Tribute To Rev Fr ( Dr )Oghenojode Abaka @ 64

By Wilson Macaulay 

Rev Fr Oghenojode Abaka a General of

the Lord's end time army  clocked 64 

 on the 15th of July, 2022.   He  marked this year's  birthday on a  low key but unique manner that tickled the fancy of  all well wishers who were  present across board .

The occasion had people from all spheres of life. 

Rev  Fr  (Dr) Oghenojode Abaka has a dual  attribute and capacity to  relate  with all calibre of persons 

in the social ladder.

Given the kind of impact this Man of God  (MOG) has made to humanity in his sojourn so far on earth , I requested to have a chat with him . 

True to his  easy mien,he granted my

request as he took me on a journey

from a very humble beginning thus:

 Early Education: 

"  With gratitude to God for all His mercies, l started my early education at  Ojojo Primary School under the tutelage of a White Rev Sister .

Due to some factors of  the exigencies of that time , l moved on to RCM, Roman Catholic Mission School , which is now Cavegenia Primary and Secondary School under the watch of Rev Fr Cavegenia, one of the early Italian missionaries who came to expand the gospel in Nigeria."

 Fr Oghenojode Abaka, the ebolient Minister of the   gospel after the successful completion of his Primary School, moved on to Holy Martyrs, of  Uganda Seminaries, Effurun, Delta State,

from there to SS Peter and Paul Major Seminary in  1977 in  Bodija 

lbadan Oyo State, from 1977 to 1984.

At the Seminary, he studied Philosophy and Theology . Determined

to carve a niche for himself in the ivory tower, he proceeded to the University of lbadan where he bagged  a diploma in theology in 1980. ln 1984, Fr Abaka graduated from  SS Peter and Paul Major Seminary

with a Bachelor degree in theology.

Career Record: 

Rev Fr Oghenojode Abaka after his admission into Priesthood ,started his

Missionary work as a Parish Priest at St Anthony Catholic Parish 

Ogberikoko , from there he went on to become the Bishop's Secretary.

He was ordained 35 years ago

as a Priest on the 7th of November 1987. As a Man who knows the value of  Knowledge , he proceeded on advance studies, from 1983 -- 1995 for    a post graduate STL Prógràmme , Masters in Theology .

 He bagged a doctorate degree  in Rome, From 2006 to 2009,

In Social  teaching and doctrines of the Church, and the titled

" Dessertification "was  Ecclesial Response To Conflict Management in the Niger Delta Region

of Nigeria . His doctorate study dealt with the question of Social  exclusion 

of the Niger Delta people in all ramification,  socially, economically, politically and otherwise.

As a Man of many parts with so much to offer to the society as a bundle of gift

to mankind, Fr Oghenojode Abaka was drafted into the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) Effurun Delta State to become  the Chief image maker ,working as the Director in charge of the Public Affrairs Department of the 

 African Premier Petroleum University that ranks 6th in the World.

Since his appointment as the Chief  image making  Ambassador of  FUPRE, he has been able to leverage on his versatility to reposition the  Petroleum University on a  pedestal of enviable heights to the admiration of all relevant stakeholders particularly the University Community.

lnstructively, this Public  Relations  office  actually became a Directorate

through his painstaking effort. As a thoroughbred academia, he organically restructured  the office inline with the principles of  international best  practice and policies to enhance  proficiency in

service delivery .

One thing we can be very sure of is that 

as  long as Fr Abaka remains on the saddle as the Director of the Public Relations Affrairs, he will continue to be a beacon of light ready to shine as a star in the FUPRE academic firmament.

Dependable and credible sources

who spoke about him   concurred  that Rev  Fr Dr Oghenojode Abaka has done so much to improve on the image of FUPRE.

 The Directorate , through his

dexterity  and total commitment

have passed through alot of positive

transformation to his credit, and to the glory of God.

 The various newsletters,  churning out good quality publications ,projecting  the University activities and events 

 in  good light to the outside world are

the brain child of Rev (Dr) Abaka.

 Experience in Priesthood: 

 While speaking on his experience in

Priesthood he took me to very beginning.

Remarkably, in my Chat with Rev Fr Dr 

Oghenojode Abaka , he shared some of his experience in priesthood . Taking me

down the memory lane he said:

"As a young Priest ,l was always afraid ,  then as Parish Priest of St Anthony Catholic Church Ogborikoko few months after my ordination with little experience.

However, l later discovered  that it was

only a figment of my imagination."

Speaking further, he declared:

 " One

lesson l learnt as a young Priest is that God uses man to fulfill His own plans and vision."

The Uniqueness of  Fr Abaka: 

To uneveil his  reason for maintaining

the character which makes Rev Fr Dr  Oghenojode Abaka  stand out as  unique  personality, even among  his fellow Priests.?

In answer to my  question he said: 

" l realized early in life that whatever gift that a  man have  is given to him by God  for a purpose to achieve His divine plan on earth. God uses man as an instrument to achieve His purpose.

So ,whatever gift you find in me is so by the grace of God .lt is so by the Holy Spirit . lt is so because , we are driven by the Holy Spirit to fulfill our responsibilities and obligations which is our mission on earth.

He explained that as children of God, we are prompted by the Holy Spirit to make it our vision to work by the grace of

God .

Rev Fr Oghenojode Abaka posited:

 " The question of why l chose to live a life  of humility and detachment is also as a result of my mentors and bosses whom I worked under . All of these have to do with the essence of the mission for which we are called to be Priests of God. "

He continued: " May l also affirm that this selfless and humane attitude is fundamental as regards the workings of the teaching office of the Church

otherwise known as magesterium." 

Friends and well wishers of Fr Abaka 

like  Sir Joseph Evuarherhe and Chief Okiemute Oviri Okwagbe JP 

who spoke about him emphasized his good work of charity and benevolence

as an inbuilt attitude that makes him stand miles  away from the conventional

platforms to the realm of positive supernatural .

 Mr Isaac Ogbra, Mr Victor Nwora and  Mrs Kate Eburu  staff of the  Public Affrairs Department of FUPRE  who  spoke about him  in their various assessment concurred that Fr Abaka is  passionate, so sacrificial, so selfless, fiercely fearless and untainted in his carriage of the gospel and every

other duty he found himself doing in circular society.

 

For me this piece  is my   little sign of honor to you, on   the special  moment of the occasion of your birthday, Fr Dr Oghenejode Abaka.

  

It is my best birthday Wishes for you     my  spiritual guide  and  academic mentor.

 lndeed it is my gratitude to wish you My role model all the best in life . This piece is to  assure  you of my willingness to  continue to follow your tutelage and also to continue  drinking from your deep well of experience and to continue enjoying your support. 

 

Let me stress in all modesty   here in this auspicious moment of your birthday that  you  Fr Abaka is truly a visionary leader with ability to imagine so much ahead of time  and act on it. This your rare attribute have  yielded  great results success for the benefit of  others in your immediate vicinity in particular and the

larger society in general . 

 According to the holy Book , in psalm 16 verse 5, the lines will surely  fall in pleasant places for you in the years ahead.

Rev Fr Dr Oghenojode Abaka, l 

thank you for being there for me and the rest of your numerous children who truly cherish your good and unquenchable agape love that knows no bound.

Till your  next movement of three hundred and sixty five days round  the circuit of the sun I say once again happy birthday.

.