Commemoration | Christian Association of Nigeria

Easter Message: “Nigeria Will Rise Again” – CAN President

April 16, 2022

The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle brings to all Nigerians an Easter Message of Hope and faith in the Midst of Gloom.

NIGERIA WILL RISE AGAIN
I bring congratulatory message to all Christians all over Nigeria and by extension to all Nigerians in the name of Jesus.
The arrest of Jesus by evil men and the so-called religious leaders, his crucifixion and of course his burial were the greatest shocks in the life of his disciples. Though he told them several times that it was going to happen, considering his miraculous power, they thought nobody would be able to arrest, not to talk of crucifying him. They understood not the Scripture that Christ must suffer first before entering into his glory and be Lord over all. (Acts 24: 25-27)

Jesus remained three days in the grave as if He was not going to resurrect. However, on the third day, there was a great happening. There was an earthquake, the foundation of the earth was shaken and Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, the Lord of lords rose triumphantly from the dead. His resurrection brought smiles to the faces of his disciples and shame to his enemies.

Fellow Christians and fellow Nigerians, the situation in the country today, to say the truth, without an iota of politics looks very gloomy. There seems to be nothing to celebrate because of unimaginable insecurity. Despite the efforts of the government to arrest the situation, the scope of insecurity keeps expanding to our consternation. Coupled with insecurity are other challenges such as mass unemployment, industrial disharmony, especially that of Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), just to mention but a few. The prices of goods and services have risen in a way unprecedented in our country before and entrepreneurs are relocating to other countries that have better ease of doing business. Is there anything that calls for celebration in all these things we are facing? Yes, there is. Nothing is worse than death! If Jesus died and was buried, putting his disciples in the greatest state of disappointment and sorrow but afterwards rose from the dead, then, Nigeria is going to be great again.
This nation will rise from all the challenges we are facing and we Nigerians are going to rejoice and be proud of our nation again in the name of Jesus Christ.
There is hope for a tree that is cut down but it’s root remains in the ground, at the scent of water, it will sprout again! (Job 14: 7-8)

My prayer to God is to fast-tract the resurrection of Nigeria from all her pains and challenges so that those of us who have tasted in the suffering in our nation might equally eat of the good of this nation in the name of Jesus Christ.
I commend our security agencies for all they are doing at nipping the ugly situation of insecurity in the bud, especially for the supreme price some of them had paid. We seize this opportunity of Easter to pray for comfort for their families and urge the government to take good care of the people they left behind.

I plead with the Federal Government to work harder to bring reprieve to Nigerians from all these challenges very soon.

Once again, I wish you happy Easter. May Hallelujah be your song forever in Jesus’ name.

Rev. Dr Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle
President, Christian Association of Nigeria &
Co-Chairman, Nigeria Inter Religious Council

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: WOWICAN Sets To Hold A One Day Event

March 7, 2022

The National Women Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) is inviting the general public to a special event to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day.

The event is slated to hold on Tuesday, 8th March 2022 in Abuja, at the Merit House Banquet Hall, Maitama; with the theme: “GENDER EQUALITY TODAY FOR SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW”.

As announced by the association, the event is expected to address key gender issues and generally discuss a sustainability plan as it concerns gender equality.
Key speakers are expected at the event, among them includes the CAN President, His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, The Honourable Minister Of Women Affairs, Her Excellency Dame Pauline Tallen, CAN General Secretary, Barr. Joseph Daramola Bade; and a host of other outlined speakers for the One Day program.

COURTESY VISIT: WOWICAN COMMENDS GOV. AKEREDOLU ON LIFE-TRANSFORMING PROJECTS

The event can be virtually attended through the following details:
Link- //us02web.zoom.us/j/82605776123?pwd=UktHN3dmbFBMU3ZtWGR5ajBQbDF5Zz09
Meeting ID: 826 0577 6123
Passcode: WOWICAN
Time: 9:00am

See poster for more details

Commemoration: International Mother Language Day

February 21, 2022

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) joins the world in commemorating the INTERNATIONAL MOTHER LANGUAGE DAY with a strong support for the initiative, as it helps in ensuring no language goes extinct.

