Very Distinguished, Gentle Men of the Press. I am indeed delighted to welcome you to this Media Briefing, organized by our Honoured Order, the knights of St. Mulumba KSM,Nigeria as part of the itinerary of it’s five days, 46th Supreme Council Convention, holding here in Kaduna, Capital of Kaduna State.
It is fitting, that you are here in your numbers to field questions and rub minds with us, as partners in the bounding task of building a country of our dreams.
As always, we consider the ever vibrant Press in Nigeria, as our partners in progress in this task, because, apart from holding both national and sub nationals accountable, the press also unearths sleazes among government officials and perceived breaches of the Constitution and sets agenda for national growth and development.
As an Order, we agree completely with the dictum, that the Press remains one of the pillars of democracy, providing platforms for frank exchanges of ideas,and alternative narratives.
This is in tandem with the view of the late American President, Thomas Jefferson who believed that the Freedom of the Press and unfettered access to information are germane to a sound democratic rule.
It is in recognition of the invaluable role of the press in keeping the people informed about developing events around them, that this exercise forms an integral part of the itinerary of our annual Conventions, held in rotation among the nine Metropolitan Councils, of the Knights of St Mulumba,in line with the ecclesiastical provinces of the Catholic Church in Nigeria.
The Leaders of KSM are gathered in this great city, for our 46th Annual Convention, which commenced yesterday, with the arrival of the members of the Supreme Executive Board, who formulate policies for the overall wellbeing and development of the Order, with visits earlier today, to the Lord Lugard House, on a courtesy visit to Governor Uba Sani and the Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Most Rev Dr. Matthew Man’ Oso Ndagoso.
Our Conventions, provide veritable platforms for introspection and reviews of the activities of the Order, during the year. It also provides insights and enablers for the continued growth and development of the Order and the work plan for the succeeding year.
Interestingly, this Convention is holding nine years after the Kaduna Metropolitan Council, held a similar one at Kakuri, here in Kaduna . Providentially, Kaduna, has in the past couple of years served as the venue for our seamless change of leadership.
The name Kaduna was derived from Crocodiles which abound in River Kaduna. Kaduna is often touted as the political capital of Northern Nigeria.It is also heartwarming that the serene and beautiful environment of this great city, very well planned by the Colonial Masters, will provide a commodious setting for our deliberations.
The Convention proper, begins tomorrow, Friday November 28, 2025 with a Concelebrated High Mass at St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Tafawa Balewa Way,to be Concelebrated by Archbishop Matthew Ndagoso,followed by the formal Opening Ceremony to be declared open by His Excellency, Distinguished Senator,Uba Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, at the Musa Yar,adua Hall, Murtala Mohammed Square Kaduna.
The Theme of this year’s Convention, “The Catholic Knight: An Agent of Hope in the Face of Christian Persecution”. is not only apt, but topical in the light of trending narratives of allegations of targeted persecution and killings of Christians by insurgents and bandits in various flash points in the country.
The topic is expected to situate properly the veracity or otherwise of the assertions, which also, recently attracted global attention by the insinuations by A United States of American Senator,Tez Cruz, who called for sanctions on some Nigerian Government officials for their alleged culpability in targeted genocide against Christians, a narrative which was vehemently rebutted by by both the Nigerian Government and the Senate
.Luckily we have as Our Guest Lecturer and Lead Speaker, a multi dimensional personality and one of Nigeria,s finest Clerics, Most Rev. Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese .Bishop Kukah,s intimidating antecedents in matters of this nature, his ancestry as one from Southern Kaduna, which hither to, was a hot bed of banditry and kidnapping,and a leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, amply qualifies him to pontificate on the topic.
We expect robust discussions and outcomes that will provide some leads to a permanent solution to the lingering security problems in the country.Two other Discussants,Rev. Fr Professor Peter BuanaTanko and Professor John Laah, both of them University Dons are expected to provide additional insights on the topic.
The Order has consistently utilized the high profile nature of it’s Opening Ceremonies, for seasoned Prelates, Civil Societies Activists, Academics, Policy formulators, Analysts and Security Experts to give verve to topical national issues, with a view to providing pragmatic solutions to the myriad of socio economic problems besetting our nation.
