The University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) community in Gwagwalada, FCT, was recently

thrown into mourning by the sudden death of one of its longest serving lecturers, Dr.

(Mrs). Cecilia Kato. Mrs. Kato, 59, was a lecturer in the English and African

Literature and Gender Studies departments.

The late Mrs. Kato was a well-known writer and gender advocate, Christian leader

and respected mentor to generations of her students past and present. Notably, Kato

published collections of poems, including Desires, and Victims of Love in which she

lamented the state of Nigerian – nay – African women. She was equally well known as an impassioned and outspoken speaker in her various public appearances at religious and circular gatherings.

Dr. (Mrs.) Kato obtained degrees in English and Literary Studies from the University of Calabar and started her lecturing job at UNIABUJA (from where she also obtained her PhD) until her death.

She died on the morning of March 19 after a brief asthmatic attack.

Reacting to Mrs. Kato’s sudden passing, one of her children, Miss Ndi Kato, social activist, founder of the Dinidari Foundation and an upcoming politician, said: “My mother was my heartbeat, my pillar, my rock. She taught me everything I knew and she was my role model.”

“It’s a colossal loss,” said journalist and activist, Betty Abah, a younger friend of the deceased.

“Mrs. Kato was the liveliest, the friendliest and most generous person you can find in any gathering. Her laughter and enthusiasm were quite infectious. And she was quite brilliant. As a fellow mentee of Prof. Ebele Eko, our former lecturer at UNICAL (though she was in a much older set), I formed an enriching friendship with her which lasted more than 15 years. I will certainly miss her. Our world is certainly diminished with the sudden and untimely passing of this wonderful soul,” she added.

Kagoro, Kaduna State-born Mrs. Kato will be buried on Friday, March 23.

She is survived by four children and nine grandchildren.