Elizabeth Kanza Lekwat [nee Waziri]
Born May 25 1951
Died January 30 1985

Reverend Barnabas Bariyakad Lekwat PhD
Born December 5 1943
Died August 5 1999


FAMILY LIFE
In 1970 Elizabeth, born to the Waziri family of Kurmin Bi, Zonkwa, Zangon kataf Local Government Area [LGA] of Kaduna state met and married the then Pastor Barnarbas  son of Lekwat Abrak, the first and only Wakilin Bajju of Tsoriyang, a village in Madakiya ward of Zankon Kataf LGA

Their first son Timothy Abrak arrived in 1972 while Elizabeth was in Jos with her relative HRH Nuhu Bature at the prestigious Mordern Bookshop, Jos. In '73, Pastor Lekwat went to study Theology at Wheaton College Illinois USA with his young wife and son. Upon graduation in 1974, they returned heavy with child as only 2 months in, at his new station in Igbaja, Kwara state, Elizabeth gave birth to their second child Anastasia Tani Tokunboh. He worked as a tutor at the ECWA Theological Seminary Igabja while Elizabeth having had training as a teacher worked with the women and taught them useful skills like home keeping and sewing.

The move to Zaria to join the Ahmadu Bello University faculty at the the Advanced College of Education must have happened about 1975, They soon had a third child, Irene Salamatu in 1975 and a fourth Patience Halima in 1979 both in Zaria

Another move to New York City, New York to study for a PhD in Theology made him take the entire family, now a group of five. As Christians and people who loved the Lord, they ensured they found suitable churches to raise their children and grow in the Lord. One of such churches wasthe New York Calvary Baptist church
Here, their 5th child, Martha Nshiyi was born in 1981

Rev Dr BB Lekwat moved back home in 1983 to resume in work in ABU Zaria. They had their 6th and last child in 1984, Paul Kazanshiyi was born on Bashar street in the Kongo Campus home. 

ELIZABETH LEKWAT'S LIFE & PASSING
From here home in Zonkwa, Kaduna, she attended the Dala Girls College in Kano and started working as a clerk with Union bank. She married and as her husband pursued his academic ambitions and she began to bear children, she remained a steadfast support but also found time to gain a degree.
In Zaria, she worked at the Women's Teachers College. Elizabeth was a very industrious woman and her family enjoyed wholesome home cooked meals always. She made bread herself and the children will always remember Mommy's mango jam. Soon enough, her bread became popular in the neighborhood as she was want to share with friends and colleagues at work. She soon started her bakery business called Family Bakery. Family bread was sold in major stores in Zaria and within the campus to students. 
She farmed several crops including maize and beans. She managed the family funds and sewed clothes for her children. She was such an industrious woman!

After she had her youngest, she began to feel ill and went to the hospital. They did not quite get it at first but later discovered that she had ovarian cancer. Her husband quickly put resources together and took her to the best doctors in America.
The doctors gave her some months to live and her Beloved BB brought her home and nursed her. Her last Christmas was special as she, weak as she was, still tried to make Christmas fun for everyone, buying gifts and making presents. In her sick state, she insisted on going with her husband and daughter to take her boy to secondary school. It was the first time he was going to be away from home, she had to see where her first son would spend 6 years of his life. That's the woman she was, always looking out for everyone else. The Proverbs 31 woman She lost her hair completely due to the chemotherapy and heavy drugs she had to take as her systems slowly began shutting down. The Rev BB Lekwat kept close vigil over her and worked from home, talking and praying with her. 

In the morning of Wednesday January 30 1986, Elizabeth went to be with her Lord and Maker.

The entire world had changed! Mama Timo was gone. A loss never to be recovered from. Her husband mourned her and the children cried for their mother. She was laid to rest in Tsoriyang amidst great sorrow.

A NEW LIFE FOR BARNABAS AND THE CHILDREN
Luke 9:60 But Jesus told him, "Let the dead bury their own...
With the loss of his wife, leaving him with 6 young children to care for, he sought solace in a new life partner. He married Christiana S Marcus nee Allahmagani in 1987 and started a new life.                                                                                                                                    
Rev Dr BB Lekwat took a leap of faith to serve the church by resigning his office at the university and moving to Jos to lead the then ECWA Theological College. He worked to grow and expand the school which now became a seminary, affiliated to the University of Jos. Students of Jos ECWA Theological Seminary [JETS] now had certification equivalent to a degree! This was a pivotal achievement. His journey at the seminary was short lived as he was removed from office in 1994. This greatly saddened him and his family but he trusted God to lead him on a new path in life. He was soon engaged by the Federal Government of Nigeria to serve at the National Educational Research  and Development Council, Kwali Abuja. Unsatisfied, he left after his 3 year contract and moved back to Kaduna to start working on his writing, his first love. He wrote the book, "Repeat the Reformation' and along with his high school classmate and friend, Dr Philip Usman, worked on getting it published. He wrote over 50 books and papers in his lifetime. He took a couple of freelance translation work and served in the council of the Agwam Bajju, HRH Nuhu Bature. Barnabas had returned to where it all started for him. He was back in Tsoriyang, working and serving the local church. Over the years, in trying to reform youth, he started a community football club in Tsoriyang and supported and encouraged them.

BARNABAS' PASSING
Rev Dr BB Lekwat had had concerns with his health for many years as he nursed an asthma situation. As a patient of Chasel Hospital Kaduna, he was regularly assessed by the doctors and his medication reviewed. He enjoyed the quiet but active life at home until a fatal asthma attack occurred on the night of August 24 1999 and he was quickly moved to a private clinic in Zonkwa where he died gasping for breath. His body was taken to ABU Teaching hospital, Kaduna and escorted back home where he was laid to rest beside his dear wife Elizabeth.

AMAZING GRACE
Although Rev Dr Barnabas and his wife Elizabeth have gone to be with the Lord, their imprints are seen in their children, family and friends.
Though the years have passed
THEY WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED

Rest on