The Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan has emphasised the importance of human solidarity in education in his homily at the Opening Mass for the 4th National Education Summit of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) held at St. Gabriel Chaplaincy Durumi.
The Summit which commenced with an Opening Mass on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, with the theme: “Global Compact on Education in the Nigerian Context.”
During his Homily, Onaiyekan said “the Global Compact on Education must promote human solidarity, breaking down divisions and fostering unity among all people,” Cardinal Onaiyekan stressed, drawing inspiration from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
While reflecting on St. Paul’s message to the people of Ephesus, he explained that the mystery of Christ, reveals that Gentiles and Jews are heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the same promise of God.
“This mystery is a powerful reminder that every human being is a member of God’s chosen family, regardless of background or creed,” he explained. “God rejects nobody, and we are called to welcome the entire humanity into the family of God”, he said.
The Clergy also referenced Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti (We Are All Brothers), signed in Abu Dhabi and adopted by the United Nations. He urged participants to read and digest the document, emphasizing its relevance to the summit’s theme.
“The concept of human solidarity has become an imperative we must promote,” he added. “The Holy Spirit calls us to break down walls of division and foster a common fraternity.”
In his address, the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman said the summit is taking place at a time when many programs, projects and strategies put in place by government at all levels are already yielding fruits.
The Minister who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Dr Claris Ujam, stated that the Summit underscores the Catholic Church’s commitment in collaborating with the government in ensuring academic excellence, quality and functional education delivery in Nigeria
He noted that Global Compact on Education in the Nigerian Context requires among other variables the reformation of educational models.
This according to him calls for the rethinking of how education should be delivered to focus on overall human development, nurturing creativity, idea and emotional intelligence.
“While this administration keeps doing its best within the limited resources to better position the country, I request that all hands be on deck to save our dear country from myriads of socio-economic and political challenges.
“Each stakeholder in education must play a unique role to help increase support for educational initiatives. This underscores the fact that team efforts help to achieve much and increase the chances of success in reaching set goals”, he added.
In his paper presentation, Prof. Dr Dr Jean-Paul Niyigena, Secretary General, International Foundation Religions and Societies said Pope Francis’ Global Compact on Education and its African adaptation, namely the African Educational Pact, advocates for reconsideration of the missions of Catholic education in a globalized world characterized by the crisis of fraternity, the political-economic crisis, and the ecological crisis.
These crises according to him should be viewed as signs of the failure of Western schooling education, which has led to individualism, selfishness, capitalism, and the overexploitation of nature, among other consequences.
“Pope Francis considers education as a remedy to the crises afflicting today’s societies. In this sense, the African Education Pact assumes the therapeutic role that education must play in society.
“Consequently, Catholic education in Africa must rely on the contents of Christian faith and African traditions to address the crises plaguing the continent, such as corruption, social inequalities, poverty, youth migration, environmental issues, and more. Catholic education has to offer a holistic education, concerning all domains of life and all fields of knowledge.
“For each crisis, Catholic education has the mission of developing strategies to prepare and equip young people so that they are able of making the necessary changes. Among other points, in my reflection, I have shown that the primary mission should be to unify human beings by educating the youth to be in harmony with themselves, with others, with God, with their history, and even with future generations”, he noted.
The 4th National Education Summit, brought together educators, policymakers, and stakeholders to explore innovative solutions for quality education. It will feature paper presentations, panel discussions, workshops focused on innovative teaching methods, infrastructure development, and policy reforms.
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