HISTORY OF OLD SEMINARIANS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

The Old Seminarians Association of Nigeria (OSAN) is a newly formed umbrella body for all Nigerians irrespective of their current socio-economic and religious backgrounds, who had the opportunity and rare privilege of passing through any Catholic seminary in the world during their post-primary education.

The Association was conceived in the course of series of events involving Old seminarians in the year 2020 in Abuja, the federal capital territory of Nigeria; but commenced its meetings in earnest in February 2021, culminating in a grand plan for its historic inauguration on Saturday September 4th 2021.

Specifically, the story of OSAN as it is known today began on the 1^st of November 2020 with the All Hallows Seminary Onitsha Old Boys Association (Abuja Chapter) led by Chinedu Akubueze, a lawyer and Clerk-designate of the House of Representatives Abuja, who brought the Association popularly called AHOBA to the All Hallows’ (All Saints’) Feast Day at the Church of Twelve Apostles Diplomatic Zone Abuja.

It was at that Mass of Thanksgiving that another Old Seminarian Ugo Jim-Nwoko from the St Peter Claver Seminary Okpala in Owerri met his All Hallows brothers by introducing himself to Chief Ifeanyi Obibuzor popularly called ‘ ‘ ANCESTOR’’ among the AHOBITES, who now brought him to other AHOBITES making it possible for him to identify with them and their thanksgiving activities which ended with a refreshing Reception at the Time-Out Hotel Wuse 2 Abuja. The warm reception and convivial atmosphere that characterized this encounter at the All Hallows Feast Day became a physical manifestation of the Psalmist’s exclamation in Psalm133 ‘‘Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.’’

It was in the All Hallows gathering of brethren with Ugo Jim-Nwoko as the special brother in their midst from SPCS Okpala that the idea of a common forum for all Old Seminarians in Nigeria started coming up. His brief remarks at the event which was started with Ecce-Quam Bonum et Quam Iaculum Fratres Habitare in Unum , concluded with a suggestion of the need for Old seminarians all over Nigeria to come together under one umbrella.

Later, the Chairman of All Hallows Old Boys Association, Chinedu Akubueze, invited Ugo Jim-Nwoko to the End of Year Get-together of the All Hallows Seminary Old Boys (Abuja)on Sunday 13^th day of December 2020. He turned up at the event with   ten members of his St Peter Claver Seminary Okpala.and were well received. The party became a great improvement on the previous one of the All Hallows Feast Day 2020. It was a party of joyful songs, excitement and praises to God that reminds anyone of the experiences of Biblical Paul and Silas as they sang and praised God. This atmosphere provided the mood for the All Hallows Chairman, Chinedu Akubueze Esq to move a motion for the formation of an association of Old boys of Nigeria’s Catholic Seminaries by whatever name. This motion received popular acclamation from the assembly of All Hallows old boys and their Saint Peter Claver Seminary counterpart.

On the 27^th of January, the All Hallows Old Boys Association Abuja Chapter held a Reception in honor of one of their own, their Abuja Chairman and Clerk of the House of Representatives in appreciation of his promotion to the Office of the Clerk of House of Representatives and his support towards the growth of their meeting in Abuja. In their generosity of heart, they co-opted Ugo Jim-Nwoko into the Committee that worked for the Reception at the Grand Pela Hotel Durumi Abuja. The event turned out becoming a platform to test-run the gathering of Old seminarians from different seminaries in Nigeria. The event was graced by Sir Mike Okiro, Justice Benedict B. Kanyip, Professor Hyacinth Icheoku of Veritas University, Professor Fidelis Okafor and two Catholic Bishops from Awka and Onitsha, Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye and Bishop Denis Isizo respectively; among many other old seminarians from different parts of the country. They all spoke on the need for old seminarians to come together for national development.  It turned out to be a well-attended event after which Akubueze who had now become the substantive Clerk of the House of Representatives instructed Ugo Jim-Nwoko to convene the maiden meeting of the proposed association, without further delay.

This was done on Thursday the 25^th of February 2021 at 5pm at the Time-Out Restaurant Wuse 2 Abuja. It was at this meeting that the name ‘’Old Seminarians Association of Nigeria’’ was proposed and then later presented to the General Meeting of the Association properly convened on Sunday the 14^th of March 2021; where its name, Aims and Objectives were vigorously discussed, debated by great minds in attendance, among who were Justice C. C.Nweze, Justice Benedict Kanyip, Chief Ifeanyi Obibuzor ,Rev Fr Martin Onukwuba who has featured prominently in these landmark events , the Clerk of House of Representatives Chinedu Akubueze the chief promoter of the OSAN, among many others.

1. Towards national integration and cultural cohesion
2. To use our intrinsic values and training to promote national harmony, good ethics and selflessness in public service
3. Towards the fellowship of love and solidarity among Old Seminarians in Nigeria, irrespective of ethnic and cultural background.

The Association from then continued growing in leaps and bounds as it was planning its inauguration on the 29^th of May, later moved to 26^th of June 2021.In one of these meetings, Ibrahim Moses Obenda appeared with John Ichema Ajonye with documents from a similar association of Old seminarians called Catholic Ex-Seminarians Association of Nigeria. He spoke of the need for merger and how impressed he was to be at the OSAN meeting and his desire to be part of OSAN; and to report his good experiences with OSAN back to other members of CESAN. He linked the leadership of OSAN with the leadership of CESAN for the first time and both bodies opened communications on merger as the plans of r inauguration on the 26^th of June was still on-going. All the plans towards inauguration were moving on well till the 18^th of May 2021, when Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah who was slated to be a Keynote Speaker wrote OSAN and called for postponement and effective merger of OSAN with CESAN, which Obenda spoke about a OSAN meeting. Bishop Kukah said he had floated – Catholic Ex-Seminarians Association of Nigeria (CESAN) with Ambrose Obioha and others at the Kukah Centre around the year 2018.

On Friday, the 3^rd day of June 2021, OSAN team met with CESAN team under the superintending influence of Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah who Presided at THE KUKAH CENTRE WUSE 2 Abuja. After 3 hours of rigorous and vigorous discussions, a Merger Committee was constituted to iron out grey areas, Old Seminarians Association of Nigeria; having been adopted as the preferred name of the Association. The Committee made up of Ambrose Obioha, Moses Ibrahim Obenda, Newton Motomboni and Ugo Jim-Nwoko worked hard and ironed out grey areas and moved ahead with plans to integrate all members of CESAN who were willing to be part of the merger. Sir Mike Okiro who was already the Chairman, Board of Trustee of CESAN was also adopted as the Chairman Board of Trustees of OSAN while existing structures of OSAN were expanded to integrate everyone into one united OSAN. This led to a stronger and more resolute Old Seminarians Association of Nigeria ready to work to bring to fruition its aims and objectives which are meant to serve God, Humanity and Nigeria.