Gentlemen of the Press, I consider it imperative to remind you that the Order is now 72 years old, having attained the Platinum bench mark on June 14, 2023. The Order, with it’s members have in the seven decades of its existence etched themselves as leading lights, not just on Christocentric ideals, but on all spheres of human existence.
It has within this period, recorded a trajectory of successes, innovations and epochs, anchored on it’s thematic programmes of Charity, Defence of the Churches’ Ordinances and Faith. It has utilized it’s Media Advocacies in keeping Government on its toes by drawing attention to poor governance, and foibles in non formal sectors, and has remained a veritable Voice of the voiceless.
KSM has consistently spoken against all forms of perceived injustices, oppression and gaging of the Press. KSM has also remained unassailable in it’s avowed options for the poor, needy, vulnerable and defenceless.
Believing that only virtues promote nobility, the Order has consistently turned it’s searchlight on it’s own members, to ensure that they remained focused on its core values and ideals as enshrined in its Code ofConducts and Mission Statement.
INVESTMENTS.
In other to divest the Order from utter dependence on dues, levies and donations, It has in the past four years revitalized it’s investments portfolios,to properly situate them as profitable ventures. Our Hospitality Ventures at Onitsha and the KSM Water Project at Obinze, Owerri Imo State, have been injected with funds and have come fully on stream.
The Water Factory was formally Commissioned recently by His Grace, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri Archdiocese and the Chairman, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria CBCN.Its Aura Gold brands are doing quite well in the Water Market, especially in it’s catchment areas.
Our Bakery and Confectionary outlet in Onitsha commissioned on October 28, 2023 is also running in full throttle,thus validating the predictions of the feasibility studies on the two business concerns as profitable ventures.
Both Business Ventures have been provided with Delivery Vans, alternative sources of power and personnel to boost their productivities.They have also satisfied their NAFDAC regulations.
DIRECT FOREIGN INVESTMENTS.
Utilizing it’s rich global network of contacts, the Order attracted Direct Foreign Investments from an American based Charity Organization Kind One International Wells for Charity, and Charter House/ Kind One for Wells Initiative for the provision of articulated solar driven Water Projects in seven communities in Nigeria.
The provision of #20,000.00(twenty thousand US dollars) and #30m million(thirty million naira) respectively, ensured that we jointly and successfully executed the projects in semi urban settings in Ozubulu and Nimo in Anambra State,Markurdi in Benue State, Stella Maris University Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Odo-Arawo in Ogun State,Federal University of Petroleum Resources in Effurun, Delta State and Kaduna in Kaduna State, respectively.
We consider this initiative as praise worthy as these are projects that would ordinarily be provided by sub nationals, since they impact very positively on the wellbeing of the citizenry.
Let me add that no foreign trips were embarked upon by officials of the Order in search of these investment, which form part of our Charity Bites and Corporate Social Responsibilities to the benefiting communities.
STATE OF THE NATION
The Order notes with muted elation the reported improvements on the macro economic indices of the Country.We are however concerned that the successes are yet to be felt at the micro levels, as inflation and prices of consumer items are still high and impinging negatively on the disposable incomes of Nigerians.
We therefore urge the Nigerian Government to adopt additional measures to ensure a speedy return to economic stability and growth and stave off the attendant hardship and sufferings of so many Nigerians, especially the poor and vulnerable. KSM pleads with the sub nationals in particular, to prioritize job creation modules to keep the teeming population of jobless youths of the streets. We also urge the nation,s security agencies to continue in the trajectory of keeping the country safe for all.
We endorse whole heatedly the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria position on these matters, especially it’s strident call for humaneness in governance and urge that all hands must be on deck to return the country to a path of sustainable peace and progress.
PRISON REFORMS
The Knights of St. Mulumba at its last Convention in Calabar in Cross River State, raised alarm at the dilapidated states of the nation,s Correctional facilities and the poor welfare of prison inmates, noting that they are not only cranky and overcrowded with inmates, who are poorly looked after and resolved to mount an aggressive Advocacy for Prisons Reforms and Decongestion.
