The management and staff of Caritas Nigeria with friends, partners, and stakeholders within and beyond Nigeria marked in a special way the maiden edition of Caritas Nigeria Day on Thursday, September 22, 2002, at the premises of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
The Caritas Nigeria Day was envisioned to annually help the organization keep track of its mandates, assess processes and practices, and showcase the same to the world.
The celebration was a day-long medley of activities. Starting first with a guest appearance of Caritas Nigeria CEO on the AIT Kaakaki Program by 8 AM, a high-level symposium at 10 AM with a lead paper by His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan on the event theme “The Church in the Service of Integral Human Development: The Nigerian Experience” followed and then a thanksgiving mass in the afternoon. Activities resumed after the mass with a Gallery Walk, and finally a lighter mood of talks, poetry presentation, lunch, and the cutting of the cake with invited guests and dignitaries.
Among top dignitaries that participated in the event were Most Rev. Hyacinth Egbebo, MSP Bishop of Bomadi Diocese and representing CBCN; Mr Paul Townsend, Country Representative for CRS; Dr Andrew Abutu, Deputy Country Head of CDC Nigeria; Mr Abazie Edozie for CAFOD; Dr Josiah Emerole, on behalf of NAPTIP; Dr Chichi Aniaguolu from Ford Foundation; and Sir Michael Magaji, on behalf of the Caritas Nigeria Board.
While the main event took place at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria in Abuja, staff in the states offices, as well as friends and stakeholders across the globe participated virtually through a zoom connection.
With excellent mastering from the compere of the event, Dr Inya Ode, as well as good planning and coordination in all segments, the Caritas Nigeria Day was by all standards a most successful event.
