Our guest speaker this week is Sophia Chiboka, the ultimate superhero. Sophia was destined for greatness – and by greatness, we mean being the boss of her three younger siblings. As the firstborn, Sophia honed her leadership skills, which would later serve her well in her career and personal life.
She’s now married to the lovely husband Nnamdi Chiboka and is mom to the adorable Ginika. But wait, there’s more! Sophia is a force to be reckoned with – she’s generous, caring, smart, creative, and a fantastic cook. She’s got an MBA degree, speaks fluent Swahili (just because), and gets along with everyone (even her in-laws!).
We’re not sure what’s more impressive, her resume or her ability to make friends with anyone. Sophia Chiboka is the ultimate Renaissance woman – and we’re all just trying to keep up with her awesomeness!
Link to service: https://youtube.com/live/ZmHbtpNnSUI?feature=share
Text of Sophia’s address: https://stmarksottawa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Sophia-Chiboka-Black_History_Month_Speech-FINAL-VERSION.pdf
Background:
Zuma rock is a large natural monolith near Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja. The rock is famous for its patterns which form a striking resemblance to a human face. This igneous rock, composed of gabbro and granodiorite, holds deep historical and cultural significance for the locals, as it was used as a defensive retreat by the Gbagyi people against invading neighbouring tribes during inter-tribal wars.
Zuma rock was first discovered in the 15th century by the Zuba people of Niger State, Nigeria, who called it “zumwa”, which means “a place of guinea fowls”. The rock rises 725 metres (2,379 ft) above sea level, which is more than twice the height of the Eiffel Tower. It is estimated to be over 500 million years old. Zuma rock appears on the Nigerian 100 Naira note. It attracts lots of tourists every year due to its unique geology, as well as folklore regarding fire on its summit.
Photo credit: Femi Omotayo, April 2019.