Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; former Heads of State, Generals Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo; former President Goodluck Jonathan; and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were among prominent Nigerians honoured by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at its 50th anniversary celebration.
The award ceremony and thanksgiving service, held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, recognised individuals for their contributions to the Christian community and the country.
Tinubu received the Christian Icon Award, while Gowon, Obasanjo, Jonathan and Osinbajo were honoured with the Pillar of Faith Award.
Other awardees included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Benjamin Kalu; the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo; and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, among others.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady expressed appreciation to the President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, for the recognition, describing the award as a call to greater service to God and humanity.
She said the association’s 50 years of existence was a significant milestone worthy of celebration, urging its members to sustain the spirit of unity and cooperation among Christian denominations.
Tinubu said the anniversary theme, Walking Together in Faith, reflected the biblical call for Christians to remain united in their faith and common purpose.
She cited John 17:21-22 and Ephesians 4:4-6, which emphasise unity among believers, and prayed that the various Christian blocs within CAN would continue to work together in the interest of the church and the country.
“I want you to know that this award is a call to greater work in service to God and humanity,” she said.
The First Lady wished CAN many more fruitful years of service, urging the association to remain committed to preparing believers for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
In his anniversary address, the CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, described the association’s 50-year journey as a testimony to God’s faithfulness and the determination of Christian leaders to unite believers under a common platform.
He said the association was established in August 1976 by church leaders who recognised the need for a united Christian voice to address issues of common interest in Nigeria.
Okoh noted that Nigeria had the unique distinction of being the only country in Africa where diverse Christian traditions were united under a single ecumenical platform.
He, however, acknowledged that CAN’s journey had not been without challenges, recalling periods of mutual suspicion, prejudice and marginalisation among some Christian traditions.
According to him, successive leaders of the association had worked to overcome these divisions and ensure that the different Christian blocs enjoyed equal rights and privileges.
He said the major blocs represented in CAN included 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 urged Christians to preserve the unity achieved over the years and resist tendencies capable of reopening old divisions, particularly through inflammatory exchanges on social media.
He stressed that the association belonged to every Christian and not only its elected or appointed leaders, calling on believers to contribute to its growth and activities.
Reflecting on the association’s public engagement over the past five decades, Okoh said CAN had consistently raised its voice on religious freedom, justice, good governance, corruption, insecurity, humanitarian services and national development.
He challenged the association to make its prophetic voice more informed, courageous, evidence-based and constructive in the next 50 years.
According to him, the church must remain vigilant in defending justice, human dignity, democratic institutions, constitutionalism, religious freedom and the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.
He identified internally displaced persons, out-of-school children, unemployed youths, rural farmers unable to access their farmlands because of insecurity, women facing violence and victims of human trafficking among those whose interests the church must defend.
“The church must speak!” he declared, emphasising that Christian faith must translate into practical compassion, public advocacy and service to humanity.
However, Okoh cautioned that the church’s interventions in public affairs must be guided by truth, credible evidence and responsible analysis rather than rumours or partisan considerations.
He said the relationship between the church and government should be based on what he described as critical collaboration, whereby the church would support policies that advance the common good while challenging injustice and holding public officials accountable.
“The appropriate model is critical collaboration, meaning, collaborate where common good requires it, challenge where justice requires challenge, commend where government does well and warn where government fails, while maintaining the church’s independence,” he said.
The CAN President also urged the association to strengthen its institutional capacity for research, advocacy, humanitarian service and national engagement.
He said the next 50 years should see the church expand its contributions to environmental protection, climate resilience, ethical technological development and the preservation of human dignity.
Okoh maintained that Nigeria had the human resources and resilient communities needed to overcome its challenges, but stressed that national progress required responsible leadership, accountability and practical action.
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He urged political leaders to govern responsibly, protect citizens, respect the Constitution, account for public resources and strengthen national institutions.
He also called on the church to pray for the country and its leaders while actively contributing to nation-building.
“The message to the church must be equally clear: pray for Nigeria, pray for those in government, speak for Nigeria, serve Nigeria, build Nigeria and heal Nigeria,” he said.
The CAN President expressed optimism about the country’s future, declaring that Nigeria could become better through collective responsibility, integrity and effective leadership.
He said the golden jubilee should not merely celebrate the association’s achievements but also mark the beginning of a renewed commitment to national development and Christian unity.
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