Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; previous Heads of State, Generals Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo; previous President Goodluck Jonathan; and previous Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were amongst popular Nigerians honoured by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at its 50th anniversary event.
The award event and thanksgiving service, hung on Saturday, October 17, 2026, identified people for their contributions to the Christian neighborhood and the nation.
Tinubu got the Christian Icon Award, while Gowon, Obasanjo, Jonathan and Osinbajo were honoured with the Pillar of Faith Award.
Other recipients consisted of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio; the Deputy Speaker of your home of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu; the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to name a few.
Speaking at the occasion, the First Lady revealed gratitude to the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, for the acknowledgment, explaining the award as a call to higher service to God and mankind.
She stated the association’s 50 years of presence was a substantial turning point deserving of event, prompting its members to sustain the spirit of unity and cooperation amongst Christian denominations.
Tinubu stated the anniversary style, Walking Together in Faith, showed the scriptural require Christians to stay unified in their faith and typical function.
She pointed out John 17:21 -22 and Ephesians 4:4 -6, which stress unity amongst followers, and hoped that the numerous Christian blocs within CAN would continue to collaborate in the interest of the church and the nation.
“I desire you to understand that this award is a call to higher operate in service to God and humankind,” she stated.
The First Lady wanted CAN much more rewarding years of service, advising the association to stay dedicated to preparing followers for the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ.
In his anniversary address, the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, explained the association’s 50-year journey as a statement to God’s loyalty and the decision of Christian leaders to unify followers under a typical platform.
He stated the association was developed in August 1976 by church leaders who acknowledged the requirement for a joined Christian voice to resolve concerns of typical interest in Nigeria.
Okoh kept in mind that Nigeria had the distinct difference of being the only nation in Africa where varied Christian customs were joined under a single ecumenical platform.
He, nevertheless, acknowledged that CAN’s journey had actually not lacked obstacles, remembering durations of shared suspicion, bias and marginalisation amongst some Christian customs.
According to him, succeeding leaders of the association had actually worked to get rid of these departments and guarantee that the various Christian blocs delighted in equivalent rights and opportunities.
He stated the significant blocs represented in CAN consisted of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN/PFN), the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), TEKAN/ECWA and other constituent groups.
The CAN President prompted Christians to protect the unity accomplished for many years and withstand propensities efficient in resuming old departments, especially through inflammatory exchanges on social networks.
He worried that the association came from every Christian and not just its chosen or designated leaders, getting in touch with followers to add to its development and activities.
Assessing the association’s public engagement over the previous 5 years, Okoh stated CAN had actually regularly raised its voice on spiritual flexibility, justice, great governance, corruption, insecurity, humanitarian services and nationwide advancement.
He challenged the association to make its prophetic voice more notified, brave, evidence-based and useful in the next 50 years.
According to him, the church needs to stay watchful in protecting justice, human self-respect, democratic organizations, constitutionalism, spiritual liberty and the well-being of susceptible Nigerians.
He determined internally displaced individuals, out-of-school kids, jobless youths, rural farmers not able to access their farmlands since of insecurity, ladies dealing with violence and victims of human trafficking amongst those whose interests the church should safeguard.
“The church should speak!” he stated, stressing that Christian faith should equate into useful empathy, public advocacy and service to humankind.
Okoh warned that the church’s interventions in public affairs need to be assisted by fact, reliable proof and accountable analysis rather than rumours or partisan factors to consider.
He stated the relationship in between the church and federal government must be based upon what he referred to as vital cooperation, where the church would support policies that advance the typical great while challenging oppression and holding public authorities responsible.
“The suitable design is important cooperation, significance, team up where typical excellent needs it, obstacle where justice needs obstacle, applaud where federal government succeeds and caution where federal government stops working, while preserving the church’s self-reliance,” he stated.
The CAN President likewise prompted the association to reinforce its institutional capability for research study, advocacy, humanitarian service and nationwide engagement.
He stated the next 50 years must see the church broaden its contributions to environmental management, environment durability, ethical technological advancement and the conservation of human self-respect.
Okoh kept that Nigeria had the personnels and durable neighborhoods required to conquer its obstacles, however worried that nationwide development needed accountable management, responsibility and useful action.
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He prompted politicians to govern properly, safeguard people, regard the Constitution, represent public resources and reinforce nationwide organizations.
He likewise got in touch with the church to wish the nation and its leaders while actively adding to nation-building.
“The message to the church need to be similarly clear: wish Nigeria, wish those in federal government, promote Nigeria, serve Nigeria, develop Nigeria and recover Nigeria,” he stated.
The CAN President revealed optimism about the nation’s future, stating that Nigeria might progress through cumulative obligation, stability and reliable management.
He stated the golden jubilee needs to not simply commemorate the association’s accomplishments however likewise mark the start of a restored dedication to nationwide advancement and Christian unity.
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