Vincent OBANIYI

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‎In a warm and fatherly gesture that has left members of the National Federation of Catholic Students (NFCS), St. Anselm Catholic Chaplaincy, Saki elated, the Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, on Monday, 25th May, presented a keyboard to the members of the chaplaincy during a 'thank you' visit to his office for his continuous care and concern for the Catholic students in Saki.

‎The visit, which took place at the Bishop's Office in Oyo, brought together the representatives of the NFCS Saki Chaplaincy, led by the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. John Irekiigbe as the Bishop personally handed over the instrument to the excited students.

‎Receiving the gift on behalf of the Chaplaincy was the President, Miss Charity James, the Secretary, Miss Maduka Cynthia, and the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. John Adebayo, all of whom expressed deep gratitude to the Bishop for his paternal love and continued support for Catholic youth in the diocese.

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‎Bishop Badejo, who has remained a passionate advocate for Catholic youth formation and student welfare, used the occasion to encourage the students to remain steadfast in their faith while pursuing academic excellence. He reminded them that the Church's investment in their growth was not merely material but deeply spiritual, urging them to use every resource, including the gifted keyboard, to glorify God and deepen their communal worship.

‎"The Church believes in you. We give not just things, but our hearts. Use this instrument to praise God, to unite your fellowship, and to remind yourselves that you belong to something far greater than a campus organization," the Bishop was quoted as saying.

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‎Fr. John Irekiigbe, the Chaplain, thanked the Bishop on behalf of the Chaplaincy, noting that the keyboard would greatly enhance the quality of liturgical music and praise and worship sessions at the Chaplaincy. He acknowledged that the gesture would serve as a morale booster for the students and reaffirm their sense of belonging within the wider Church family.

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‎Rev. Sr. Elizabeth Agwu, the Diocesan Youth Coordinator, who also witnessed the presentation described the Bishop's gift as a reflection of Oyo Diocese's unwavering commitment to nurturing the spiritual and social lives of its young people. She called on the students to reciprocate this love through active participation in Church activities, sound moral conduct, and responsible leadership both on and off campus.

‎The NFCS Saki Chaplaincy, one of the vibrant student Catholic communities under the Oyo Diocese, has continued to grow in membership and apostolic activity, organizing regular Masses, retreats, outreaches, and fellowship programmes for Catholic students in the Saki area.

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‎The visit and the gift of the keyboard have been widely celebrated within the diocesan youth community as yet another testament to Bishop Badejo's hands-on pastoral approach and his deep affection for the next generation of the Church.