In an era where majority of the people think of nothing else other than relentless hustles for earthly riches and have no time to reflect on their roots, the family of Elder John Akaa have done it differently. They have decided to pause on the daily hustles to come together, think of their past and kneel in praise and thanksgiving to God for his love that never runs dry, the peace that settles even the greatest storms, and the unity that binds them for years runing.
It all started on a Sunday morning in Makurdi, the Benue State capital and at St Mary’s Catholic Church, North Bank where the scent of the holy incense thickened the air with the sound of hymns rising melodiously to invoke the spirit of the holy seal. It was the humble submissions of the Akaa family for a Thanksgiving Mass to celebrate their dad, Elder John Akaa and mother, Mrs Roseline Akaa.
Indeed the entire family members, friends and well wishers gathered not merely to mark a birthday, but to bear testimony to the graces and mercies of the divine to the humble and lowly parents, who, one of their children, Esther Akaa is a renowned journalist, and the Correspondent of The Voice Newspaper in Nasarawa State.
The parents, Elder John Akaa turned 80 and Roseline Akaa 60, yet retaining their voices of command and their laughter still capable of lightening up a table. The couple of four decades, Mrs Roseline Akaa also turned 60 on the 1st January, 2026. As a matter of fact, this was no ordinary thanksgiving. It was a ritual for remembrance and a public declaration that it is good to thank God.
This couple got married in 1983 and are blessed with eight children, six of whom are graduates, and five grandchildren. Both marched to the altar in praise and worship for the blessings they have received from God.
The Parish Priest, Rev Fr Titus Igyeseh, delivered the homily that penetrated the soul. Igyeseh, focusing on the gospel of Matthew 2:1-12, told the congregation that Jesus Christ came for all, not just the perfect, the powerful, or the popular.
He noted that the birth of Christ signifies salvation for all mankind, emphasising that God does not discriminate and does not promote division, as Jesus came for all people regardless of backgrounds or statuses.
Fr Igyeseh further stated that divisions experienced in society presently are man-made and not divinely instituted, adding that division hinders growth, unity, and progress within families and communities.
He cited the visit of the Maggai saying they went on the long journey from distant lands, with the very bright Star of Bethlehem as their guide, leading them towards Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
According to him, the Solemnity of the Epiphany marks the revelation that God’s salvation was not only meant for the Jewish people, contrary to the thinking among the Jews that they were the sole beneficiaries. He said salvation was extended to all of mankind, to people of every race and origins.
The clergyman encouraged christians to use their God given wisdom positively, rather than engaging in practices that harm others, and urged the congregation to rejoice in the success of others.
The Priest looking at the children of Elder John and Mrs Roseline Akaa, appreciated them not just for celebrating age but for honouring the legacy of the parents.
“Parents don’t ask for applause they ask for presence. And when you show up, you give them the only gift they truly crave: the assurance that their labour was not in vain,” he said.
He called on children to always celebrate their parents while they are alive to receive God’s blessings and prayed for the Akaa family, asking for increased grace, longer life, and enduring love and peace.
“Let your lives be like the wise men: bring gold of wisdom, frankincense of worship, and myrrh of humility. Do not envy the rise of others, rejoice in it. And when your parents stand before you, gray-haired and smiling, do not rush past them, pause, kneel, and thank God for the gift of their presence.”
That moment Father Igyeseh’s voice trembled as he placed his hands on their heads for the anointing, and the congregation chorused in the “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, the family appeared deeply emotional and sacred. Some of the family members confessed to the solemnity of that moment saying that it reminded them that they were not an island, but a branch of a tree that has weathered storms, droughts, and seasons of plenty.
Mrs Roseline Akaa, said she started life as an orphan, with no name, no inheritance, no safety net but turned into the foundation of a dynasty.She said at 17, she got married to a man who was 20 years her senior, Elder John Akaa, a man of strength and vigour. According to her, she married not just a husband, but a partner who would stand beside her to raise eight children; five girls and three boys and six of them now university graduates, all of them decent, kind and grounded.
“My story is not written in textbooks. It is written in midnight vigils where school fees tucked into prayer books. I didn’t just raise children, I raised changemakers, journalist, banker and teachers, each carrying a piece of my resilience”, Mrs Akaa said.
Roseline’s story was emotionally trailing as people shedded tears of honour and dignity. She was giving a round of applause.
At the reception held at Golden Glow of Queens Hotel, North Bank, it was a meet of cousins, royal fathers, journalists , pastors, childhood friends, university professors and well wishers.
The Chairlady of the occasion, Mrs Mwuese Uheeve expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be the Chairlady of the unforgettable double celebration: the 80th birthday of the patriarch, Elder John Akaa, and the 60th birthday of his lovely wife, Mrs. Roseline Akaa.
Uheeve said it was a testament to faith, endurance, love, and grace.
“When I look at Elder and Mrs Akaa, I see more than age. I see legacy. I see a man who taught his children to love God first, and a woman who taught them to love one another fiercely.
” I must also acknowledge the incredible family behind this celebration the sons and daughters who planned, prayed, and poured their hearts into today’s program; the grandchildren who danced, sang, and brought smiles to everyone’s faces; and the extended family, friends, and well-wishers who traveled far to be here. Your presence is the greatest gift you could give,” she said.
The Acting General Manager of Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation, Mr Samuel Atachin and a good number of correspondents and reporters from different media organisations and the Former BPPC Administrative Manager, Mr Orinya Ogenyi, lauded the children for celebrating their parents and prayed God to bless them.
Their eldest daughter, Esther Akaa, a journalist with The Voice Newspaper said the celebration was special as their parents have been their rock and strength .
She said, they thought them integrity by living it, they thought us that humility and honesty are valuable virtues in life. We thank God for their lives and for every sacrifice they made for us.
