- Your Excellency, Most Rev. Dr. C.V.C Onaga, the Bishop of Enugu Diocese
- Your Excellency, Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Enugu State and his Wife
- Your Excellency, The Past Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, and the Chairman of this occasion
- Your Excellency, Lady Patricia Nwobodo, the Mother of the day
- Your Excellency, Governor Peter Obi, the past governor of Anambra state
- Most Rev. Bishops; Rev. Monsignors; Rev. Fathers, Members of Institutes of Consecrated Life;
- Your Royal Highnesses; Members of the Political Class; The Legal Luminaries,
- Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have the great honour to welcome you all to this remarkable day set apart for the promotion of the gift of knowledge, intelligence and wisdom. Glory to the Almighty God to whom it has pleased to bestow on us children his precious charisms.
The Catholic Institute for Development, Justice and Peace
(CIDJAP) is a social organ of the Catholic Church, committed to the
implementation of the Catholic Social Teaching (CST). It was registered
in Abuja as number 7461 by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a non-governmental, non-profit,
research and development organization.
This organization which started in 1986, from a lowly background has
grown to be top of the list as an example of a success story in the
arena of integral human development. It has evolved rapidly from modest
beginnings to become one of Nigeria's foremost and easily one of the
most versatile, dynamic, effective and patently credible NGO in
Nigeria. It is classified as the best example of providers of grassroots
emancipation and holistic human development.
Through its numerous projects in the area of education and child
sponsorship/scholarship programme, prison and human rights struggle,
primary health care and general health provision, housing and community
development initiatives, micro-credit and loans portfolio, democracy
monitoring and good governance projects, caritas and social assistance
for the indigent and the downtrodden of the society, conflict
resolution and peace-building, Muslim-Christian dialogue, corporate
social responsibility, women and youth's rights etc, it has touched the
lives of millions of people by relentlessly pursuing its tripartite
causes of Justice, Development and Peace. These virtues have been the
ideals to which we have been committed and by which we are driven. We
have maintained a clear focus which is to serve the needs of our people.
CIDJAP is recognized by many local, national and international
agencies and organizations. Our motto is: "If you want peace work for
justice. Our logo is a map of Africa showing two hands shaking one
another - a symbol of hope, openness to dialogue and friendship, sign
of solidarity.
One can see therefore, that reading, writing and publication of books are part and parcel of the objectives and purpose of CIDJAP. It may be difficult for us to carry out our assignments effectively without writings and publications. This is why your presence here today is most valued by us the staff of CIDJAP, Enugu Diocese, the universal Church, and the entire society. Be rest assured that whatever support you give us today will be channeled towards what CIDJAP stands for to put it in a summary, integral development of our people and our society.
May the Almighty God bless you, reward you abundantly and guide you in your life and to all your destinations through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Chinedu Odinkemelu Anieke
Director CIDJAP
