SR HENRIETTA ALOKHA, SSH GIVE HER LIFEWITNESSING TO THE SACRIFICIAL LOVE OF CHRIST.
By
Sr. Monica Omowumi Rowland, SSH
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:12 )
This article is very timely especially as the Christendom commemorates Easter Celebration (i.e. the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ). The event of Jesus Christ on the cross, in a way was reenacted when our beloved Sr. HenriettaAlokha, SSH gave her life to save the little ones under her guidance on a Sunday Morning of March 15th, 2020 at Abule Ado, FECTAC, phase 11 Extension, Lagos. Lagos State. Who was this great woman and heroine of our time?
Sr. Dr. Henrietta Ebosiogwe (meaning -the will of God) Alokha, SSH was born in Agenebode in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State on May 11th, 1967 to Late Chief Vincent Dodah Alokha and Late Mrs. Julianna Alokha. She was the fourth of the six children born into this devout Catholic family. Shortly after her birth, she received the Sacrament of Baptism. She started her elementary education in the year 1975 at Egbadu Primary School at Agenebode; uunfortunately lost her mother at the tender age of eight, the same year she started her primary education. Her mother was a model to her and her siblings. She proceeded to do her Secondary Education at St. Peter Grammar School at Agenebode and graduated with an excellent result. The father was a renowned Head teacher/Educationist, who had the rare privilege of working with early missionary priests who relied on his educational background and his ability to interact with different elite groups and the local communities to evangelize across Edo North geographical entity and beyond. Given to this background, no doubt, Sr. Alokha grew up in an environment rooted in discipline, respect and strong Catholic faith. She was highly intelligent, and she enjoyed reciting her catechism to the admiration of the rest of her siblings. Until her death, she was a ‘diary of special family events;’ recounted by her elder Brother, Barr. Anselm Alokha, KSM.
Towards the end of her Secondary School education at St PeterCollege, Agenebode, she expressed interest in becoming a nun. Through the Spiritual guidance and mentorship of Late Rev. Fr. Cyril Ofoegbu, the then Parish Priest of Sacred Heart CatholicChurch, Agenebode; thus, she was admitted into the convent to commence her religious vocation in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SSH) on November 17, 1983 as a Postulant alongside five others.
Having expressed the desire to continue in the Religious Life, she was received into the Novitiate on April 13, 1985. On August 23, 1987, Sr. Henrietta Alokha, SSH made her Profession of Temporary Vows at the Sacred Heart Novitiate Chapel, Atani-Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria with five of her classmates; the incumbent, Superior General, Sr. Monica Omowumi Rowland, SSH was among the five. Right after, her profession, Sr. Henrie, as she was fondly called by her Religious Sisters, was assigned to teach in Brother Pius Nursery/Primary School, at Akenzua Street, Benin City for two years. On June 11th, 1989, in the company of her classmate, Sr. Rowland, she left for further studies at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin in the United States of America where she obtained aBachelor of Science Degree in Personnel Management and Psychology on May 16th, 1993. Having witnessed her ardent dedication to serve the Lord and commitment to the Charism of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Administration then, granted her request for Perpetual Profession of Vows on November 12, 1995 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Ubiaja, Edo State, Nigeria. On November 03, 2012, she celebrated her Silver Jubilee with her only surviving classmate in the Congregation, Sr. Monica Omowumi Rowland, SSH.
In the year 1996, she furthered her studies in the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. where she obtained her Post Graduate Diploma in Education. She continued her academic formation on Part Time Basis in the University of Benin where she later obtained a Masters’ Degree in 2005 and Doctorate Degree in 2016 both in Educational Administration. Sr. Alokha served in various capacities in Education apostolateas Teacher, Head Teacher, Vice Principal and Principal to eight Catholic Schools mostly in Edo State.
She displayed exemplary behaviour as an easy-going but with firm personality. She was a great organiser and a successful mediator. She exhibited selflessness and was never swayed by material things. She was very simple and humble. She was a role model per excellence. She believed in excellence. Her slogan is “Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” She loved children and her profession as a teacher. That may explain why she went back to look for the two lost sheep of hers; even after she was already saved in the first instance. After the incidence of March 15th in Lagos, that saw the demise of our great sister, Sr. Henrietta Alokha, SSH several reports went out about the disaster. In one of the dailies, the news had it about our sister, that: “she died after rescuing her students without being able to rescue herself”. And went further to ask: “What kind of love was that?” My response to this question is Sacrificial love which is the Spirit and Charism of our congregation (The Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). The paper answered correctly that it was the love of the gospel, which lays down its life for others. It is the love of the Lord Himself – The Good Shepherd.
Sr. Henrietta was not a mere hireling. She loved and had passion for her students whom she took as her own children. That was why even though she had the opportunity to flee and to leave the children under her care, she did not because like the Good Shepherd she was concerned about them. We must remember that the difference between the Good Shepherd and the Hireling is their motivation for tending the sheep. For while the hireling does it for his own benefit, the Good Shepherd does it for the benefit of the sheep. Thus in contrast, the Good shepherd stands in to fight and protect the sheep against any evil and whereas, the hireling runs away to save his own life.
Sr. Henrietta paid the ultimate prize by giving up her life. Little wonder reports of comments from her past students abound in the dailies and social media, Nigeria, for instance reports the comments of one Bissie Adeleye Jagunna who wrote: “Sr Henrietta you exhibited the motherly love for all your children in your care as their custodian. Thank you for not letting their mothers be in sorrow…you laid your life down for their girls; rest on peacefully may his perpetual light shine on you Sister”. Another former Student, Omono Ebi Dawodu, wrote on FACEBOOK, “Sister Henrietta Alokha, you were a rare gem. You taught me self-confidence….You have always protected your students/ children and you proved that again by laying down your life for the students in Bethlehem college in the gas explosion.” To the glory of God, Not a single student died from the Explosion. Like a good shepherd (Cf. Jn. 10:12), she laid down her life for her students.
What lesson does Sister’s death has for our world? Most especially our beloved Country, Nigeria? How many leaders out there are ready and willing to pay the ultimate price of sacrificing something for their Followers? Sr. Alokha through her death showed us sacrificial love. Bethlehem Girls College was made up of students of all ethnic groups in the country. For each of these students, Sister gave her life. She is an emblem oflove, unity and peace. So the best way to keep her legacy alive is for all to work for sacrificial love, peace, and unity. Sister lived a happy and fulfilled Religious life. A life of love and dedicatedservice to God and humanity in the field of education, within her Religious Institute and in the Church in Nigeria. She paid the ultimate price. Sr. Henrietta Ebosiogwe Alokha, SSH rest on in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour. You will be greatly missed by all who knew you.
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