Christian students to abide by pastoral prayer
CANS is the student wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Speaking during the inauguration of the 10-member exco at the National Christian Centre Abuja on Thursday, Akaninyene who is a student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka decried the fragmentation of Christian groups on campuses. He said, “we are expecting unity on our […]
CANS is the student wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Speaking during the inauguration of the 10-member exco at the National Christian Centre Abuja on Thursday, Akaninyene who is a student of the University of Nigeria Nsukka decried the fragmentation of Christian groups on campuses.
He said, “we are expecting unity on our campuses. We pray for the will of God to be done among Christian students. We’re scattered. The proliferation [of groups] on our campuses is alarming and based on that, our mothers and fathers in the Lord have called us together to come and be united. It is in line with the pastoral prayer of our Lord Jesus Christ that they all may be one. That is the reason we’ve chosen to be one because we know the force that binds us together is stronger than the one that scatters us.”
Similarly, the Director, Directorate of Education, Youth and Women Development, CAN, Msgr. Hypolyte Adigwe, said “the inauguration is to say these students are part of CAN and so, when they function in their various institutions, they have that feeling of contact with the mother CAN because we think that when Christians work together, it is much better for them to coordinate their activities for the good of this country rather than in splinter forms.
“They are mandated to promote Christian unity, praying for the good of the country, working for brotherliness, being able to portray that Christian message of peace and unity.”
Adigwe lamented the vice in universities, calling for an end to them. “That is unchristian. We hear of prostitution in universities. That is unchristian—we hear of embezzlement of funds, corruption, these things are unchristian. Our students must come together to listen, to work and overcome these ills in our educational institutions. Why should a student in the university not concentrate on their studies—why should they wait for opportunity to steal examination papers and then get a certificate and come out and be unfit to work anywhere?,” he asked rhetorically.
Mrs Sarah Jibril, who is Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Ethics and Values, also counselled the students.
She told newsmen: “Keep counselling and encouraging the youths because they are teachable, they are adaptable, they are changeable and they have conscience.”
She said her office is working to address the conscience of the individual so they can have autonomous morality and police themselves.