Abuja, Nigeria. The second Matriculation Ceremony of the Institute of Consecrated Life in Africa (InCLA) was held on January 18, 2024, at the institute’s premises. The event began with a Holy Mass presided over by Fr Henry Omonisaye, CMF, Vicar of the Claretian Missionaries and General Consultor in charge of the Claretian Institutes of Consecrated Life worldwide. Matriculation, a formal ceremony marking the admission of students into an academic institution, symbolizes the beginning of their educational and spiritual journey. The celebration brought together key dignitaries, faculty members, and students in a spirit of gratitude and dedication.
A central moment of the ceremony was the Matriculation Oath, taken by the new students under the guidance of the Registrar, Sr. Jane Maura Madu, IHM. The oath was administered in the presence of the institute’s Director, Fr. Peter Okonkwo, CMF, and Fr Henry Omonisaye, CMF who served as the President of the occasion. This solemn act marked the formal initiation of the students into the academic and spiritual journey offered by InCLA.
Adding intellectual depth to the ceremony, the Matriculation Lecture was delivered by Fr Henry Omonisaye, CMF. As the Chairman of the Claretian Institutes of Consecrated Life Worldwide, he emphasized the mission and vision of consecrated life within the African context, inspiring both students and guests.
Notable attendees included representatives from Veritas University, a renowned Catholic institution in Nigeria. Among them were the Registrar, Dr. Mrs. Chizoba Okonkwo, and the Dean of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology, Fr. Dr. Barnabas Shabayang. The event also welcomed friends and collaborators of InCLA, who shared in the joy of this milestone.
The Institute expressed profound gratitude to God for the success of the event and reaffirmed its commitment to forming leaders for consecrated life across Africa.
Source: Chidozie Kingsley, ICT , InCLA
