The Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development at the Vatican has acknowledged and commended the Church in Nigeria for her apostolate of pastoral care of migration.
This recognition highlights the remarkable strides the Church continues to make in responding to the complex phenomenon of migration in the country.
Recall that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) established the Migrants and Refugees Unit on 1 September, 2023 to articulate the response of the Church to the dynamic and challenging migration realities in the country, particularly her effort to provide pastoral care for migrants and refugees of all categories.
Under the guidance of its Episcopal Chairman, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Bishop of Kontagora, and its Secretary, Rev. Fr. Augustine Akhogba, the Migrants and Refugees Unit located within the Church and Society Department of the CSN, has made impressive strides, leading to the recognition by the Vatican. In its recently published article titled “The Nigerian Church at the Service of the Most Fragile,” on the Vatican website (Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development) the Dicastery noted the Unit’s “structured, dynamic, and proactive approach to migration ministry.” It highlighted the Unit’s rapid expansion across the country, having already established functional structures in 45 out of Nigeria’s 59 dioceses, supported by numerous religious congregations. Among the significant accomplishments acknowledged by the Vatican is the publication of two major resources developed by the Unit: Handbook on Pastoral Care of Migration in Nigeria and National Policy and Implementation Framework.
This recognition from the Holy See affirms both the relevance and the urgency of the Unit’s mission in Nigeria’s contemporary social context. It also highlights the Church’s commitment to serving those forced to move in search of security and hope. The MRU encourages all dioceses, partners, and the faithful to continue to support the mission of the Unit as it works to uphold the dignity of every human person.
