BIGARD INAUGURATES THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC AND FORMATION YEAR

On Monday, 20th October 2025, the eve of the event, there was a football encounter between Bigard football team and the UNEC football team. The Kick-off was done by the Rector, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Albert Ikpenwa at exactly 4.10pm. The inauguration Prelate was not able to grace the occasion due to some unforeseen contingencies. At the end of the football encounter, Team Bigard emerged victorious with a 3-0 win. The match was indeed quite entertaining and befitting to start-off the inauguration activities.

The next day, being 21st of October, 2025, the seminary joyously received Most Rev. Thomas Obiatuegwu, the Auxiliary Bishop of Orlu Diocese (the Inauguration Prelate) who arrived at the Seminary compound at 9.35am. His entry into the Seminary premises was graced by the Bigard Fan Club who played melodious tunes that rang round the Seminary, adding to the pomp of the occasion. The Mass began shortly afterwards at 9.03am with all in the team of formators, formators from different religious houses and cleric friends of the Seminary in procession. The Rector, after the introductory rites, implored his Lordship to preside over the Eucharistic celebration, putting the welfare of the Seminary as the primary intention for the Mass, as the Seminary begins another hundred-year journey.

In the homily, His Lordship expressed how he was filled with emotions when he drove into the Seminary compound. He said that this was because as a Seminarian, he doubted if he would ever become a Priest not even to talk of becoming a Bishop. He explained that the Mass is the celebration that unites the children of God. It connects our mind to the ultimate goal which is to await the second coming of Christ and to be intimately connected to him. He encouraged the Seminarians to, at every point, pose the Socratic dictum- “Man know thyself” to themselves in a bid to fish out their actual purpose of being in the Seminary. In conclusion, he listed some important points as maxims which were worthy of note: 1. Discover yourself 2. Learn to say “NO!” 3. Avoid procrastination 4. Learn to work hard 5. Face your challenges 6. Choose the right associations 7. Get rid of fear 8. Be transparent and straight forward Before the end of the Mass, the Vice Rector I, Rev. Fr. Dr. Kevin Udenwagu thanked the Bishop and all present for gracing the occasion. After the Mass, there was a group photograph at the porch of the chapel. After that, the Inauguration Prelate, formators and guests were ushered into the auditorium by the Bigard Fan Club.

His Lordship afterwards led in the opening prayers in which he prayed for the success of the event. The Anthems were sung (Papal, Nigerian, Bigard and Centenary anthems). With the conclusion of the anthems, there was the customary presentation of kolanuts to welcome all guests to the occasion. In the keynote address, the Rector expressed his sentiments of gratitude to God almighty who led the Seminary through the activities of the Centenary Year. He also thanked the Inauguration Prelate for his willingness to return to his alma mater to preside over the inauguration activities. He thanked the Seminarians who represented the seminary well in the All Nigeria Major Seminaries Festival of Arts and Culture, Ekpoma-2025 and the formators for their dexterity in handling their various functions. In conclusion, he remarked that after having reflected on the past hundred years, we need to pay attention to the challenges facing the Seminary as articulated by Cardinal Arinze in the colloquium paper titled “Challenges Facing the Seminary" With the conclusion of the keynote address, the prelate, Most Rev. Thomas Obiatuegwu solemnly declared the academic year open. The Bigard Main Choir and Orchestra then thrilled the audience with a splendid rendition of “The Holy City”.

The Master of Ceremony, Rev. Fr. Dr. Francis Igboanugo invited Rev. Fr. Dr. Christian Agala for the inauguration lecture. Fr. Dr. Christian Agala is a lecturer and a spiritual director in Bigard Memorial Seminary. In the lecture titled: “Faith Formation: The most Fundamental Dimension of Seminary formation and ongoing Priestly Formation in the light of the contemporary challenges of Priestly ministry”, he noted that a Priest is called to live in Persona Christi Capitis which cannot be achieved among priests and seminarians in their on-going formation without greater emphasis on the crucial importance of spiritual formation and direction, for it is the most fundamental of all the pillars of formation.

Following the inaugural lecture was the H.O.D. of Philosophy’s speech and the presentation of awards to students in the philosophy department. In his speech, the H.O.D. Rev. Fr. Dr. Aloysius Ezeoba, remarked that the level of academic excellence was quite encouraging with each level of the department recording above 50% pass. He also noted the department’s success in the just concluded NUC accreditation process, and the promotion of some of the academic staff. He then requested the prelate to present the awards to students who distinguished themselves academically in the department. The H.O.D of Theology, Rev. Fr. Dr. Clement Obasi in his address thanked the Rector and all those that contributed to the successful affiliation of the department to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He also went on to note that the academic probity and excellence of the department has remained unshaken. Awards were then given to the various seminarians that distinguished themselves academically in the department, by the inauguration prelate. The Dean of Student’s Affairs I, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Iloafor, in his address thanked the formation team and indeed the entire students for their dexterity and contributions in the just concluded centenary celebration. He also acknowledged the generous initiatives of the Rector, Most Rev. Ernest Obodo, the auxiliary Bishop of Enugu and other generous donors for the new awards added to the list of already existing awards. He then presented the names of various seminarians who distinguished themselves in the formation process in the last academic year.

Finally, the Vice Rector II, Rev. Fr. Kingsley Anagolu presented the winners of the prestigious Prince Ikedi Literary Award in both prose and poetry categories. Pertinent to note here was the ground-breaking record made by one of the awardees, Mr. Akani-Egwu Donatus who achieved an admirable feat by winning the Prince Ikedi Award for Prose for three consecutive times. After the awards, there was an eccentric performance by the Aharia Diocesan Seminarians dance troupe. A vote of thanks was rendered by the Vice Rector I, Rev. Fr. Kevin Udenwagu which was followed by the closing prayers and episcopal blessings by the prelate, Most. Rev. Thomas Obiatuegwu.