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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Jude Chetanna Chukwuneke is a Catholic Priest of Nnewi Diocese and a certified civil engineer. He is also a passionate lover of the youth who is engaged in propagating the ideals of a thoroughbred youth maximising his God-given potential. In this interview with Saturday Sun, the cleric who would this week be inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers speaks on a wide range of issues as it affects life choices and making the best out of every situation.
What are the things that inspired your vocation to the priesthood?
I always loved and pursued two related vocations: the Catholic priesthood and/or the military (both within and outside the country). Hence, I applied for the US Navy West Point USA, but the political impasse of 1993 marred my chances. I also sat for the examinations into the Nigerian Defence Academy same year but didn’t succeed. These two vocations have a common denominator; which is service to humanity either through the church or the state So, I can say that what inspired my vocation for the Catholic priesthood is offering my life and service for the good of others in the saving work of Christ in his church which is also encapsulated in service to humanity. Some are asking me whether I’ve become an engineer before going for the priesthood or whether it is the church that sent me to study engineering after my ordination as a priest. The priestly vocation in the Catholic Church is a very noble one, and there are no compromises on the basic formation and training. I graduated from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, before I began my seminary formation at All Hallows’ Seminary Onitsha as a junior seminarian for a year there. I sat for the Latin diploma and later proceeded to St. Paul’s Seminary Ukpor for my junior apostolic work, then moved to St. Pius X Spiritual Year Seminary Akwu-Ukwu for Spiritual Formation. I moved to Pope John Paul II Major Seminary, Awka for Philosophy, and then ended the priestly formation at Blessed Iwene Tansi Major Seminary, Onitsha for my theological formation. In all, I spent nine years of formation for the Catholic priesthood as against 12 years. I had a double promotion in philosophy. Also, the Pastoral Year Apostolic Work after philosophy was waved because I was always spending my vacations doing construction works for the diocese. Almost every seminary I passed through had my construction signature.
Of all the available courses of study in the university, why did you choose engineering?
I see the hand of God in all this, because initially I wanted to study advertisement because I felt bad about the poor state of advertisements in the nation both in print and video forms. But my elder brother discouraged me that there was no such course. And so I said since Computer Science was nearest to it, that I would study that. He also said it’s not a professional course, too, unless I would go for Computer or Electrical and Electronics Engineering. I registered it in JAMB and had Civil Engineering as my second choice since my father was a builder, contractor and draftsman, and my immediate elder brother was an Architecture undergraduate. Well, JAMB offered me my second choice by merit. The rest, they say, is now history.
Is there any correlation between engineering and being a pastor of souls as a priest?
Of course yes. There is. Both are geared towards solution provision in spite of the ruggedness of the terrain or situations. Construction involves conceptions, planning, execution, completion and routine maintenance and management of durable, economic and lasting structures. In pastoring, you conceive, plan, plant/build, sustain and maintain until all souls are united to Christ both in this world and in the hereafter. Engineers are patient, detailed, and resilient, focused and never give up. There can never be development and civilisation without engineering, and life would have been meaningless without God and knowledge of Him. Therefore, engineers are co-creators with God. I can’t even exhaust the similarities.
There have been incessant cases of building collapse in recent times leading to loss of lives and colossal losses. What do you think needs to be done to reverse such ugly trend and how do you think the case of unqualified engineers should be treated?
There are many quacks in the engineering /construction industry, especially in building construction industry, and fortunately or unfortunately, they are the ones who get the jobs. They cut corners a lot and clients spend all the money for construction on the wrong people. The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), is doing its best to regulate and sanitise the processes, although more needs to be done. We have rules and penalties, and also preventive measures. We need the cooperation of all stakeholders in the construction industry to curb and eradicate the menace of building collapse. You know the mistake of a doctor kills only a patient but building collapse kills in numbers.
You are being inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). How do you feel on receiving this honour and in what ways do you think this fellowship shall enhance your work?
