By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha will on Friday, 25th December, 2022, declare open the 43rd Supreme Convention of the Order of the Knights of St Mulumba Nigeria in Abuja.
The ceremony will be attended by over 350 delegates from the Order including the Supreme Executive Board members, led by the Supreme Knight, Sir Charles Mbelede; designated Metro Officers and the Grand Knights of all the 280 Sub Councils across the country.
The Abuja Metropolitan Council Grand Knight, (MGK), Sir Michael M. Aule who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday said the Opening Mass will be held at the Veritas (Catholic) University Chapel, Bwari, followed by the Opening Ceremony of the Convention at the Holy Trinity Church Event Center, Maitama, Abuja.
According to him, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan will deliver a paper on the convention’s main theme, “The Role of the Church in Advocacy and the Promotion of Peace, Equity, Justice and Development in the Democratic Transition in Nigeria”.
The presentation will be discussed by Prof. Mike Kwanashie, former Vice Chancellor Veritas University Abuja and Rev. Fr. George Ehusani of Lux Terra Leadership Foundation.
He said the second paper will be presented by the Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese, Most Rev Oliver Dashe Doeme, on the sub-theme, “The Catholic Church in Nigeria and the growing challenges of supporting Christians and Victims of Religious Conflicts in the Turbulent Regions of the Country”. The paper will be discussed by Rev. Fr. Uche Obodoechi, Executive Secretary Caritas Nigeria and Barr Joseph Daramola, Secretary Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Other dignitaries expected at the ceremony include the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Most Rev Antonio Guido Fillipazzi; Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev Ignatius Kaigama, all the Bishops in Abuja Ecclesiastical Province, the Bishop Chairman of Laity, the Minister of FCT, the Governors of Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau and other States as well as the Deputy Governors of Kogi and Nasarawa States.
Sir Aule further explained that “the Supreme Convention of the KSM Nigeria is a platform for the promotion of the values of the Order through open discussions on vital issues such as the Christian faith, religious harmony, good governance, sustainable development, peace, unity, and equity as they affect our beloved Country.
“The Order performs various charitable works to members of the public, both Christians and Non-Christians alike. On a regular basis, Members both individually and collectively visits Hospitals, the needy, Correctional Centers and render diverse support to Religious Houses.
“The Order counts on its members, Men and Women who because of their education, social position and material resources can fight a good cause with success for the greater glory of God, the Church and the progress of our Country using their (3 Ts) Time, Talent and Treasures”.
The MGK also disclosed that as part of the Supreme convention, the Supreme Knight will perform the Foundation Laying Ceremony of the Abuja Metropolitan Council Secretariat at Guzape District of Abuja and also pay courtesy visits to some top government Officials.
The KSM, he said was established on the 14th June, 1953, with the name, The Order of the Knights of Blessed Mulumba an African Saint killed in Uganda among the other martyrs in 1886. It was structured upon the principles of the Catholic Action and Modeled after the Sacred .
“The major aims of its establishment were to counteract the harm done to the Catholic Church by many secret societies such as the Free Manson and Ogboni cults and to arrest the influx of the enlightened Christian members to those harmful groups that were totally opposed to the Catholic faith and morals.
“Another aim was to bring the Catholics together in fraternal association for the good and progress of the Church, for the welfare of the country and for the well-being of Nigerians generally and its members in particular”, he added.
The MGK, Sir Michael Aule, with other Metro Officers at the press briefing on Tuesday