The idea to celebrate International Mother Language Day was the initiative of Bangladesh. It was approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference and has been observed throughout the world since 2000 to be celebrated every 21st February.

CAN strongly believes believes in the high importance of cultural connectivity and linguistic diversity for sustainable societies, communities and peaceful co-existence.

Globally 40 per cent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. Nevertheless, progress is being made in mother tongue-based multilingual education with growing understanding of its importance, particularly in early schooling, and more commitment to its development in public life.
With this, CAN is calling on the educational sector in Nigeria to support language education and make it an effort to encourage Nigerian languages that are taught in schools.

Linguistic diversity(link is external) is increasingly threatened as more and more languages disappear.

Multilingual and multicultural societies exist through their languages which transmit and preserve traditional knowledge and cultures in a sustainable way.

The theme of the 2022 International Mother Language Day is “USING TECHNOLOGY FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNING: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES”.
This theme is expected to discuss and unveil the potential role of technology in advancing multilingual education, and will also serve as a support system for the development of quality teaching and learning for all.

2021 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY

August 12, 2021

International Youth Day is commemorated annually on the 12^th day of August, with the intent of celebrating young people, acknowledging their awesome strides, and making them understand how vital their role in the society.

It has been acknowledged that there is a need for inclusive support mechanisms that ensure youth continue to amplify efforts collectively and individually to restore the planet and protect life, while integrating biodiversity in the transformation of food systems.

This year, the international community pointed her beam-light on the theme: “TRANSFORMING FOOD SYSTEMS: YOUTH INNOVATION FOR HUMAN AND PLANETARY HEALTH”, with the aim of highlighting that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people all around the world.

With the world’s population expected to increase by 2 billion people in the next 30 years, it has become recognized by numerous stakeholders that simply producing a larger volume of healthier food more sustainably will not ensure human and planetary wellbeing. Other crucial challenges must also be addressed, such as the interlinkages embodied by the 2030 Agenda including poverty reduction; social inclusion; health care; biodiversity conservation; and climate change mitigation.

Through youth education, engagement, innovation and entrepreneurial solutions, this year’s International Youth Day aims to provide a platform for young people to continue the momentum and leverage on the diverse opportunities in the agricultural sector.

In this vein, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) heartily felicitate with YOWICAN and all Christian Youths in Nigeria, urging them to stay steadfast, productive, resilient, proactive and God-fearing.

Happy International Youth Day!

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INTERNATIONAL WIDOW’S DAY

June 23, 2021

For many women around the world, the devastating loss of a partner is magnified by a long-term fight for their basic rights and dignity. Despite the fact that there are more than 258 million widows around the world, widows have historically been left unseen, unsupported, and unmeasured in our societies.

Today, as armed conflicts, displacement and migration, and the COVID-19 pandemic leave tens of thousands of women newly widowed and many others whose partners are missing or disappeared, the unique experiences and needs of widows must be brought to the forefront, with their voices leading the way.

In many communities, widows are often denied inheritance rights, have their property grabbed after the death of a partner, and can face extreme stigma and discrimination. Worldwide, women are much less likely to have access to old age pensions than men, so the death of a spouse can lead to destitution for older women. In the context of lockdowns and economic closures, widows may not have access to bank accounts and pensions to pay for healthcare if they too become ill or to support themselves and their children. With lone-mother families and single older women already particularly vulnerable to poverty, this is an area that needs urgent attention.

On INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS’ DAY, 23 June, we are taking a closer look at some of the issues affecting widows around the world and what must be done to safeguard and advance their rights.

The Christian Association of Nigeria is using this opportunity to encourage Widows in Nigeria and all-over the world, comforting them with words from the holy scriptures:

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Psalm 68:5

“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:17-18
“Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. . . The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow. . .” Psalm 146:5, 9