Northern CAN reclaims 1964 identity, adopts new name to strengthen regional voice
Christian leaders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have adopted a new identity, formally unveiling the Forum of Northern Christians, also known as the Northern
Christian leaders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have adopted a new identity, formally unveiling the Forum of Northern Christians, also known as the Northern Christian Association, in a move aimed at clarifying their mandate and reinforcing their regional engagement without creating friction with the national body.
The resolution was reached in Kaduna during a stakeholders’ meeting attended by chairmen of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) from the 19 Northern states and the FCT, alongside their secretaries and representatives of the youth and women wings.
The two-day meeting, held between Wednesday and Thursday, coincided with the first anniversary in office of the Northern Chairman, Rev. Joseph John Hayab.
The regional body had previously been described as Northern CAN, a designation leaders said frequently generated confusion regarding its relationship with the national structure of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Rev. Hayab clarified that the change does not signify a breakaway but rather a restoration of historical identity.
He noted that the association traces its origins to 1964 in Kaduna, when it operated as the Northern Christian Association before evolving into the national Christian body in 1976. According to him, the re-adoption of the name reaffirms that legacy while maintaining full allegiance to the national leadership of CAN under its President, Daniel Okoh.
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“We are CAN. We are Christians, and we remain members of CAN,” Hayab said. “But when we speak about issues affecting Christians in Northern Nigeria, we believe we should have a distinct and clear identity. There is no quarrel with the national body. Any contrary impression is a misunderstanding.”
He explained that the word “Nigeria” was deliberately excluded from the revived name as a mark of respect for the mother body and to avoid confusion with the national structure. The Forum, he added, has been duly registered and incorporated as the Forum of Northern Christians and the FCT, formerly known as Northern CAN.
Hayab said the body would focus on challenges confronting Christians in the region, including concerns over religious freedom, access to education, shortage of Christian Religious Knowledge teachers in schools, and what he described as limited admission opportunities for Christian children in some parts of the North.
“These are serious issues that demand focused attention,” he said. “Our priority is to ensure our people are treated as equal citizens, respected and allowed to contribute meaningfully to nation building, especially in Northern Nigeria.”
Providing historical context, the first General Secretary of Northern CAN, Engr. Samuel Salifu recalled that the Northern Christian Association was founded in 1964 in Kaduna and later metamorphosed into the Christian Association of Nigeria in 1976 when Christian leaders across the country agreed to operate under one umbrella.
He said the registration was completed during the administration of former military leader Olusegun Obasanjo, when the late Interior Minister, Shehu Shagari, formalized the process.
Salifu noted that the present name change was largely prompted by misconceptions that the regional body was operating in opposition to the national CAN.
“There was never a Northern CAN as a separate entity from CAN,” he said. “There were Christians in the North organising themselves. To avoid confusion and unnecessary suspicion, the name has now been properly registered. We are together in CAN as one body.”
He added that the core values of the association remain the pursuit of fairness, equal treatment, and constitutional rights for Christians in the region. Recalling historical concerns over alleged discrimination in public institutions and access to leadership positions, Salifu stressed that the founding fathers believed that if Nigeria is one country, all citizens must enjoy equal rights and responsibilities.
Also speaking, elder cleric Rev. Emmanuel Dziggau said the 1964 formation of the Northern Christian Association was born out of what he described as a struggle for survival by Christians in the region.
“We had to organise and stand for ourselves to survive,” he said, urging the present leadership to remain focused on justice and equity.
In his virtual address, elder statesman Prof. Yusuf Turaki lamented the prevailing insecurity across Northern Nigeria, stating that many Christian communities have borne the brunt of kidnappings, displacement, and destruction of livelihoods. He urged the Forum to continue advocating for lawful and constitutional means to protect vulnerable communities in the region.
Stakeholders at the meeting passed resolutions reaffirming their loyalty to the national CAN leadership and pledging continued collaboration with the central body while maintaining a clearly defined regional structure.
The Forum also appreciated former leaders, including Engr. Samuel Salifu, Rev. Emmanuel Dziggau, and Prof. Yusuf Turaki, for their contributions to the growth of Northern Christian leadership over the decades.
Leaders insisted that the adoption of the Forum of Northern Christians, also known as the Northern Christian Association, is not about semantics but clarity of purpose.
“This is not a time for debates over names,” Hayab said. “It is a time to respond to the suffering of our people and to stand for justice, equality, and peaceful coexistence within the framework of the Nigerian Constitution.”