ABUJA, – The Federal Ministry of Education on Monday in Abuja held its maiden Carol of Nine Songs in celebration of Christmas.
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a service of Christian worship celebrating the birth of Jesus that is traditionally followed at Christmas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the carol was heralded by a procession, followed by special renditions by the ministry’s choir and general renditions.
There were also readings taken from various chapters of the Bible numbering from 1st reading to the ninth reading which was taken by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri.
In her sermon, Rev. Mrs Nkechi Nwosu, from Anglican Church, thanked God for enabling the minister of state to oragnise the carol for the first time since the inception of the ministry.
She said that Christmas was a season of joy and peace for the birth of the Christ the saviour.
The clergy condemned the attitude of celebrating Christmas for economic gains and other material interests.
“Some people are celebrating Christmas for new designs in the market and for the gains they will make.
“As far as they are concerned, Christmas is a season for economic gains; they forget that Christ is the essence of Christmas and everything must be centred around Him.
“It is not a period of partying, eating rice and having family meetings.’’
She urged Nigerians not to despair, saying insurgency and fear of insecurity could not stop them from celebrating Christmas.
In his prayer of thanksgiving, Mr Jonathan Mbaakaa, the Director of Colleges of Education in the ministry, thanked God for protecting staff of the ministry till the end of year.
Mbaakaa praised God for blessing Nigeria with many natural resources and prayed for continued guardance and guidance for leaders.
Meanwhile, some staff of the ministry had expressed reservations over the carol as they complained that they had not been paid salaries for three months.
A staff, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN that the carol was of no value to his life as he did not have any money to make Christmas purchases for his family.
“For three months now, no salary; how do I and my family celebrate Christmas?
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