MRS DAWULUNG-DONGKUM GRACE SHWARTA: THE ABIDING GRACE OF GOD

In our people, we are rich!

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It was the birthday of Mr Fatoyinbo Olusheye Ojuade, our one time colleague in Oceanic Bank International Plc on Monday, December 06, 2021 and following his appreciation note on his Facebook page on Tuesday, December 07, 2021 ‘thanks to all my friends and family who sent birthday wishes and prayers my way. May you be celebrated as well. Thank you indeed,’ when our dearest sister, friend and colleague Mrs Grace Shwarta Dawulung-Dongkum at about 09:17pm commented innocently ‘those of us that forgot nko? Belated happy birthday dearest 'Seye..’

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However, I never truly know what awaits me when, in my usual mannerism, I responded very harmlessly to her comment ‘you are guilty of one carton. Please send it through me to him.’ But, there was a further innocent response from Grace ‘haba, my Oga... mercy please’ which I responded further ‘on Your people Lord!’ until I woke up on Thursday, December 09, 2021 to meet a message on my Facebook Messenger that simply said ‘Good evening my Oga Mark. How are you and the family? Please if you do not mind, I would like to send something small for the season, even if na for small bag of rice. Please Sir, no vex, can you send your account number?

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Initially, I was worried, wondering if our innocuous banters on the Facebook page of our dearest colleague, brother and friend, Mr Fatoyinbo Olusheye Ojuade on his appreciation note on his birthday two days before had led to this request, however, I responded by forwarding my account details to her and by 09:42pm on Thursday, December 09, 2021, I got a message on my WhatsApp ‘Good evening Oga Mark. This is your sister Grace from Jos’ and below this message, was a transaction receipt from Access Bank and in its narration, she simply said ‘I honour you Sir!’

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Tears, beautiful tears have not rolled down my cheeks recently as it did on that evening, Thursday, December 09, 2021 because as I looked at the transaction receipt from Access Bank, I knew that I do not deserve such a honour, not a bit of it, yet she chose to honour me and my family at such a time as Christmas period where the divine grace of God abides by allowing the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to us so that we may have life in abundance because true to her name, Grace, she is an abiding grace of God and in December 2021, she allowed the grace of her name to flow to us through the kindness of her heart.

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And I will forever be grateful, grateful to a heart that is kind, simple; humble and graceful.

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However, this was not the beginning of our more than twenty (20) years of a beautiful relationship.

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On Monday, February 25, 2002, twenty (20) years ago, a young 1995 Accounting graduate from the University of Jos who had previously worked with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) from March 1997-February 2002 was employed by Oceanic Bank International Plc as an Assistant Officer (Entry Point) (AOEP) and was deployed to the Corporate and Commercial Banking Unit (CCB) of the emerging Jos Branch and this was where my path crossed with that of the simple, cheerful and ever smiling Miss Grace Shwarta Dawulung.

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At this period in time, I was, by divine providence; the Officer in charge of the Records/Performance Management Unit, the Unit that held responsibility over staff employment documentation, staff records; confirmation and appraisal processes, hence; I had the privilege of handling her complete employment documentation processes that led to the confirmation of her employment effective Tuesday, October 01, 2002, just seven (7) months of her employment with Oceanic Bank International Plc.

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Impressive!

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Truly, her confirmation process was one of the fastest in the history of Oceanic Bank International Plc because under seven (7) months of her resumption, she was already a standout performer in all indices.

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This, certainly, was the beginning of our beautiful relationship, twenty (20) years on and still counting.

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In fact, I even had the singular honour of co-signing her ‘change of name’ with the then Head, Human Capital Development, Mr Abel Ajala on Monday, November 25, 2002 following the completion of the necessary documentations upon her marriage to Mr Sylvanus Dongkum on Saturday, April 06, 2002 and took the inevitable name of Mrs Dawulung-Dongkum Grace Shwarta, proudly.

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These, truly were some of the special privileges that I have shared with Mrs Dawulung-Dongkum Grace Shwarta, the lady with the abiding grace of God until November 2008 when our relationship that has been so beautiful since February 2002, became even more beautiful.

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In November 2008, I was an unwilling Messenger to the North to take over as the Team Lead, HR Business Partners, North 1 – Kaduna and be in charge of the responsibilities of three (3) Zones of eleven (11) States: North Central 1 – Kaduna (Kaduna, Bauchi and Niger), Middle Belt – Jos (Plateau, Nasarrawa and Benue) and North East - Maiduguri (Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa and Gombe).

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Truly, like the proverbial Jonah in the Book of Jonah, I did everything humanly possible to ensure that I never took over this responsibility, but little did I know that God had a clear message for me through this as He will always do by employing His creation, no matter their resistance, to accomplish His divine plans.

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And so I resumed in Kaduna on Monday, November 10, 2008 to assume this huge responsibility over three (3) Zones of eleven (11) State and as the days unfolded into months, I found out that every day that I spent in the North as the Team Lead, HR Business Partners, North 1 – Kaduna was truly and properly designed by God by the peaceful experiences that I was gathering, however, my first official visit to Jos did not happened until Saturday, February 14, 2009 when I went to facilitate a Performance Management Training (PMT) programme.

