Kukah Turns 70 Today, Plans N200m Leadership Centre

The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese of Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah has announced his plan to use his foundation to build a N200 million Bishop Kukah Centre to provide leadership tools for accidental leaders and politicians in Nigeria. He said the proposed multi-million centre would provide the crafting of an affordable space to inhabit not-so affluent and upcoming creatives in the arts and culture industry.

Bishop Kukah who turns 70 today, made this known at the presentation of his new book, “Broken Trust,” held at the Roving Heights Bookstore, at the City Centre Mall in Abuja.

Kukah said because many people find their way into power accidentally, the centre aims to provide leadership tools to help those brands of leaders perfect the skills requisite for their jobs. The center will also focus on bridging the gulf of mistrust, fear and contempt that exists between ordinary Nigerians and politicians.

He said, ‘‘I am specific about raising the fund for this center locally, I want this to be a Nigeria-centric, Africa-centric policy center that aims at trying to provide tools for good governance for those in office,” the cleric said, adding: “Is it possible to convince politicians that politics is a noble game – and that it is a vehicle we can use to attain the common goal of our society? One is hoping that going forward, the right people will develop the right reflex for participating in politics in Nigeria.”

The Kukah centre located in Lugbe, Abuja will have a main office complex with a rotunda conference hall and reception; a school of government; halls, library, classrooms and offices; accommodation and lodging; an art gallery and studio; external works, landscaping and furnishings, will also focus its activities around interfaith dialogue, knowledge promotion and memory preservation.

Meanwhile, Kukah will mark his 70th birthday today, by plugging Nigerian youths into the ICT orbit, described as the future of the globe.

The ICT Award project will see youths from across the country compete in innovate homegrown, scientific and technological solutions to Nigeria’s problems.

Bishop Kukah said the project was aimed at generating interest, excitement and enthusiasm among young people and to set them into the ICT orbit, the destination of the global future.

“We are looking at finding indigenous scientific solutions to our local problems,’’ said his Lordship. Although ICT is a broad field, Kukah said the prize left the field ‘‘open to participants passions. There is nothing definite, just a range of issues; but most importantly what interests you and how does that solve a problem in your local community.’’