Oblate of Nazareth Schools Set For 25th Anniversary, Tasks Parents on Drug Abuse, Girl Child Education

The Oblate of Nazareth Schools, Barnawa, Kaduna, the State Capital, is set to mark her 25th anniversary in providing a learning platform with emphasis on the need to tackle the menace of Drug Abuse amongst youth.

Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna, the Founder, 91 years old Italian-Nigerian Reverend Sister Semira Carrozzo said “Drugs abuse is a seed on the ground, we need to be vigilant and constantly check friends that they keep. Teachers must teach best moral, but the parents must do their job as they have more work to do. The Government must also keep in touch through policy formulation and implementation through the necessary security agencies.”

On Girl child education in Northern Nigeria, Sr.Carrozzo maintained that parents of both sex, male and female must guide against early marriage and premarital sex. This according to Semira, will reduce unwanted pregnancy and early marriage especially for the girls.

She warned that rising corruption in Nigeria has fueled economic hardships and inflation, “you only buy what you need not what you want. We must manage. The Economy is collapsing daily because corruption is raising. We don’t produce anything we keep buying all the time, how can you grow the economy like.”

Recounting her journey towards establishing the school, the nonagenarian, Rev. Sr. Semira Carrozzo said “I conceived this Project out of a dream. The project (Nazareth Nursery and School) was established in agreement with the Pro.Nuncio of Italy in order to provide vocation and standard education for the people of Kaduna and also train Nigerian girls into religious life.”

“When the Oblates of Nazareth Sisters came to Nigeria, they first of all settled
in Lagos, which saw them working with the Vatican Embassy in Lagos in
1990, under the leadership of Nuncio Mons. Tabet from Lebanon and thereafter with Nuncio Vigano. The journey from Lagos took us to Katsina in Katsina state for pastoral visit with Nuncio Vigano, after the pastoral visit to Katsina state, returned to Kaduna where the dream actually started manifesting.”
Carrozzo said.

She said the Pro- Nuncio spoke with His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Y. Jatau, the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna on the need to secure a land that would be most suitable for the proposed project.
When the land was shown to me, I immediately praised and
blessed the name of the Lord for His faithfulness on his humble servant, as
the land exactly coincided with what she saw in the dream when God showed
it to her.”

Sr. Carrozzo said “in spite of the fact that there was not enough money to embark on such a magnificent project, sisters made a lot of sacrifices; and started the construction work almost immediately in 1995. And as God would have it, the work was completed in 1998. Following the completion of the project, it
was immediately inaugurated by His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Jatau
Archbishop of Kaduna on the 21st of August 1999.”

She said ” by the special Grace of God, the school commenced its activities for the 1999/2000 academic session on the 20th September, 1999 with two
Hundred and Fifty-five (255) pupils with qualified staff in excellent, conducive and serene environment and won awards in Environment, spelling bees and so many others to the Glory of God. ”

The anniversary celebration will hold on the 5th of October, 2024.