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The Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev Matthew Hassan Kukah, turned 70 on August 31. The solemn event was marked in Abuja with speeches extolling the virtues and achievements of the revered cleric many regard as the conscience of the nation and the defender of the masses. Besides offering the people the opportunity to say a few things about the celebrant, the occasion was used to launch the N200 million Kukah Leadership Centre, a think tank fashioned by the liberation theologian and scholar to groom future leaders.
Kukah has used the pulpit to crusade for social justice, peace and unity in the country. He has spoken truth to power and spoke against corruption and nepotism. His polemical and powerful homilies have rattled those in power and incurred acerbic criticisms from the attack dogs of the federal government. Kukah has played critical roles in advancing scholarship and growth of knowledge through his brilliant and inspirational writings, incisive speeches and political interventions.
His being part of the National Peace Committee, alongside the former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has seemingly ensured peace at every election. His Kukah Centre for Leadership has grown steadily in reputation and strength that today it is regarded as one of the best of such centres in Africa. The Kukah Centre is basically involved in fostering inter-faith dialogue, good governance, leadership development, memory preservation and knowledge promotion. These laudable programmes are geared towards ensuring the much-needed national development. Through memory preservation and knowledge promotion, the centre has raised awareness on critical issues of national and historical importance with active engagement of some stakeholders.
On the other hand, its inter-faith dialogue has promoted conversations among the nation’s faith communities, as well as between faith leaders and public policymakers. The Kukah Centre seeks to secure the future by raising and training leaders for the next generation. Its good governance programme mobilises the electorate towards participating in shaping government policies, while The Kukah Prize for Young Innovators, N2 million, N1million and N500,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners respectively, will engender creativity, competition, technological growth among young people that will impact positively on the economy. Kukah is seen differently by many people. While some people see him as a spiteful irritant, others believe he is a beacon of hope and progress. His position on every issue is very clear and concise. He says it the way it is. We join other eminent Nigerians to congratulate him on his 70th birthday and urge him to remain consistent in his role as the conscience of the nation and the defender of the powerless, by chastising those in power whenever it is necessary. He should not be deterred by those who attack him for speaking the truth. One of the problems of Nigeria is the dearth of truth-telling among the political elites. Beyond shepherding the flock, Bishop Kukah is a prolific writer. His works include: Religion, Politics, and Power in Northern Nigeria (1993); Witness to Justice: An Insider’s Account of Nigeria’s Truth Commission (2011); Democracy and Civil Society in Nigeria (2001); and Broken Truths (2022).
Bishop Kukah received his primary education at St. Fidelis Primary School, Zagon; St Joseph Minor Seminary, Zaria, before proceeding to St. Augustine Major Seminary, Jos, Plateau State, where he studied Philosophy and Theology. He was ordained a Catholic priest on December 19, 1976. Later, he got Dip in Religious Studies, University of Ibadan; Bachelor of Divinity, Urban University Rome; Masters in Peace Studies, University of Bradford; and PhD, Political Science, University of London. Between 1999 and 2001, he served as a member of the Investigations Commission of Human Rights Violations popularly known as Oputa panel.
In addition to his work as a parish priest, until his elevation as a Bishop, he was the Secretary of the National Political Reform Conference (2005) and from 2005 onwards he served as the chairman of Ogoni-Shell Reconciliation. Additionally, he was in the committee for electoral reforms from 2007 to 2009. Kukah is currently a member of Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, Vatican City.
We wish Bishop Kukah many happy returns.
