By S. Oladiran
A group of Catholic priests under the Abuja Archdiocese has introduced a special back-to-school retreat to prepare secondary school students in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for academic excellence, emotional resilience, and personal growth.
The week-long programme, which began on Monday, September 1, at St. Donald Catholic Church in Karu FHA, is also scheduled to be held at the Church of Assumption in Asokoro and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Galadima.
Rev. Fr. Pascal Nwoko, an Educational Psychologist and Therapist, who declared the retreat open, explained that the initiative was designed to address the academic and emotional challenges students face at the start of every school year.
“Many young people struggle with academic pressure, identity issues, peer influence, and emotional stress. These challenges can hinder their performance in school and their spiritual growth,” he said.
According to him, the retreat seeks to prepare students mentally, spiritually, and academically for the new session while instilling resilience, accountability, and goal-setting skills.
Fr. Nwoko further disclosed that the programme is built around five key pillars:
Goal Setting, Success Strategies, Mentorship, Psychological Coping Skills Spiritual Anchoring
“These pillars are designed to nurture well-rounded students who are not only academically focused but also emotionally stable and spiritually grounded,” he added.
The retreat is open to students from JSS1 to SS3 across the FCT, and it is ot limited to only Catholic children. Fr. Nwoko also revealed that a follow-up programme is being developed to track students’ progress in academics, personal discipline, and character development, with active involvement of parents and guardians.
Also speaking at the event, Rev. Fr. Felix Ilemona, a Clinical Psychologist, noted that the retreat would help students adopt healthy coping strategies to handle academic stress, peer pressure, and emotional challenges.
“This programme equips teenagers with practical tools to balance studies, build confidence, and maintain emotional stability while fostering a positive outlook toward learning and personal growth,” he said.
On his part, Rev. Fr. Joseph Obada, a Bioethicist Psychologist, emphasized that the initiative would instill ethical values in students, helping them develop sound judgment and make responsible choices in academics, relationships, and daily life.
A parent who spoke during the retreat expressed gratitude to the Church, describing the programme as “timely and impactful.” According to the parent, the retreat will help teenagers build good habits, improve their mindset, and start the new school session with confidence and clarity.
The Catholic priests affirmed that the retreat would not only prepare students for immediate academic success but also equip them for long-term personal development, ensuring they grow into responsible, resilient, and value-driven young adults.
