No fewer than 150 Catholic Bishops from 16 countries of West Africa are expected to converge in Abuja for a conference on peacebuilding in the region.
Rev. Fr. Michael-Nsikak Umoh, National Director, Social Communications of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria stated this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
He said that the General Assembly of the Reunion of Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) would hold on May 9, at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja.
The event has the theme: “Fratelli Tutti: Path to Build Brotherhood and Sustainable Peace in West Africa.”
“The conference will address global issues affecting the church and nations, among them are insecurity, unemployment, peacebuilding and evangelism,” he added.
Umoh said that the RECOWA plenary would discuss peculiar issues that affect the lives of millions of people in West Africa and explore the best ways the Church could support governments toward improving the living conditions of the people, using its various organs that address issues of interfaith dialogue, security, good governance, justice and peace.
Read Also: Resolve Crisis In University System – Catholic Bishop To FG, ASUU
RECOWA has two different organs of collegiality based on linguistic differences.
The English speaking was in one group known as the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa (AECAWA established in 1977) while the French-speaking formed another conference, known as the Conference Episcopale Régionale de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (CERAO established in 1963).
However, in 1996, the Bishops of the two bodies recognized the need for a united West African nation in the ecclesiastical sphere, following ECOWAS arrangement on the geopolitical platform.
They recognized the need to come together as a people, join forces and pool resources together for consolidated pastoral programs in the West African region.
In view of this, they agreed to form one single Episcopal Association that would bring all Bishops of West Africa on one platform.
This culminated in the first formal meeting which was held on July 1, 1997, at the headquarters of the SECAM General Secretariat in Accra, Ghana.
Africa Daily News, New York
