FROM TRAGEDY TO HOPE: THE JOURNEY OF JESUIT MEMORIAL COLLEGE

December 10, 2005: A day etched in sorrow for Nigerians across the nation. The tragic loss of sixty promising students of Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja left a void that seemed insurmountable. As flames devoured their lives, grief-stricken parents and onlookers stood helplessly, their pleas for intervention met with a haunting silence. The darkness that engulfed that fateful day seemed impenetrable. However, amidst the despair, a glimmer of resilience emerged.

United in their grief, the bereaved parents, government officials, and the Jesuits of the newly established North-West Africa province came together, declaring, “Never again!” Out of the ashes of tragedy, Jesuit Memorial College arose – a beacon of hope. Founded in remembrance of those sixty students, whose lives were tragically cut short, the motto of our college became “Hope Reborn.” It signifies hope for the grieving parents, hope for Nigeria’s future and its crisis management, hope for effective leadership, and hope to honour the memory of the sixty innocent angels.

Within the Jesuit Memorial College community, we believe that the spirits of the sixty angels hover, guiding us and igniting the flame of hope. Each year on December 10th, our college community gathers for a poignant drama show and a candlelight procession, honoring the memory of our dear angels. As every member holds a lit candle, we symbolize our commitment to kindle the flames of hope in our beloved nation and the world. The lighting of a grand torch by the eldest member represents the contagious nature of hope, as each student lights their candle from it.

While the pain and screams of that tragic day may still haunt us, we owe it to our Sixty Angels to become strong, influential, and hopeful members of our community and any community we encounter. The essence of this memorial is to proclaim, “Never again!” to the loss of innocent lives resulting from incompetence or mismanagement. I implore every member of this noble community to remain steadfast and keep the candle of hope burning brightly, forever honoring the memory of our dear angels.

UGWUEZE Chukwubuikem Emmanuel

Class of 2023.