President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigerians to harness the nation’s rich diversity as a tool for national stability and accelerated development.
Speaking in Rome during an audience with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, President Tinubu emphasized that the country’s multi-ethnic and religious makeup should be a source of strength, not division.
“If we use our diversity not for adversity but for prosperity, the country’s hope is stability and progress,” said the President, a Muslim, in a message that echoed themes of unity and inclusive governance.
President Tinubu also urged leaders at all levels to remain committed to the welfare of the people, stressing that true leadership must always aim at the betterment of the citizenry.
The President described his presence in Rome during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV as a historic moment, underscoring Nigeria’s role in fostering interfaith harmony and global religious diplomacy.
The Nigerian Catholic Bishops were part of the President’s delegation attending the installation Mass of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Sunday.
Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria and Archbishop of Owerri, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for facilitating their visit to the Vatican, both to honor the late Pope Francis and to witness the beginning of a new papal era.
“This marks the beginning of a more robust relationship between the Catholic Bishops’ Conference and your administration,” Archbishop Ugorji said. “Now that you’ve come to the Vatican, we’ll be glad to host you at our conferences in Nigeria and deepen our engagement.”
Also present at the meeting were prominent Catholic leaders including Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.
The encounter marks a symbolic gesture of interfaith dialogue and national cohesion at a time when Nigeria continues to navigate complex socio-political and religious dynamics.