CAN Launches N10bn Fund for 5,000-Capacity Auditorium in Taraba

By Godwin Agia, Taraba

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Taraba State Chapter, has launched a N10 billion fundraising campaign for the construction of a 5,000-capacity auditorium in Jalingo, with a call for stronger unity and collaboration among the Church, government and traditional institutions.

The fundraising was launched on Friday as part of activities marking the conclusion of a three-day Ministers of the Gospel Conference held from August 18 to 21 at the CAN Secretariat in Jalingo.

The conference, themed “The Role of the Church and the State in Advancing God’s Purpose in a Changing World,” brought together bishops, pastors, CAN leaders, traditional rulers, politicians and national CAN officials from the 16 local government areas and two development areas of the state.

Declaring the fundraising open, the chief launcher and other dignitaries made donations towards the project. Organisers described the response as encouraging, saying the proposed auditorium would provide a central facility for Christian activities and strengthen unity among churches in the state.

In a communique issued at the end of the conference and signed by the CAN Chairman, Rev. Fr. Williams P. Awoshiri, and Chairman of the Conference Working Committee, Bishop (Dr.) Innocent R. Solomon, JP, participants emphasised the need for shared responsibility between the Church and the State in nation-building.

The conference noted that while government has the responsibility to provide security, justice, infrastructure and essential services, the Church has a moral responsibility to promote truth, human dignity, peace, reconciliation and social responsibility.

Church urged to prepare Christians for leadership

The conference also called on Christians holding political offices to regard leadership as a responsibility and an opportunity for service rather than personal advancement.

It cited biblical figures including Joseph, Daniel, Esther and Nehemiah as examples of people who used positions of influence to serve society and protect the interests of others.

The communique urged the Church to go beyond producing Christians who participate in elections and instead raise believers equipped to provide responsible leadership in areas such as politics, economics, security, law, public administration, agriculture, technology, education and diplomacy.

“The Church must not only prepare people for Heaven, but also for responsible citizenship on earth,” the communique stated.

Participants further stressed that the Church should provide moral and ethical leadership without becoming an instrument of partisan politics.

CAN calls for Church-State cooperation

The conference acknowledged that the Church and the State have different constitutional responsibilities but said both institutions could contribute to the common good through mutual respect and constructive cooperation.

It urged the Church to complement government efforts in areas including education, healthcare, poverty reduction and peacebuilding.

The communique also called for greater cooperation between CAN and government at all levels to promote peace, unity, justice and sustainable development across Taraba State.

Traditional rulers should be consulted, CAN says

The conference urged government to regularly consult traditional rulers when formulating policies affecting communities.

According to the communique, traditional rulers remain important custodians of the culture and interests of people at the grassroots and could help government policies achieve greater acceptance and impact.

“There’s dire need for the government to always consult and carry along the traditional rulers while formulating policies affecting the citizens,” the communique stated.

It also encouraged Christian traditional rulers to collaborate with CAN leadership to promote peaceful coexistence and Christian values within their domains.

Call for early conflict prevention

The conference further called for stronger community-level conflict prevention mechanisms to address Taraba State’s history of violent clashes.

It urged relevant stakeholders to prioritise early intervention, dialogue and reconciliation to prevent disputes from escalating into violence.

The participants stressed that nation-building requires a collective commitment to shared values, peace, justice, human dignity and development, noting that the Church, government and traditional institutions all have important roles to play in achieving a stable and prosperous Taraba State.