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This day, Saturday, February 14, 2009 was the day that the world celebrates the annual virtues of St Valentine who displayed sheer courage and strength by choosing to obey God rather than man no matter what the consequences and through it, lost his life.

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Lost his life for humanity!

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Yet, this was the only day and date of all the days and dates available to mankind in a twelve calendar month where the world was celebrating the true meaning of love that I choose to anchor this Performance Management Training (PMT) programme in the Middle Belt Zone – Jos and like St Valentine, I am forever grateful that the entire Zone decided to do the right thing by attending the training programme in their numbers.

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On that day, they decided to share their love, not only with the HR Business Partners North 1 – Kaduna, but amongst themselves by making the training program a love-fest one with shades of red, peace and calmness.

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Sincerely, that was exactly what the members of staff of Middle Belt – Jos (Plateau, Nasarrawa and Benue States) led by her ever charismatic Zonal Head, Mr Michael Maurice Vunobolki did on that day, Saturday, February 14, 2009, by choosing to attend this important training programme rather than joined the world to celebrate a St Valentine’s Day that has been turned ‘worldly’ by the present day age and in this process, had the sheer courage and strength to do what was right in the eyes of man and God.

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I will forever be proud of that moment because the impressive Training Hall at Lamonde Hotels located at 16, Apollo Crescent, Tudun Wada GRA, Jos was not only full to capacity, but with active participation of all members of staff in attendance where my capacity and capability to facilitate a training of such nature, was tested to the limits.

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Thankfully, God granted me His divine wisdom, otherwise…..

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However, this was where I first, physically met with the delectable Mrs Dawulung-Dongkum Grace Shwarta and instantly, the allure of her warmth, the beauty of her smiles; the charms of her vibrancy and the cheerfulness of her personality, all combined together to attract me to her and since then, we have not only became colleagues and friends, but brother and sister where Grace has continued to proudly and generously referred to me and calls me ‘my dearest brother.’

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This will continue to be a moment of pride for me.

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Sincerely, on that day in that big hall, I found her to be exceptional, intelligent; honest and diligent. Her smiles were that of an innocent child, willing and inviting, yet with an assured confidence, poise and grace and I am forever grateful to God that our paths crossed in the corridors of Oceanic Bank International Plc.

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Honestly, Grace is a constant reminder of what simplicity and humility are all about and these sterling virtues, very short in supply in our modern day age, have enchanted me forever.

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Hers is a life of cheerfulness, an abiding grace of God!

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It is said that remembering is important because our collective stories give us our identity and shape the way we live, hence I have gone this lane to be able to effectively and properly tell the beautiful story of my beautiful relationship with Mrs Dawulung-Dongkum Grace Shwarta, the woman with an abiding grace of God.

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Again, I have come to learn that when something good or wonderful or even strange happens to me, I should never keep quiet about it, but share my testimonies with others through my writings, my story telling. Perhaps, this could inspire others.

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And this is my beautiful story about Mrs Dawulung-Dongkum Grace Shwarta: the abiding grace of God!

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Sincerely, going to the North in November 2008 as the Team Lead, HR Business Partners, North – Kaduna was God’s benevolence to me and a gift of opportunity placed on me to become a better person and through Mrs Dawulung-Dongkum Grace Shwarta, the woman with an abiding grace of God, I found the true meaning of my assignment in the North.

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And I will forever be grateful for this great benevolence from our ever loving Father in heaven.

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While it is very true that fortune has continued to smile at me at various times through various persons, I have never seen such a level of magnanimity of the heart and selflessness of the soul before in my life like on Thursday, December 09, 2021 because on that day, completely unsolicited and unaware of what financial struggles that I was in, she gave me and my family her heart in her generosity.

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In Year 2021 and unknown to her, my strength and strategies were being exhausted as I was preparing to visit my mother, Mama Jeminetu Osabomeh (Nee Idi Ekpoki), who in her old age, has not seen my children, her grandchildren since December 2012, a whole nine (9) years apart and the Traditional Women Cooking (Ikpigho-Idumhi) Title ceremony of my only earthly and elder sister, Mrs Theresa Onomoane Asekhameh (Nee Osabomeh) and I was resigning myself to fate of what might be as these twin activities were taking a huge financial toll on me when her message suddenly came up on my Facebook Messenger that morning of Thursday, December 09, 2021.

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Prior to this, I had actually called for a genuine financial assistance from some of my friends and associates to enable me carry out these two important activities in December 2021, however, I inadvertently left her out of this distinguished list, yet she acted purely because the grace of God abides in and with her.

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And I can never forget. I can never forget the pure joy and happiness that huge alert brought to my heart and for as long as I live on this earth, I will never forget that moment of true joy and happiness in my heart. Simply put, I was completely overwhelmed with uncontrollable emotions.

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Thank you my dearest sister and friend, Grace. God bless you, now and always.

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It is quite instructive to note here that we have never met more than thrice in our entire career with Oceanic Bank International Plc, yet on Thursday, December 09, 2021, she exhibited an expression of love so deep in its meaning even from a far land as Jos, Plateau State.

