By Progress Godfrey, Abuja
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh has urged the newly elected Executives of CAN North Central Zone to lead with sincerity and commitment in tandem with the objectives of the body.
CAN President made the call while inaugurating the executives at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Sunday.
The 10 inaugurated officers of CAN would serve for a 5-year single term, beginning from May 1 2023 to April 30 2028.
Okoh stated that CAN as an umbrella body for Christians is the first of its kind in Africa, therefore urging the inaugurated officers to lead with a deep understanding of its vision, mission, and goals at every point in time.
He said, “In leading the Christian Association of Nigeria at any level, it is expected that leaders must be seen to work together to influence people, not only Christians, to come together in service working in one accord.
“Like some of us will share wherever we go, Nigeria is the only country that has a single umbrella organization for Christians in the continent of Africa. We have checked and this is our collective testimony. This is what the lord did for us more than 46 years ago, and we must guard it.
“I charge you my dear sister and brothers to lead the Christian Association of Nigeria with compassion, with commitment, with humility, with sincerity, and with honesty. It is important for us therefore to continue to protect the dignity and the integrity of this noble Association. When we do this, Christ will be pleased with, us and the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church of Christ in Nigeria.”
In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated Chairman Rev Dr Jonah Samson drew excerpts from the scripture: John 17:21 “that all may be one…”
He underscored the need for unity and oneness of the body of Christ, “especially since this same body of Christ is faced with myriads of challenges such as different threats, annihilation and extinction fired up from different cylinders of religious extremism, secularism and compromises.”
He, therefore, assured that the inaugurated excos would lead in earnestness, to ensure unity to confront and overcome every challenge faced by the body of Christ.
Speaking with newsmen after receiving an award for his contribution to the educational sector in Nigeria, Presidential candidate of Accord in the 2023 general elections, Professor Christopher Imumolen thanked the organisation for the recognition.
He noted that Nigeria is a religious country, and therefore highlighted the need to celebrate with the Christian body on the inauguration of its new excos.
Imumolen, therefore, restated his commitment to continuing his renowned impact in the educational sector, which he has made over the years.
Also speaking, the General Secretary of CAN North Central, Amb Dr Simon Dolly, expressed gratitude to God on his inauguration while promising that the new excos would ensure that calm is restored in the north-central states facing inter and intra religious crisis.