Church Urges Action on Nigerians' Social Issues at Conference

The 40th annual conference of the Catholic Theological Association of Nigeria was held from April 7 to April 10, 2026, in Orlu, Imo State. Rev. Augustin Ukwuoma, who presided over the opening mass, emphasized that the church cannot remain indifferent to the social questions and the plight of the people.

The conference's theme focused on rediscovering Catholic social doctrine for social transformation. A communiqué issued at the end of the conference highlighted Nigeria's wealth juxtaposed with pervasive poverty, inequality, and injustice, raising fundamental moral questions regarding stewardship and justice.

The communiqué called on the government to ensure the safety of its citizens and stressed that human dignity should remain central to Catholic social teaching. The conference was attended by various theologians and clergy, including Archbishop Emeritus Owerri, Rev. Anthony Obinna, and Rev. Augustin Echema, with Rev. Fr. Dr. Idara Otu reaffirming the association's commitment to producing theology that speaks to Nigeria's realities.