwards, my Bishop sent me to Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, for four years study in Theology. I graduated successfully in 1993 and was issued with another Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from the same Urban University, Rome. Hence, I am a double bachelor and a life bachelor.
I am wifeless and childless for God’s sake. I was ordained a priest on 5th September, 1993, through the hands of Most Reverend Simon Akwali Okafor, the then Auxiliary Bishop of Awka, who later became the substantial Diocesan Bishop when Bishop Obiefuna was transferred to Onitsha to become the Archbishop and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province. Both are now of blessed memory. May they rest in peace!
After eight years of my priestly ministry, I luckily got a scholarship from the hands of Msgr. Martin Ezeokoli to proceed to Germany for further Theological Studies. By then, I was the Parish Priest of St Theresa’s Catholic Church, Nibo, Awka South Local Government, Anambra State. Consequently I began to learn the German Language at Goethe Institute, Victoria Island, Lagos. After three months’ intensive course, I flew into Germany where I continued the language learning at Kreuzberg Deutsch Sprachkurs, Bonn, Deutschland.
Later, I proceeded to Philosophische-Theologische Hochschule Vallendar Deutschland, near the City of Koblenz. It lasted for two years and I was issued Licentiate Certificate in Pastoral cum Spiritual Theology. I was acquainted with the Life and Spirituality of St Vincent Pallotti.
I owe much gratitude to the Pallotine Congregation who sponsored my studies in Germany. I came back home for further pastoral ministry with five Certificates in my life file as of now.
Some of my friends, instead of welcoming me home happily, blamed me for not studying further for a doctorate degree. I told them that I am already a doctor by popular acclamation. That’s why people address me informally as “Doki”. Tongues were also wagging that I came home with a polythene bag because I did not share Dollars and Euros on my arrival. I was glad I came home alive. My colleague from Cameroon who studied with me in Germany returned home in a casket.
How many Certificates have you now? Some of us got genuine Doctorate Degree which is abbreviated Ph.D. Some who are evil in character got fake Ph.D. which is interpreted as ‘Pull Him or Her Down’. They are the enemies of progress. They are abundant here and there in our country, Nigeria.
There are many Professors in various areas of academic endeavour. When all is said and done, what next? The Author of the Book of Ecclesiastes says, “Vanity of Vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). All these natural and academic certificates end in the grave.
The ultimate Certificate awaiting each and every one of us is R.I.P. This is an inevitable eternal degree. Even if you are taken to London, France, America or Asian hospital, it must come when the bell rings. William Shakespeare says that death is a necessary end which must come when it will come.
When our political leaders fall sick, they rush abroad for medical treatment. Often they die abroad. When the ordinary masses fall sick, they go to our Nigerian unequipped hospitals. Ordinary persons die at home, while the rich and the leaders die abroad.
Former President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was flown to Saudi Arabia for pericarditis treatment. Later he was brought home hopeless and he died in Aso Rock on 5 May 2010. Recently, the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, died in London. It is of no merit to die abroad or at home. Death is death. The certificate is the same: R.I.P.
However, there are two versions of R.I.P. Certificate. It can be ‘Rest in Peace’ or ‘Rest in Pieces’. Those who lived good lives on earth will be awarded with Rest in Peace Certificate. On the other hand, those who lived bad lives on earth will be awarded with the Certificate of Rest in Pieces. Which one awaits you and me?
A popular English adage says, “As you make your bed, so you lie on it.” Saint Paul vividly asserts, “Do not be fooled. God cannot be deceived. You reap what you sow” (Galatians 6:7).
May God temper justice with mercy on that day of our ultimate Certificate award! Amen!!!
