The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has called for a renewed commitment to Catholic values, service and human development, expressing concern over what he described as the gradual erosion of the Church’s influence in Nigeria’s public and private life.
Kukah made the call on Friday at the St. Finbarr’s College Auditorium, Akoka, Lagos, while delivering a lecture titled “To Conquer or to Serve? Thoughts on the Contributions of the Catholic Church to Human Development and the Making of a Good Society in Nigeria.”
The lecture formed part of activities commemorating the life and legacy of the late Reverend Father Denis Slattery, whom Kukah described as one of the finest representatives of the Irish missionary enterprise in Nigeria.
Kukah Reflects on the Church’s Social Responsibility
The bishop’s remarks placed the Catholic Church’s contribution to society within a wider discussion about values, institutional responsibility and human development.
His call for renewal highlights the importance of religious institutions examining how their principles are translated into service, education and practical engagement with communities.
The Catholic Church has historically maintained a presence in Nigeria’s education and social development sectors. Kukah’s lecture provides an opportunity to revisit that legacy and consider the responsibilities of the Church in contemporary society.
Education and Human Development
The subject of the lecture links the Church’s religious mission to broader questions of social progress and the development of a good society.
Education, ethical leadership and service to vulnerable communities are central areas through which religious institutions can contribute to human development. The effectiveness of such contributions depends on the quality of their programmes, institutional accountability and sustained engagement with the communities they serve.
Kukah’s reflections also bring attention to the historical role of missionary activity in Nigeria and the need to consider how that legacy can inform contemporary public life.
Remembering Father Denis Slattery
The event was organised in commemoration of Reverend Father Denis Slattery, whose contribution to the Irish missionary enterprise in Nigeria was recognised during the lecture.
The tribute provided the historical context for Kukah’s discussion of the Church’s contribution to education, service and social development.