Christian Association of Nigeria

{{Short description|Organization of Christian denominations in Nigeria}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
The '''Christian Association of Nigeria''' (CAN) is an [[umbrella organisation]] containing numerous [[Christianity in Nigeria|Christian]] denominations in [[Nigeria]].
[[File:Christian Association of Nigeria logo.JPG|thumbnail|The official logo of the Association|right]]

==History==
The Christian Association of Nigeria was founded in 1976, and originally only contained the Catholic Church and [[Mainline (Protestant)|mainline]] [[Protestantism|Protestant]] groups. However, it later expanded to include [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] churches as well.<ref name=pew>{{cite web|url=http://pewforum.org/surveys/pentecostal/countries/?CountryID=150 |title=Pentecostalism in Nigeria |accessdate=13 September 2007 |work=PewForum.org |publisher=[[Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306063843/http://pewforum.org/surveys/pentecostal/countries/?CountryID=150 |archivedate=6 March 2008|url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2000, the CAN protested the adoption of [[Sharia]] law in northern states.<ref name=wn>{{cite news|first=Obed |last=Minchakpu |title=Nigerian Churches will Challenge Islamic Law |url=http://www.worthynews.com/news-features/compass-nigeria-sharia.html |work=Compass |publisher=Compass Direct News Service |date=2000 |accessdate=13 September 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911040456/http://www.worthynews.com/news-features/compass-nigeria-sharia.html |archivedate=11 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In February 2006, while President of the organisation, Akinola issued a statement in response to [[Islam in Nigeria|Muslim]] violence against Christians, telling Muslims that they did not have a "monopoly on violence". The following day, Christians rioted in retaliation against Muslims, leading to more than 70 deaths.<ref name=ek>{{cite news |title= Christians kill Muslims following warning by Nigerian Archbishop |url=http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_060223nigeria.shtml |work=Ekklesia.co.uk |publisher= [[Ekklesia (think tank)|Ekklesia]]|date=23 February 2006 |accessdate=13 September 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200803/nigeria/2|title=God's Country|publisher=[[The Atlantic]]|date=1 March 2008|accessdate=19 September 2009|archive-date=14 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514040428/http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200803/nigeria/2|url-status=dead}}</ref> Akinola later claimed his statements had been misinterpreted in the western media. He even threatened to resign in case the riots should continue.<ref>[http://www.globalsouthanglican.org/index.php/weblog/comments/reactions_to_violence_in_nigeria_archbishop_peter_akinola_explains/ ''Reactions to violence in Nigeria: Archbishop Peter Akinola explains'', Christianity Today]</ref>

On 2 May 2004, more than 630 Christians were killed in [[Yelwa]], [[Nigeria]]. The dead were pinned white name tags identifying them as members of the CAN.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3689615.stm Eyewitness: Nigeria's 'town of death']</ref> The massacre is known as the [[Yelwa massacre]].

==Organisation==
The organisation is made up of five blocs; they are the Christian Council of Nigeria, the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria,  [[Organisation of African Instituted Churches]] and the [[Evangelical Church Winning All]]/[[Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria]].<ref name=cbcn>{{cite news|title=Onaiyekan is new CAN president |url=http://www.cbcn.org/aspscripts/newslist.ASP?IDX=1#Onaiyekan%20is%20new%20CAN%20president-June%2019 |work=CBCN.org |publisher=[[Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria]]|date=19 June 2007|accessdate=19 June 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070720191629/http://www.cbcn.org/aspscripts/newslist.ASP?IDX=1#Onaiyekan%20is%20new%20CAN%20president-June%2019 |archivedate=20 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The CAN has Women and Youth Wings, a National Executive Council consisting of 105 members (which elects the President), and a General Assembly of 304 members (which ratifies the President's election).<ref name=cbcn />

==Leadership==
In 2016, [[Supo Ayokunle]], President (and Chief Executive Officer) of The Nigerian Baptist Convention, was elected as president and Prof. Joseph Otubu, of the Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Movement, the Vice President.