This is the height of honour; the highest honour for an engineer in practice in Nigeria. Therefore, I feel greatly honoured and fulfilled. This will even increase my commitment to excellence in my engineering practice, development and management. It is spurring me into greater involvement across the globe. I am presenting a paper at the 7th World Engineering Conference in Czech Republic next month. I will surely bring home the knowledge and technological exchange from the conference to both my work place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, and the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, where I serve as Head, Physical Planning and Environment Department, and Director, Building and Land Matters, respectively.
As a priest deeply involved in youth apostolate, what do you have to say about the decline in moral and social values in the society today?
I had planned throughout my priestly formation to give special attention to the youth as a special apostolate. This was necessitated by the dearth of mentor-figures which the youth need for excellence. Also, less attention was paid by the society to concerns, fears and aspirations of the youth. Thus, they need an ear to listen to their emotions and dreams. Very large portions of our population are youth while many of them lack basic needs. Suffice it to say that certain skills and capabilities are needed in these youth to make them employable and emerge into leaders in the respective fields tomorrow. I had tried some templates throughout my apostolic works. So immediately after my ordination and in my first place of primary assignment; St. Mary’s parish Abubor Nnewichi, I founded and registered an NGO called YouthAlive Development Initiative (YADI) with the permission of my bishop then, Most Rev Hilary Odilichukwu Okeke. The motto of YADI was Redefining the Youth Perspective. The YADI vision is to train, build and develop the potential of visionary and understanding leaders of future generations in Nigeria and Africa. YADI vision extends to building a generation of Christian youth leaders that will not lack basic needs of life through self-discovery programmes and life-changing events. There was a Youth Resource Centre called YADI Hopeville where these activities were carried out both daily and weekly. This YADI template has been used in my apostolate as Nnewi Diocesan Youth chaplain for about 8 years. It’s still being used in a medical college; College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus where I have been serving as chaplain for more than 11 years now. The results are massive with a lot of human resources serving around the world as medical expatriates, and in other disciplines. And also, a foundational member of YADI was ordained a Catholic priest this year. They say children are great imitators, so give them something great to imitate, likewise the youth. No society thrives without justice and equity and we know this is the bane of the society now. All our institutions (religious, government and traditional) have contributed to this failure so the families no longer hold together and there are no prioritisation of values and principles of decent and ethical living.
Many Nigerian youths are blazing the trail globally in various endeavours but many are still going the wrong way. How can that derailing youth reinvent himself again?
The youth are a reflection of their families and the society or vice versa. Give them hope, and a conducive environment, then reap fruitful contributions and developments. Otherwise we reap destruction. The caveat is, you reap what you sow. Nigerians in Diaspora are trailblazers in their endeavours and professions, because of the aforementioned reasons. I will not stop reiterating that the youth bulge is Nigeria’s greatest resource. Human resources are priceless and are far better than both solid and liquid minerals, but what are left are good governance and political will to transform our fortunes of human resources. Career politicians, religious and traditional leaders have muddled the waters. To get things back, all these institutions must be intentional about creating a society with morals and social values. All stakeholders must work together, and all hands must be on the deck. Lest, ‘nemo dat, quod non habet’ that is, ‘no one can give what he doesn’t have.’
What are the things that give you sense of fulfilment or accomplishment?
I am just human like every other person with some sense of fulfilment and accomplishments. Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in a pyramid form still applies to me. Once I set a dream and actualise it, I am fulfilled on that accomplishment. Then I set another and continue to pursue it. My goals are both profane and spiritual, and will never end until my time is up. Today, I am fulfilled that this year I was conferred with a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (FNICE), completed my MSc in Project Management Technology in Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), and I am now being conferred with a Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE). Again my paper was accepted at the 7th World Engineering Conference in Czech Republic in October. I will be presenting orally too. You see I am greatly excited and fulfilled but more are on the line, especially PhD in view. In all, I give God the greater glory for choosing me as His vessel of Honour for His glory.
