*Reception Party Shakes Abuja
By our reporter
It was an electric atmosphere yesterday in Garki, Abuja, as rejoicing family, friends, associates, admirers and other happy minds with strong affection for young Miss Ummul-Kathum Maccido converged on a popular leisure spot to celebrate her call to Bar.
At the well organized, well-attended reception that oozed scents of panache, the guests,dressed resplendently, and from virtually all parts of the country, embraced the rollicking ambience, amplified by the pulsating music belted out by the DJ, drowning themselves in the mood of celebration of one destined for the stars.
Twenty-six-year-old, fair-skinned Ummul-Kalthum was as much the cynosure of all eyes as were her obviously proud parents, Dr. Mouktar Ibrahim Maccido, former Provost, Federal College of Education, Zaria (now Federal University of Education, Zaria) and Dr. (Mrs.) Nabeela Maccido, Director, Long Vacation and Technical Education, at the university.
After the opening prayer by an in-law to the celebrant’s father, Rev. Fr. Leo Kor, Catholic parish priest in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who expressed thanks to God Almighty for the successful call to Bar of the first lawyer in the family, and solicited heaven’s lift for Ummul-Kalthum to eventually rise to the Supreme Court, the event got down to brass tacks.
The roll call of attendees included royalty as His Royal Highness Alhaji Nuhu Aminu Bamali, the Durunbum Zazzau and District Head of Waje, graced the occasion with the dignity of kingly presence.
There were also a retired Editor-in-Chief of New Nigerian Newspapers, Bala Mohammed; Alhaji Zuberu Mouktar Maccido, who works with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and is elder brother of the celebrant; Dr. Hurera Mouktar Maccido, a Head of Department at Federal University of Education, Zaria, and who is second wife of the celebrant’s father; Maimuna Mouktar Maccido, eldest child of the Maccidos, and who is a Lecturer at the university; Mrs. Nonye Obi, Director of Finance and Administration, FCT Administration (FCTA); another in-law to the Maccidos, Mrs Leticia Kor, Deputy Director at Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND); Mr Godwin Oyibo, Deputy Director, Office of Auditor-General of the Federation; Abuja contractor Mr Andy Kor and his wife; Malam Ibrahim Maccido, the celebrant’s paternal uncle; as well as so many others.
Goodwill messages which extolled the young lawyer’s qualities were rendered by different personalities on the occasion.
For instance, in his message, Alhaji Bamali, the Durunbum Zazzau, started by tracing his long-time friendship with the celebrant’s father, saying they have been life-long friends who steadily oversaw the growth of their families with brotherly interest.
The royal father prayed that one day the celebrant will become Nigeria’s Chief Justice, to which the audience responded with “Amen”.
Special prayers were also made for the celebrant by Alhaji Isa Mohammed who solicited divine bouquet of blessings for her.
Thereafter came dance segments involving the celebrant with different persons/groups that had made an impact on her life; and then a series of photo sessions with groups.
Not left out was the taking of the toast to the celebrant, directed by Mrs. Judith Idi, the celebrant’s aunty, a top official of National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
The highlight of the occasion was the cutting of the cake featuring the celebrant and her parents amid rapturous reactions from the audience.
The food, exotic drinks and beverages served were top notch with guests having their bellies’ full.
Reactions After The Reception
Speaking after the celebration, patriarch of the Maccidos and the celebrant’s father, Dr. Maccido, gushed joy at the historic family accomplishment by his daughter.
Expressing gratitude to God Almighty for the feat, Dr. Maccido said she had always been a child full of surprises.
Disclosing that she often led her class in academics, Dr. Maccido was upbeat that she will hit it big in life.
“We believe that she’s going to make it and we pray that she’s going to be something in life,” he said.
On her part, mother of the celebrant, Dr. Nabeela Maccido, was equally full of thanks to God Almighty for the call to Bar.
Tracing the academic odyssey of her daughter, Dr. Nabeela said though it was not easy, given the frequent industrial disharmony in the public higher education system back in the day, but eventually Ummul-Kalthum made it.
Dr. Nabeela is hopeful of greater accomplishments from her daughter, saying the sky is the limit.
Asked for advice on inter-ethnic marriage given the success of her’s against the backdrop of growing ethnic tensions in Nigeria, she thumbed up mixed tribe marriages as a fulcrum of national unity.
According to Dr. Nabeela, her’s has succeeded greatly and brought her much happiness, pouring encomiums on her husband whom she described as an ideal Nigerian with wives from different parts of the country.
Also speaking, Ummul-Kalthum said she was extremely happy over her call to Bar.
Asked what sort of practice she would get into after her ongoing National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, she said:”I want to be into litigation because I want to fight for women’s rights because the world is already a patriarchal system, so, yes, fighting for women… apart from children, but women too.”
Speaking too, Mr Oyibo, who described himself as “a bosom friend” to the celebrant’s uncle, said:”My message is for them to keep the flag flying, keep the good work and, bringing the young girl to be a barrister, is a commendable task. I, for one, have one as a wife.
“So, my message for the family is that God has blessed them; they should continue giving gratitude to God to elevate our daughter to the zenith of her career. We want to see her,by the grace of God, at the top echelon of the legal profession as Chief Justice of the Federation,as rightly prayed for her.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: L-R: Father of the celebrant, Dr. Ibrahim Mouktar Maccido; the celebrant; and her mother, Dr. Nabeela Maccido, getting set to cut the cake.