Ayokunle was re-elected for second term and inaugurated in July 2019 alongside his Vice President Rev Dr. Caleb Ahima.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fellowpress.com/latest-news/59186/can-inaugurates-ayokunle-for-second-term-presidency/|title=CAN inaugurates Ayokunle for second term presidency|last=Adeniyi|first=Olakunle|date=2019-07-19|website=Nigeria news|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-19|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126183302/https://fellowpress.com/latest-news/59186/can-inaugurates-ayokunle-for-second-term-presidency/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In July 2022, [[Daniel Okoh]] was elected as the present president of the association
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/news/daniel-okoh-emerges-can-president/|title=Daniel Okoh emerges CAN president|date=2022-07-27|website=The Guardian|language=en-US|access-date=2022-07-27}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style=" text-align:center; font-size:85%;" width="80%"
! scope="col" width=5%| Order
! scope="col" width=20%| Term of Office
! scope="col" width=10%| Tenure Served
! scope="col" width=20%| Name
! scope="col" width=10%| Place of Birth
! scope="col" width=10%| Denomination
! scope="col" width=20%| Notes
|-
|1
|November 1988 - November 1995
|2 re-elected 1992
|[[Anthony Olubunmi Okogie|Anthony Cardinal Okogie]]
|[[Lagos, Nigeria]]
|[[Roman Catholic]]
|[[Archbishop of Lagos]]
|-
|2
|November 1995 - November 2003
|2 re-elected 1999
|[[Sunday Mbang]]
|[[Akwa Ibom]], [[Nigeria]]
|[[Methodist]]
|Prelate of the [[Methodist Church of Nigeria]]
|-
|3
|November 2003 - June 2007
|1
| [[Peter Akinola]]
|[[Ogun, Nigeria]]
|[[Anglican]]
|Prelate, [[Anglican Church of Nigeria]]
|-
|4
|June 2007 - July 2010
|1
| [[John Onaiyekan|Archbishop John Onaiyekan]]
|[[Kabba]], [[Nigeria]]
|[[Roman Catholic]]
|[[Archbishop of Abuja]]
|-
|5
|July 2010 - July 2016
|2 re-elected 2013<ref>{{cite news |title='CAN Officers' |url=http://canng.org/about-can/national-directors |accessdate=2017-03-18 }}</ref><ref name="canpres">{{cite news |title= CAN re-elects Oritsejafor as president. On July 10, 2013. He was first elected into the position in May 2010'|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/can-re-elects-oritsejafor-as-president/|work= [[Vanguard (Nigeria)|Vanguard News]] |date=2014-10-28 |accessdate=2016-02-04 }}</ref>
|[[Ayo Oritsejafor]]
|[[Warri, Nigeria]]
|[[Pentecostal]]
| Pastor, [[Word of Life Bible Church]]
|-
|6
|July 2016 – July 2022
|2 re-elected<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fellowpress.com/news/57280/ayokunle-retaind-seat-as-can-president/|title=Ayokunle retains seat as CAN president|last=Press|first=Fellow|date=2019-06-19|website=Nigeria news|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-19|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719133203/https://www.fellowpress.com/news/57280/ayokunle-retaind-seat-as-can-president/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|[[Supo Ayokunle]]
|[[Oyo, Nigeria]]
|[[Baptist]]
|President, [[Nigerian Baptist Convention]]
|-
|7
|bgcolor=00ff00|July 2022 - till date
|Incumbent<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nationaldailyng.com/most-rev-daniel-okoh-emerges-can-president/|title=Most Rev Daniel Okoh emerges CAN President|last=Press|first=Fellow|date=2022-07-26|website=National daily |language=en-US|access-date=2022-07-26}}</ref>
|[[Daniel Okoh]]
|[[Kano, Nigeria]]
|[[Pentecostal]]
|General Supretendent, [[Christ Holy Church International]]
|}

==References==
{{Portal|Nigeria}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://christianassociationofnigeria.com/ Christian Association of Nigeria Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071027215156/http://www.anglican-nig.org/CANreact.htm Statement by CAN President-In-Council condemning call to jihad]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Christian organizations based in Nigeria]]
[[Category:National councils of churches]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1976]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in Nigeria]]