(NAN)
Rev Fr Gideon Pwakim, the Rector of the St Vienny Minor Seminary, Barkin Ladi in Plateau, has advised graduands of the institution to be hardworking and shun all forms of social vices in society.
Pwakim, who holds a PhD in Missiology, gave the advice at the 2022 Speech and Prize Giving Day celebration of the school on Saturday in Barkin Ladi.
The rector, who also advised the graduands to brace up for the challenges ahead, however, said that with hardwork and determination, they would surmount them.
”The world you are going into is very challenging; but don’t be scared, rather be prepared to face those challenges squarely
”With hardwork and determination, your dreams in life will come through.
”Nobody will control you, nobody will tell you to go for mass, classes or even dining; you are no longer boys, but men, and so you must take your destinies into your hands
”You must shun all forms of social vices because the training we have given you in this seminary is that which has moulded you to better persons,” he said.
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Pwakim, who charged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the seminary, said they should count themselves lucky to be among the 29 that graduated out of the 58 that started the set in 2015.
The rector explained that the graduation ceremony was the 58th since its inception in 1958.
He thanked the teaching and non-teaching staff of the institution for the efforts and resilience they had put into moulding the graduands.
He also thanked the parents of the graduands for the support and cooperation accorded the management of the school throughout the period of the training.
In a paper presentation titled ”Determination: A Path Way to Success”, Rev Fr Andrew Dewan, the Communications Director of the Catholic Diocese of Pankshin in Plateau, said good things in life only came through hard work
Dewan, who is also a lecturer with the Department of Mass Communication, Plateau State University, Bokkos, added that life was not a bed of roses and charged the graduands to gear up to face the challenges that lay ahead.
The guest lecturer, who holds a PhD in Media and Conflict, advised parents to support the graduands to attend to their full potential in life.
On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, Prof Simon Yiltok, advised the graduands to consider venturing into the priesthood, saying the Catholic Church was suffering from a dearth of priests in the face of sporadic growth and expansion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured the presentation of gifts, and dance drama, among others.