The statistics as at last year were dismal.The total number of inmates in all the Correctional Centers were 84,000 out of which only 27,000 were convicted.
With the grim projection of 10 percent annual increases, the figure should have escalated beyond the grim statistics of last year.Even at that, many of them remained in the various Prisons because of their inability to settle the fines for their releases and difficulties in perfecting their Bail requirements.
The figure for last year, indicated that 34,767 inmates exceeded the total capacity of our Correctional Centres put at 50,000.We interfaced with the Ministry of Interior and other agencies charged with the Administration of Justice in the Country on the way forward and our efforts are yielding fruits.
The Federal Government is now prioritizing reforms and is committed to building new Prisons with the capacities to accommodate more inmates. Other well meaning Nigerians and groups have also joined us in our clamour for more humane treatment of prisoners and the provision of more commodious environments for them.
As an organization we have directed our various organs to intensify their Prisons Apostolates, by regularly visiting the Correctional Centres in their respective localities, to dispense charity items to the inmates, and provide free medical and legal services for them and assisting prisons officials in ensuring improvements their welfare and wellbeing.
KSM CONSTITUTION.
The KSM Constitution has been approved by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria,CBCN, thus providing the Order with the Grand Norm to regulate it’s activities and guide it’s operations seamlessly.
We commend the Catholic Secretariat for painstakingly scrutinizing the provisions to ensure that they aligned with the vision of the Universal Church on its Sodalities. Soft copies have been circulated and the hard copies are currently being printed for mass circulation.
INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE OF CATHOLIC KNIGHTS (AICK)
It is with pleasure but with extreme modesty, that I inform you, gentle Men of the Press, of my recent election and inauguration as the Deputy International President of the International Alliance of Catholic Knights AICK.
AICK is a global Association of Catholic Fraternal Orders, with headquarters in Hampshire Ireland in the United Kingdom. KSM Nigeria, is the only Knighthood Order from Nigeria in the prestigeous body,which has representatives across the five Continents of the world.
My election, makes me the second Nigeria to serve in the executive of the prestigeous organization, after the late Chief Gregory Akabuogu, a past Supreme Knight of KSM was elected in 1991 as the President of IACK.
Our election has drawn some positivities for Order and Nigeria and I have received commendations from several quarters and the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria . SIR JUSTIN PWANIDI MADUGU.
I am sure that you are versed of the fact that the Chief Coach of the reigning AFCON Champions, Nigeria Senior Female Football Team,the Super Falcons, Sir Justin Pwanidi Madugu, is proudly one of us.
He is the Grand Knight of Yola Sub-Council in Jos Metropolitan Council and will be here with us for the Convention.As an Order we are extremely proud of his achievement, which brought much glory to our county and joy to millions of football lovers.
Sir Madugu,s success, resonates fittingly with the Order,s consistent strive for excellence in all it’s undertakings and our late Founder, Rev. Fr Anselm Abraham Ojefua,s ideals of hard work, resilience and tenacity of purpose.
He has brought much visibility and glory too, to KSM, as much as he did for the Country. We eulogize him and have placed him in our Honours’ List.
CONCLUSION
Before I end this Briefing, we wish to commend the Kaduna State Government, under the able leadership os His Excellency Distinguished Senator Uba Sani for the development strides we have witnessed since our arrival in the State yesterday.
We commend him for the imaginative steps he has taken to restore relative peace, security and religious tolerance among the heterogeneous population and other residents in the State.it is our fervent desire that Kaduna,famed for it’s cosmopolitan nature and melting pot of sorts will reenact it’s past glories.
Gentle Men of the Press, I am aware that you have been formally invited to be with us to provide your usual saturated coverage of the various itinerary of our 46th Convention at the venues I earlier highlighted in the course of this briefing. We look forward to seeing you in your numbers as purveyors of news and agents of public enlightenment.
Once again I sincerely appreciate your presence. Thank you and God bless.
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