AT 75 and 50 years of a lifetime devoted to the service of God and humanity, there is every cause to celebrate and be celebrated.

This is the story of His Eminence, Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, the Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria, the Co-Chair, African Council of Religious Leaders, Christian Moderator, World Conference of Religious for Peace, and a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on the Role of Faith.

The faithful, family members, friends and well-wishers turned out in their numbers for a Special Mass at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Abuja on Tuesday, 29th January, to celebrate this birthday cleric, who as a young student had chosen the path of evangelisation over and above a much coveted government scholarship for further studies abroad.

Today, Cardinal Onaiyekan is not only a household name in his home country Nigeria, but also in Rome, and across the world. At the heart of his Apostolate is intra/inter-religious dialogue and leadership, aimed at refocusing a world torn apart by intolerance.

Call him a peacemaker, pacifist or a humble but radical Churchman, you are right. For here is a man who can be philosophically persuasive but at the same time exudes the courage for speaking truth to power.

Cardinal Onaiyekan PhD, was ordained a Priest in 1969 consecrated Bishop of Ilorin in 1984, became Archbishop of Abuja in 1994 and Cardinal in 2012.

A member of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council from 1999 to date, his Eminence, is a recipient of the National honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and has headed at various times, the umbrella Christian Association of Nigeria and the Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

Cardinal has also contributed his quota in the mentoring and formation of hundreds of young workers in God’s vinyard, including teaching at and heading several seminaries such as the SS Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Ibadan, his alma mata.

2012 was particularly eventful for the prelate. He was not only made a Cardinal that year, but also received the Pax Christi Award for his “consistent and tireless efforts in advocating for justice, peace, inter-religious dialogue and action,” and was also nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize, won by the European Union that year.

Pax Christi International, which “honours men and women who stand for peace, justice and non-violence in different parts of the world,” specifically awarded Cardinal Onaiyekan for his role in “building bridges between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria and other countries.”

To immortalise his legacies, a Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation has been set up as a platform for promoting sustainable peace through inter-religious dialogue cooperation and social change efforts.

Speaking during the Abuja celebratory Mass, Cardinal Onaiyekan restated his commitment to continue to serve God and humanity “as a Priest, an Archbishop and a Cardinal (until the canonical retirement) age of 80.”

The Mass was attended by more than 15 other Bishops, scores of Reverend Fathers and Sisters as well as the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, the Most Reverend Archbishop Antonio Guido Folipazzi and His Grace Felix Alaba Job, 81, the Emeritus Archbishop of Ibadan, arguably the oldest Catholic Archbishop in Nigeria, both of whom rendered glowing goodwill messages to Cardinal Onaiyekan.

By Paul Ejime, International Media & Communications Consultant

– Feb. 1, 2019 @ 16:35 GMT |