CAN@50: Nigeria Will Rise Again, Become Better, Says Okoh

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, has declared that Nigeria will overcome its current challenges and emerge stronger, urging Nigerians not to lose hope in the country.

Okoh gave the assurance on Saturday while delivering his sermon at an interdenominational service to mark the grand finale of CAN’s 50th anniversary celebration at the National Christian Centre, Abuja.

The CAN president said despite the challenges confronting the country, Nigeria remained blessed with talented youths, resilient communities, professionals, entrepreneurs, committed public servants and civil society organisations capable of driving positive change.

“Nigeria can be better, and Nigeria will be better. I speak from this pulpit and declare on the inspiration that Nigeria will continue to rise and rise. Nigeria will be better,” he declared.

Okoh, however, said the expected transformation would require Nigerians to match their prayers and hope with responsible action, integrity, accountability and service to the nation.

He said the Church had a critical role to play in shaping the country’s future by remaining a prophetic voice for justice, good governance, peace, human dignity and the protection of vulnerable citizens.

According to him, CAN must remain a “watchman” over the nation by paying attention to developments affecting Nigerians, identifying dangers, speaking out against injustice and offering hope to the people.

“The Church must speak. However, a responsible guard must be accurate. He should not raise alarm simply because he dislikes a policy or disagrees with a political leader.

“The Church’s spoken voice must therefore be truthful, informed, courageous, balanced and responsible,” he said.

Okoh said the relationship between the Church and government should be based on “critical collaboration”, rather than hostility, submission or political capture.

He explained that the Church should support government initiatives that promote the common good, challenge policies where justice demands it, commend good performance, and warn against actions that undermine the welfare of citizens.

The CAN president listed internally displaced persons, children denied education, unemployed youths, rural farmers prevented from accessing their farmlands because of insecurity, women facing violence, victims of human trafficking and people without access to legal representation among those requiring greater attention.

He said the Church could not remain indifferent to the suffering of vulnerable Nigerians, stressing that “faith must find practical expression in compassion, service and advocacy.”

Okoh also used the occasion to call for greater unity among Christian denominations, warning against divisions and bitter exchanges, particularly on social media.

He said CAN’s 50-year journey demonstrated that Christians from different traditions could work together despite their differences.

Tracing the association’s history back to August 1976, he said the founders of CAN recognised the need to provide Christians with a common platform and a unified voice on issues of national interest.

He acknowledged that the journey had been marked by mutual suspicion, prejudice and disagreements among different Christian traditions but said successive leaders had worked to overcome the divisions.

According to him, the association had now created space for the different Christian traditions to participate on an equal basis.

He described the unity achieved by CAN as one of its greatest testimonies, noting that Nigeria was the only country in Africa where diverse Christian traditions were united under a single ecumenical platform.

The CAN president urged Christians to preserve the association’s history and pass it on to younger generations so they would appreciate the sacrifices that produced the unity being celebrated.

He said the next 50 years should produce a CAN that is “more informed, more courageous, increasingly evidence-based and constructive” in its engagement with national affairs.

Okoh also called for stronger Church involvement in environmental protection, climate resilience, ethical technological development and the protection of human dignity.

He urged Christians in the public and private sectors to support CAN’s programmes and contribute to its efforts towards national development.

“The golden jubilee should be remembered not simply as a celebration for the past, but as the beginning of a renewed national mission,” he said.

Okoh called on Nigerians to listen to citizens, protect the vulnerable, strengthen institutions and work collectively towards a better country.

He also urged Christians to pray for Nigeria and those in authority, and to contribute actively to the nation’s healing and development.

“Pray for Nigeria, pray for those in government. Speak for Nigeria, serve Nigeria, heal Nigeria,” he said.