By Ade Iyamoye
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has challenged Catholic Knights across Nigeria to move beyond defending the faith and take an active role in shaping public life.
Speaking at the Second Joint All Catholic Knights Summit (JACKS), 2025 in Abuja, he urged them to step into governance and leadership, warning that Catholics risk becoming mere spectators while others dictate the nation’s policies.
Bishop Kukah lamented that despite the Church’s vast resources and intellectual strength, Catholics are not at the forefront of national leadership.
He emphasized that faith cannot thrive in isolation from governance, urging knights to position themselves as decision-makers rather than passive observers.
“A football team cannot win by defending alone. You need strikers,” he said, stressing the need for Catholics to assert their presence in politics and public affairs.
On his part, Bishop of Uyo Diocese and Chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Laity Office, Most Rev. John Ebebe Ayah also called on knights to rise above tribalism and selfish interests.
He warned against political divisions and personal ambition, urging them to be models of justice, unity, and service.
“The priest cannot be everywhere, but you, as knights, are in high places. Will you be instruments of love or division?” he asked, emphasizing that true leadership demands humility, sacrifice, and commitment to the common good.
Reinforcing this message, the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN), Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo, urged Catholic Knights to be bold voices in national discourse and defenders of religious freedom.
He called for a strategic approach to mentoring and positioning Catholics in governance, ensuring that integrity, justice, and human dignity remain central to national policies.
He commended the knights for their contributions to charity and advocacy but urged them to intensify their influence in policy-making and governance for a better Nigeria.
Adding his voice, the Director of the Pastoral Agents Department, and Deputy Secretary General of CSN, Rev. Fr Augustine Okochi, urged knights to take a more active role in governance, reject corruption, and defend human dignity.
He emphasized the need to educate members on Catholic Social Teaching and reduce financial levies that burden members.
Fr. Okochi also called on knights to mentor the younger generation, counter the rise of neo-paganism, and foster inter-religious and inter-ethnic dialogue.
He praised their efforts in charity and advocacy but urged them to deepen their impact by engaging in policy-making and ensuring that their faith shapes Nigeria’s future.