The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has honoured First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, former Heads of State Generals Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for their contributions to Christianity and national development.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the recipients were honoured at a ceremony held on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, as part of activities marking CAN’s 50th anniversary.
While the First Lady received the Christian Icon Award, Gowon, Obasanjo, Jonathan and Osinbajo were presented with the Pillar of Faith Award.
Other recipients included Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori; Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo; and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.
Speaking at the event, Tinubu described the recognition as a renewed responsibility to serve God and humanity, calling on Christians across denominations to strengthen their unity and pursue common goals.
She thanked CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, for the honour, describing the golden jubilee as a significant milestone in the history of Christianity in Nigeria.
According to her, the anniversary theme, Walking Together in Faith, highlights the importance of cooperation, unity and shared purpose among believers.
Citing John 17:21-22 and Ephesians 4:4-6, the First Lady urged the different Christian blocs within CAN to preserve their common ground and work together for the growth of the church and the development of the country.
“I want you to know that this award is a call to greater work in service to God and humanity,” she said.
She wished CAN continued success in its mission, urging the association to remain committed to preparing Christians for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
In his address, Okoh traced CAN’s origins to August 1976, when Christian leaders established a common platform to address challenges confronting the church and the country.
He said the association’s 50-year journey demonstrated the determination of successive Christian leaders to build unity despite differences in doctrine, traditions and religious practices.
However, he acknowledged that the organisation had experienced periods of suspicion, prejudice and marginalisation among some of its constituent groups.
Okoh said successive CAN administrations had worked to bridge these divisions and promote equal rights and privileges for the different Christian traditions represented in the association.
Its constituent members include the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria/Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN/PFN), Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), TEKAN/ECWA and other groups.
The CAN president warned that divisive conduct, particularly inflammatory exchanges on social media, could undermine the progress made towards Christian unity.
He maintained that the association belonged to all Christians and urged members to take collective responsibility for its growth instead of leaving its affairs solely to elected and appointed leaders.
Reflecting on CAN’s contributions to national development, Okoh said the association had consistently addressed issues including religious freedom, justice, good governance, corruption, insecurity and humanitarian intervention over the past five decades.
He challenged the church to strengthen its advocacy in the years ahead, insisting that its interventions must be courageous, constructive and supported by credible evidence.
According to him, CAN must continue to defend human dignity, constitutionalism, democratic institutions, religious freedom and the welfare of vulnerable Nigerians.
He identified internally displaced persons, out-of-school children, unemployed youths, farmers prevented from accessing their farmlands by insecurity, women facing violence and victims of human trafficking as groups requiring greater attention.
“The church must speak!” Okoh declared, urging Christians to translate their faith into practical compassion, public advocacy and service to humanity.
He, however, cautioned against interventions driven by rumours, partisan interests or unverified claims, stressing that the church’s positions must be grounded in truth, credible evidence and responsible analysis.
On relations between government and religious institutions, the CAN president advocated what he called “critical collaboration”, arguing that the church should cooperate with government in areas that advance the common good while holding public officials accountable.
“The appropriate model is critical collaboration, meaning collaborate where the common good requires it, challenge where justice requires it, commend where government does well and warn where government fails, while maintaining the church’s independence,” he said.
Okoh also called for greater investment in research, advocacy, humanitarian services and engagement with national development issues.
He said CAN’s priorities for the next 50 years should include environmental protection, climate resilience, ethical technological development and the preservation of human dignity.
Although he expressed confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to overcome its challenges, he stressed that progress would depend on responsible leadership, accountability and practical action.
He urged political leaders to protect citizens, uphold the Constitution, account for public resources and strengthen national institutions.
The CAN president also called on Christians to complement prayers for Nigeria and its leaders with active participation in nation-building.
“The message to the church must be equally clear: pray for Nigeria, pray for those in government, speak for Nigeria, serve Nigeria, build Nigeria and heal Nigeria,” he said.
Okoh described the golden jubilee as an opportunity for the association to renew its commitment to unity, integrity and national development, expressing optimism about Nigeria’s future.
Meanwhile, Makinde has called on Christians across the country to participate more actively in politics, warning that their withdrawal from the political process could weaken their influence on governance and national transformation.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the event, the Oyo State governor challenged the perception that politics was inherently dirty, urging believers to take part in shaping public policies and leadership decisions.
He argued that Christians could not remain on the sidelines and expect meaningful changes in the country.
Drawing lessons from biblical accounts involving Samuel, the sons of Eli, David and King Saul, Makinde said the shortcomings of political leaders should not discourage Christians from seeking positions where they could contribute to society.
He recalled that Samuel emerged despite the misconduct of Eli’s sons, while David served in Saul’s palace even after being anointed as Israel’s future king.
“I will use this opportunity to encourage our Christian brothers and sisters all across the country to brace up and participate in the agenda to transform Nigeria, to reset our country,” he said.
Makinde also identified poverty as Nigeria’s most pressing challenge, arguing that economic hardship should take precedence over religious differences in the country’s national discourse.
“Our problem is not religious. Our problem in this country is poverty, grinding poverty,” he said.
The governor urged both leaders and citizens to prioritise practical measures to reduce poverty and improve living conditions, stressing that transforming the country would require sustained efforts to address the economic difficulties confronting Nigerians.