Catholic Group Marks 50 Years In Nigeria

The Knights of Saint John International (KSJI) has stated that 50 years after in Nigeria, its legacy of faith, knighthood, and service has stood firm through the decades of evangelisation in Nigeria.

With the theme “50 Years of Faith, Knighthood and Service in Nigeria,” the Catholic lay organisation affirmed its commitment to spiritual growth, charity, and moral leadership within the Nigerian church and society.

At the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, the chairman of the 50th Anniversary Committee, Rt. Hon. Chevalier Emmanuel Okene, described the celebration as a tribute to the Order’s enduring mission and spiritual journey.

“The unique and rich heritage of the KSJI, which landed in Nigeria in 1975 as a small seed, was watered, pruned, grew, battered, stormed—and stands strong at 50 to the glory of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” he said.

According to him, the KSJI, founded in the United States of America in 1886, was established in Nigeria in 1975 but received official approval of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) through the instrumentality of His Eminence, the late Dominic Cardinal Ekandem, in 1976.

He emphasised that KSJI has grown into a prominent Catholic Order committed to faith formation, fraternal service, and social engagement across the country.

Commenting, the Catholic Bishop of Osogbo lauded the KSJI’s impact over the decades.

“Your global fraternal service dedicated to serving God and the Church through charitable works and fraternity has established a remarkable visible presence within the Church in Nigeria in the past fifty years,” he remarked.