By Palang Paul, The Nigeria Times
Human rights defender and campaigner Lawrence Zongo on Sunday, January 4, 2026, joined members of the Gado family and congregants of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Bishara One, Miango, to mark a Thanksgiving service celebrating the 80th birthday of his grandmother, Mama Minchwe Gado, popularly known as Mummy Den.
The Thanksgiving service, held on the first Sunday of the year, took place in Miango, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, and drew family members, church leaders, community residents, and well-wishers who gathered to give thanks for Mama Minchwe’s life, marked by decades of child-rearing, resilience, and faith.
Mama Minchwe, who is 80 years old, is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Family members said she played a central role in raising several generations, often under difficult social and economic conditions, and continues to be a unifying figure within the family.
Speaking during the service, Lawrence Zongo, a freelance journalist and the first grandchild of Mama Minchwe, described Thanksgiving as a moment of gratitude for longevity, family, and the values passed down through generations.
“At 80 years, our grandmother has raised children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren,” Zongo said. “Her life reflects endurance, responsibility, and commitment to family, even without access to formal education or structured social support.”
Zongo used the occasion to call on Nigerian authorities to introduce monthly financial allowances for senior citizens, particularly elderly people who lacked access to formal education and employment opportunities due to policy failures of past administrations.
“There are many elderly Nigerians who worked all their lives within families and communities but were excluded from formal systems,” he said. “They have no pensions and no steady income. This is something the government can correct now through structured social welfare support.”
He added that while families and faith-based communities continue to shoulder much of the responsibility, a formal state-backed system would provide more consistent support for elderly citizens across the country.
During his remarks, Zongo also acknowledged the role of nonprofit and faith-based organizations in supporting elderly people and widows, especially in rural and conflict-affected communities. He mentioned organizations including Equipping the Needy, The Blessing Projects, Icho-Demi International, Doro Vision, Stefanos Foundation, and many others noting their involvement in providing food assistance, healthcare support, and dignity-driven interventions for senior citizens.
He said government institutions could strengthen such efforts by partnering with or supporting credible nongovernmental organizations, particularly in areas where direct state intervention remains limited.
“Public authorities can do more by supporting or funding neutral organizations that already have community trust, rather than relying solely on political distribution channels,” Zongo said.
Also speaking at the service, Hon. Bala Gado, Supervisory Councillor on Social Services in Bassa Local Government Area, Secretary of the Church, and the first son of Mama Minchwe, reflected on his mother’s spiritual journey and family history.
“We grew up seeing our mother outside the Christian faith,” he said. “We shared the message of Jesus Christ with her, and today she is a Christian. She no longer follows traditional worship practices but has accepted Christ.”
Hon. Gado described his mother’s decision to embrace Christianity as a defining moment for the family, saying it influenced the spiritual upbringing of her children and grandchildren.
He added that the Thanksgiving service was organized to acknowledge God’s preservation of Mama Minchwe’s life and to recognize the values she upheld within the household.
As part of the service, the Gado family presented a thanksgiving support offering to ECWA Bishara One in appreciation of the church’s role in their mother’s spiritual growth and ongoing pastoral support. The congregation also made a general offering.
The sermon was delivered by the Reverend in charge, Yakubu Ngwe, who preached from Luke 12:35, encouraging believers to remain spiritually prepared and committed in their daily lives by keeping their lamps burning.
Church members described the service as a blend of worship, reflection, and family celebration, marking both the beginning of the year and a milestone in Mama Minchwe’s life.
For the Gado family, the gathering served as a public acknowledgment of an 80-year journey shaped by family responsibility, faith, and continuity across generations.
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