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INTRODUCTION
I am a Maguzawa boy, Hausa by tribe. The term “Maguzawa” is derogatory to describe those who ran away from Islam and refused to accept it as a way of life. The Hausa Muslim gave this name to those Hausa people who did not accept Islam but followed their own traditional religion when Islam was introduced into Northern Nigeria in the 15th century. The Maguzawa people are predominantly found in some states (Kano, my own state, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa and Zamfara states) of Nigeria. Today, most Maguzawa people have embraced Christianity and are no longer called Maguzawa, instead, Hausa Christian. This is because Hausa is our only language and is one of the three major official languages in Nigeria, though used in some quarters to ridicule us. The occupation of my family is basically farming. That is, at the end of the year we harvest the farm produce that will sustain the family throughout the year with little cash crops for sale. This is how we sustain ourselves year in, year out. MY EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I started my elementary education in 1998 at St. Anthony Primary School, a mission school in my home parish which is in a rural setting. I was transferred to St. Louis Nursery/Primary, which is in the city, in 1991, where I completed my primary education in 1994. My desire for knowledge led me to secure admission into St. Thomas Secondary School, Kano in 1994 and I graduated in 2000 with ‘O’ level certificates. At this point, after some moment of reflection and decision-making, I encountered the call of God which enkindled in me the zeal to serve God in the Catholic Priesthood. My call to the priesthood became clearer when I got admission into the major seminary under the sponsorship of Kano diocese, my home diocese, in 2000. I began my seminary training with the spiritual year at the Spiritual Seminary of St. Peter the Apostle, Eruku, Kwaru State in the same 2000 to 2001. After the spritual year, I served the Diocese for one year for more pastoral experiences and decisions from 2001 to 2002. After this, still the same year, I proceeded to St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Makurdi, Benue State, for my philosophy studies. It was a programme of three years, which I concluded in 2005. There I bagged a Diploma in Philosophy from Benue State University and a Degree in Philosophy (B. Phil) from Urban University, Rome. In the same year, 2005, I was sent to the provincial seminary, the Good Shepherd major seminary, Kaduna State, for my four-year thorough theological studies. So far, this year by October, please God, I shall be going into my second year Theology. My hobbies include: travelling, listening to music, playing football and reading. My phlsophy of life has been always the following maxims;
My dislikes: pretence, untruthfulness and indiscipline. My likes: making good friends and always like to put smiles on people’s faces. My motto: if God be for us who can be against us (Romans: 8:31) ALEX GARBA SHUKAU
The parish is sponsoring Alex to help him complete his studies. For more information on how to sponsor Alex or events regardign the Kano Project please click here. |
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My name is ALEX GARBA SHUKAU. I was born on the 14th March 1979 to the family of the late Mr. Shukau Ganye and Mrs Hannatu Shukau at Refawa in Garum Mallum Local Government Area of Kano State.