By Noble Uchegbu Uchechukwu Zachariah
The School of General Studies (SGS), Federal Polytechnic Nekede, on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, held a spiritually uplifting Day of Prayer with the resonating theme, “Enough is Enough.”
Theprayer project, initiated by the Acting Dean, Dr. (Mrs.) Ada Onyebuenyi, was designed as a spiritual awakening for staff and students, marking a day of reflection, repentance, and rededication to God.
The event, seamlessly coordinated by Pastor Chigoziri Jeribe and Pastor Chilee Metu, recorded a highly appreciable attendance, reflecting the deep yearning within the SGS family for spiritual renewal and divine direction. From the start of the praise and worship to the closing formalities, the atmosphere was charged with faith, unity, and a shared sense of purpose.
The day’s programme followed an inspiring flow, from the opening prayer and hymns to powerful intercessions and a heartfelt message from Pastor Anufuro of Economics Unit, Social Science Department.
A major highlight was the deeply reflective sermon by Rev. Fr. Ugochukwu Agubata Opara, titled “Re-discovering Our Heart: The Christlike Heart of a Teacher.” His message called on staff to rediscover the sacred essence of their calling as educators, anchored in humility, compassion, and divine service.
He reminded the audience that the heart, not merely as a biological organ but as the spiritual center of being, defines the teacher’s true connection to God and humanity. “The teacher’s heart,” he said,“ is the core of moral influence, when it is pure and Christlike, knowledge becomes a channel of grace.”
In a sermon that blended spirituality and vocation, Rev. Fr. Opara spoke about the heart of humility as the teacher’s kenosis, an act of self-emptying for service to humanity. He called on lecturers to reclaim virtues of meekness and patience, describing them as lost treasures in today’s hurried and sometimes insensitive academic world.
The teacher’s heart, he stressed, must be soft, compassionate, and responsive to the needs of others, never hardened by pride or frustration.
Finally, he underscored the teacher’s sacred duty, likening the teaching profession to a divine consecration. “Humility, meekness, compassion, and sacredness,” he said, are what enrich our hearts and make them Christlike, pleasing to God.”
The solemn event ended with the hymn, “God of Mercy and Compassion, Look with Pity Upon Me” sung with deep emotion by the congregation. The SGS Day of Prayer thus stood not merely as a Faculty (School) exercise but as a faith-based expression of institutional rebirth, aligning perfectly with the broader spiritual vision of the Polytechnic.
Importantly, this SGS Prayer Project initiative strongly identifies with the revamped Federal Polytechnic Nekede Monthly Solemn Assembly re-introduced under the visionary administration of Dr. (Mrs.) Basilia Nkemdilim Igbokwe, the 9th Rector of the institution.
Other Schools, Divisions and Units are urged to take a cue and establish similar prayer networks, especially as the Rector enters her second year in office. In this phase of growth and transformation, every concerted effort, spiritual and strategic, must be made to ensure she successfully pilots the Federal Polytechnic Nekede Community to even greater heights in faith, excellence, and purpose.