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This is a total offering which cannot be done without love, for it was in this love that she offered her gift of love to me and my family even at such a difficult period in the life of mankind.

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Sincerely, anyone can go into a shop to get any gift items for a loved one, but the gift of oneself by making out time to be with someone which many people longed for, but do not always receive, is the best of and toughest of all gifts to give.

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On that day, Thursday, December 09, 2021, she became for me the lens to view generosity. Her generosity at such a difficult and challenging time will continue to be of a supreme value to me and I will forever take this to heart.

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Truly, it is said that hard times challenges people’s generosity and sense of kindness, yet as difficult as the Year 2021 was because of the continued global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, she gave me the gift of herself, the gift of her generosity.

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God truly desires us to be heralds of His light and gospel message of love and this can only be made possible by sharing His grace of invitation to us with others and this a lifelong effort.

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On that day, Thursday, December 09, 2021, in the special month of December where the divine met humanity in true love through the birth of the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ, she learned to love me and my family unconditionally by the beautiful gift of her heart and through this, gave herself completely to God in service of us by making our burden light.

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Honestly, when we gaze upon the face of someone we love and see their pains or vulnerability, sacrifice becomes not a burdensome duty, but a personal gift because our hearts are moved to help others, and through it, the burden dissolves.

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On that day, Thursday, December 09, 2021, my burden suddenly became light from a completely unsolicited assistance.

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Thank you my dearest sister Grace for loving us so unconditionally. God bless you.

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Sincerely, learning to love another unconditionally in a wicked world like ours, is hard, but if we learn to love, then we can truly give ourselves completely to God in service of our friends, neighbours and families.

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Our lives, truly, is about people and not things!

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Thank you for revealing the loving character of God and His tenderness to us His children through your beautiful heart.

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However, as the Team Lead, HR Business Partners, North 1 – Kaduna, I visited Jos on one or two other instances during my nine (9) months stints in Kaduna particularly during the ill-fated ‘head-hunting recruitment exercise’ of June 2009.

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Prior to these instances, Grace has been redeployed to the Retail Banking Group (RBG), Rwang Pam (Jos II) Branch in September 2006 and this was where I met her in one of those visits. And although the Branch was very small in nature, but was doing big things through the able leadership of her Branch Manager, Mr Bamgboye Olufemi Adebola, a complete gentleman, godly and upright, however, the cheerfulness and infectious hospitality of Grace never deserted her even in a small Branch by space as the Rwang Pam (Jos II) Branch.

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Here, she was all over me and my HR Business Partners entourage, seeking to make our stay in Jos, not only comfortable, but a memorable one and I could understand the pains and strains on her always cheerful and smiling face when that avoidable distortion came about in June 2009 during our ‘head-hunting’ interview exercise which was aimed to staff the upcoming Zonal Office, Jos when we were chased away, almost shamefully by our sister Partners, the HR Business Partners, North 2 – Kano purportedly acting on the instructions of an ED even though we got and received the necessary approvals for this exercise from our Home Office, Human Resource Department, Corporate Office for an assignment in a?Zone that was under my jurisdiction.

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Grace, like almost every member of staff of Middle Belt Zone – Jos, was very disturbed by this sad event, yet she kept her cheerfulness and beautiful smiles.

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Thank you my dearest sister for teaching me the beauty of a beautiful smile. It heals!

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Sincerely, there is something about Grace, this beautiful Pankshin born woman that makes one takes note of her and keep it because this certainly finds a clear expression in her faith in her God. Calm, cheerful and always smiling. She is diligent and delightful. Certainly, these are great virtues that bring peace, not only to one’s heart, but the hearts of others around.

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Truth be told, Grace’s simplicity, cheerfulness and humility have enchanted me forever!

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Truly, what defines our greatness is the ability to live for others, to be kind and compassionate. Our greatness is not in our riches or material things, but our greatness is in the heart of our love and lives.

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How well have we loved and lived for the others?

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Thank you for living and loving others, especially me and my family by your cheerfulness, simplicity, smiles and humility.

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Thank you my dearest Grace. Thank you.

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My dearest sister, as we celebrate our twelve (12) years of friendship on the social media platform of Facebook on this day, Tuesday, January 11, 2022 and two decades of our beautiful friendship as colleagues through the corridors of Oceanic Bank International Bank Plc, please let us continue to make positive impacts in our world, positive impacts that will take us to heaven at the end of our journey together here on earth.

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May you continue to share your great faith, humility and complete dependence in Jesus Christ, your Lord and Master with others.

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And my dearest sister, as you go through the Year 2022 and even beyond, may the good Lord continues to open your heart so that your life will continue to bear fruits and be guided by the Lord into whose mighty hands you have continued to commit all things to live your life beautifully so well. This is my sincere prayers for you and your family.

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Thank you for blessing my heart with your cheerfulness, simplicity; humility and kindness.

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God bless you, now and always!

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Na me

Your brother and friend

Oga Mark (HR)

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Tuesday, January 11, 2022