The Plateau State Chapter of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA) has inaugurated its state, youth and women wing executives, alongside the investiture of patrons and matrons, with a call for the Church to take a more active role in addressing contemporary challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.
The inauguration, held on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the Nigeria Bible Translation Trust Hall in Jos, brought together church leaders, clergy, representatives of Christian organisations, fathers in the faith and other distinguished guests.
The event was themed “Positioning the Church Towards Confronting the Contemporary Challenges in Northern Nigeria.”
Delivering the keynote sermon, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Cletus Gotan said the inauguration was taking place at a critical period, particularly against the backdrop of insecurity and recent attacks in parts of Plateau State.
He urged the Church to remain a moral compass in society and preserve its prophetic voice by speaking against injustice and standing for truth.
Quoting Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world,” Gotan said the Church must not negotiate with darkness, stressing that it should engage government without being absorbed by the state.
According to him, NOCRELA must go beyond issuing statements whenever violence occurs and become an instrument for preventing violence, promoting peace and seeking justice.
He called on Christian leaders to strengthen early warning and response mechanisms, work together before crises occur and promote practical engagement that can move communities away from retaliation towards peace and prosperity.
Gotan also called for greater unity among Christian denominations, saying differences should not prevent Christians from working together, particularly because violence, hunger and other challenges do not discriminate along denominational lines.
He urged the Church to invest more in young people and encourage them to become builders of society rather than agents of destruction.
Representing Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, the Secretary to the State Government, Arch. Samuel Jatau, who was also inaugurated as a patron of NOCRELA, described the initiative as important, particularly given the sensitivity of religion in Northern Nigeria.
Jatau said religious leaders had a critical role to play in promoting understanding among different faith communities and preventing religion from becoming a trigger for conflict.
He noted that religious leaders had previously intervened during periods of crisis and political tension, helping to douse tensions and encourage understanding among opposing sides.
Speaking on the 2027 electioneering process, Jatau urged Christians and other citizens to focus on the competence and capacity of political candidates rather than allowing religion to become the determining factor.
He said governance was about providing for everyone, regardless of their religion or background.
“Electioneering should be the choice of candidates based on capacity. I don’t want it to be an exercise where religion becomes a very critical factor because that will increase the divide,” he said.
Jatau urged voters to support candidates with the temperament and capacity to carry everyone along, stressing that the common denominator in governance should be Plateau State and the collective wellbeing of its people.
In his remarks, the newly inaugurated State Chairman of NOCRELA, Pastor Kilyobas Buba Yunana, described the inauguration as both a spiritual privilege and a renewed commitment to leadership, faith and peaceful development in Plateau State.
He said religious leaders had responsibilities that extended beyond the pulpit, including promoting unity, advocating for vulnerable people and partnering with relevant stakeholders to build a peaceful and prosperous society.
Yunana said the new leadership would focus on fostering unity and peace, providing moral and spiritual guidance, and supporting good governance.
He urged the newly inaugurated executives to regard their positions as a sacred trust and to lead with justice, mercy and humility.
The NOCRELA chairman also pledged that the Plateau chapter would cooperate with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and denominational leaders to promote peace and harmony in the state.
He expressed appreciation to the Plateau State Government, individuals, church groups, choristers and women fellowships whose support contributed to the success of the inauguration.
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The Chairman of the Day, Mr. Sunday Biggs, represented by Chief Austin Dalyop, described the gathering as significant, particularly given the numerical strength of Christians across Northern Nigeria.
Dalyop called for greater unity within the Church, urging Christians to harmonise their differences rather than allow disagreements to weaken the collective strength of the Christian community.
He also encouraged Christians not to shy away from politics, noting that political participation was important because government policies directly affect communities and the protection of their interests.
He further called for inclusive national development that would benefit all communities and urged Christians to remain firm in defending their communities while promoting peace and justice.
The event featured gospel musical renditions by various women groups before the inauguration of the NOCRELA Plateau State, Youth and Women Wings executives which was coordinated by national officers and representatives.’
The programme also witnessed the investiture of patrons and matrons, with certificates presented to the newly recognised office holders.
