By Dan Sani Gambo
Her contributions to teaching profession and humanity was the topic of discussions among relatives , friends and well- wishers at her graveyard. This is nobody but late Mama Fidelia Asabe Shwardun who died 24 Oct, 2017 and buried 3rd November 2017.
Good Testimonies of Mama’s lifestyle while she was alive dominated her last church service at St Peter’s Catholic Church Pushit and at the family burial ground at Dungbyeng Village in Panshin Local Government Area of Plateau state, indicated that she was hospitable, hardworking and a. disciplinarian .
As a professional teacher and a Principal to so many schools in Plateau state, she has impacted in the lives of so many prominent personalities in the state. Some of them are lawyers, Doctors, politicians, Journalists , Business men and women and many others.
Her third son, Mr Shwardun Maimmy , a Business Manager with Tranex currier company in Lagos, appealed to Plateau State government to Immortalize his mother because of her so many sacrifices to the state.
He said he remembered when his mother had to go to work as a teacher without salaries for countless months and even until her demise, her pension and gratuity was still pending .
Maimmy expressed dismayed over the non-payment of retirees as he further explained that many workers who had retired from service for many years are yet to receive their gratuity and accumulated pensions adding that only God knows when they will be paid.
He regretted that his mother did not enjoyed her gratuity and pension before her demise ” Evan if they pay my deceased mother now, it is of no use because she will had enjoyed it when she was alive. I believed many workers who are still alive may suffer the same fate , please pay these retirees for God’s sake ” he said
Late Mama Fedelia was a dedicated Christian and a leader in her church, many church members said a huge vacuum has being created following her demise ” It will be difficult to fill the vacuum Mama had left behind” Mr Israel said one of the church member expressed concerned.
Catchiest David Idi of St Peter’s Catholic Church Pushit, at Mama graveyard before she was finally put to rest, said Christians should emulate Mama lifestyle and her dedication and commitment to God.
According to him, Mama was very hardworking and a disciplinarian ” she single handedly trained all her children , the eldest among them is a medical Doctor, and all her children are highly placed in life today because of her tireless efforts to make sure her children graduate from the university ”
The Eldest Son of the deceased, Dr Jonathan Shwardun , A medical Doctor with a specialist Hospital in Lagos, said they missed her moral support but described his late mother as hardworking and a disciplinarian who is never tire of punishing a child until he or she stop that unholy behaviors he or she is being punished for.
Jonathan also expressed concerned over the non- payment of their mothers gratuity and pensions adding that these retirees are suffering and needed to be aided by the prompt payment of their pensions to allow them live happily for the remaining stay on earth ” What can an old person do”
The deceased elder brother , Da- Sati Palace, while trying to address the mourners that were at the graveyard for the final internment, broke in tears but was later control.
He said his sister was his source of inspiration and she has being supporting him financially and now that she is gone to be with the Lord, he don’t know who will look after him at his remaining stay on earth.
However, Mama Fidelia was born on 10 th December 1950 at Shiwar in Amper District of Kanke LGA of Plateau state and died 24th October 2017. In her early stage in life, she attended Holy Cross Primary School Panshin from 1960-1967 and proceeded to Our Lady of Apostolic College Akwanga from 1969-1973 and also attended College of Education Akwanga from 1979-1981.
She served the compulsory NYSC service scheme from 1981-1982, and Mama went further to complete a course in Special Education at the University of Jos in 1984.
She was a classroom teacher and later became a principal to so many secondary schools in plateau , through out her thirty five years of active service, she served under Plateau State Ministry of Education.
Mama until her death , she survived by six sons, sixteen grand children , brothers, sisters , cousins, Auntys’, friends and well wishers.
