Tag: CAN President

  • CAN President lauds NCPC Boss over  proactive leadership style

    CAN President lauds NCPC Boss over proactive leadership style

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh has lauded the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam for his proactive and visionary leadership qualities.

    Okoh said this recently when he received the NCPC boss and his management team in his office at the CAN national Secretariat in Abuja.

    The CAN leader congratulated Rev Pam for being able to hold forth as the Executive Secretary of NCPC for close to three years with particularly for the visible innovations he introduced into the Commission since his assumption of office.
    According to the Archbishop, Rev. Pam has proved himself a product and worthy member of CAN with high religious literacy.

    Rev. Pam was also commended for being able to navigate through the waters of pilgrimage in spite of some obvious challenges facing the Commission.

    He noted that it was high time christians build a treasure base that would outlive them.

    Okoh reiterated the need for strong synergy between the Commission and CAN and by extension the church as he promised CAN’s commitment to support all the laudable pilgrimage programmes .

    He further canvassed for the need for economic pilgrimage in addition to the spiritual content of pilgrimage.

    Executive Secretary of NCPC, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam, congratulated the President of CAN for his well deserved appointment, as he described him as a gift to the church.

    Rev. Pam said, ” CAN stands as a symbol and image of the church and the President of CAN has what it takes to superintend over the apex Christian body in Nigeria having served as the National Assistant President of CAN for two consecutive terms.”

    He explained that the visit was to pay allegiance and identify with the CAN lead for his role in the Christiandom and the Christians and the pilgrimage sub-sector.

    Rev. Pam said that the discovery of Jordan under his watch in 2021 as a viable pilgrimage destination has positively increased the profile of the Commission.

    He further intimated his host with some of his laudable achievements in office which include but not limited to the commencement of direct flight from Nigeria to Israel for the first time in the history of our bilateral air service agreement with Israel.
    He also recounted the almost zero level record on abscondment of pilgrims, which was made possible by instituting an effective merchanisn in place, which include imposing sanctions on guarantors and possible arrest by security operatives.

    He further intimated the CAN leader that within three years in the saddle, he had successfully executed six pilgrimages, including pilgrimage to Rome, Jordan alone, and four pilgrimages to Israel and Jordan in addition to the on – going Easter pilgrimage exercise.

    The Executive Secretary was accompanied on the courtesy visit to the President of CAN,by the Director of administration, Barr. Sonny Ebiyaibo, the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Charles Wali, the Legal Adviser, Barr. Obule Ode , Deputy Director and Head Planning Research and Program Development, Mr Nkaiso Ndemenang, Deputy Director and Head Mobilization, Mr Sunny Udeh, Deputy Director and Head Media and public Relations, Celestine Toruka and , Mrs Charline Makai. Head protocol

  • Muslim-Muslim Ticket is a Plot to Make Christians Second-Class Citizens — New CAN President

    Muslim-Muslim Ticket is a Plot to Make Christians Second-Class Citizens — New CAN President

    The new president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh has said that the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted by the ruling All Progressives Congress is a plot to make Christians second-class citizens in the country.

    In his acceptance speech in Abuja after the General Assembly of CAN validated his election, Okoh said the fear was borne out of the recent happenings in the country.

    He also said that it is coming at a time when Christian leaders believe that some section of political leaders are not sensitive to the diverse nature of our population when certain decisions are being made.

    The new CAN President also called on President Buhari to end the bloodletting, kidnapping and general insecurity in all the geo-political zones of the country.

    Okoh said;

    “While thanking the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), for his efforts to combat terrorism and banditry, I would like to appeal to His Excellency to end the bloodletting, kidnapping and general insecurity in all the geo-political zones of the country.

    “I believe that government can do more to secure the lives and property given all the modern technology within its reach.

    “Many Christians feel and have the genuine fear that there is a deliberate plan to remove the Christian faith from the scheme of things and make us second-class citizens in our own country – genuine fear borne out of the recent happenings in our polity i.e. the same-faith ticket in one of the major political parties in Nigeria despite the caution raised by CAN since two years ago.

    “Whatever happens, no matter how many times our sensibilities are insulted, we must resolve to to make a positive impact on the political, economic and social systems of our dear nation.”

  • Archbishop Daniel Okoh Elected as New CAN President

    Archbishop Daniel Okoh Elected as New CAN President

    The General Assembly of the Christian Association of Nigeria on Thursday formally validated the election of Archbishop Daniel Okoh as its new President, thereby outing to an end the tenure of Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle.

    His recommendation by an Electoral College which was set up to screen and suggest candidates for the offices of the President and Vice President, respectively, as presented by the blocs that have rights of nomination was in line with the provisions of the 2021 CAN constitution as amended.

    Okoh, the General Superintendent of Christ Holy Church International, Onitsha, emerged as the new spiritual leader of CAN, after getting a 100 per cent vote of all 259 delegates who participated in its 12th General Assembly and is expected to serve a single five-year term.

    The new CAN President, in his acceptance speech, charged President Muhammadu Buhari to quell the rising insecurity in the country.

    He said, “While thanking the President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), for his efforts to combat terrorism and banditry, I would like to appeal to His Excellency to end the bloodletting, kidnapping and general insecurity in all the geo-political zones of the country.

    “I believe that government can do more to secure the lives and property given all the modern technology within its reach.”

    According to him, the need for CAN to respond appropriately to national issues became imperative.

    He assured that the apex Christian organisation would continue to participate actively and effectively in nation building

    He said, “We are coming in at the time that all of us in the Christian faith, believe that some section of political leaders are not sensitive to the diverse nature of our population when certain decisions are being made.

    “Many Christians feel and have the genuine fear that there is a deliberate plan to remove the Christian faith from the scheme of things and make us second-class citizens in our own country – genuine fear borne out of the recent happenings in our polity i.e. the same-faith ticket in one of the major political parties in Nigeria despite the caution raised by CAN since two years ago.

    “Whatever happens, no matter how many times our sensibilities are insulted, we must resolve to make a positive impact on the political, economic and social systems of our dear nation.”

    Nevertheless, Okoh stated that for Christians to remain relevant in the scheme of things, the first step was to increase CAN’s efforts to work towards Christian unity and mutual understanding among the denominations of the Church in Nigeria.

    Ayokunle told his successor to love the people irrespective of their weaknesses.

    “The people will annoy him, make him angry, and may not even appreciate him, but he must continue to seek the good of the people,” he advised.