Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has approved an additional N100 million naira for the state Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to enable it pursue vigorously its micro credit programme.
Dr. Uduaghan who made the announcement during the inauguration of the newly elected chairman and members of CAN in Asaba said by this development the association would have a total of N150 million to work with.
He explained that he took this step because of the impressive progress recorded by the body when it disbursed the N50million loan granted it by the state government.
He also said that his administration decided to assist the body with more funds to enable it improve on its empowerment scheme and improve the living standard of more Deltans.
“The Christian body is trusted and this is why I agreed to assist their micro credit scheme with 50 million naira loan and I am increasing it now by 100 million to enable them empower more people, ”Governor Uduaghan said.
The governor also approved additional 100 pilgrimage slots for CAN thereby making the number of slots reserved for the body to be150 explaining that the gesture was to appreciate the importance of spiritual pilgrimage in the scheme of things.
Governor Uduaghan recalled the role CAN played in the return of peace to the state and advised Deltans to eschew ethnic hatred and live peacefully with their neighbours.
“We live in a very sensitive state as such we should be mindful of what we say to avoid sensitizing Deltans on ethnic hatred, ”he said, adding, “We must be conscious of ethnic hatred and hatred for each other. We must pray against the spirit of hatred”.
Speaking after administrating the relevant oath of office on the newly elected Delta state chairman and members of CAN, the South-South chairman of CAN, Apostle Godfrey Numbere urged them to improve on the achievements of the out going executive led by Arch-Bishop God do-well Awomakpa.
He advised CAN leadership in the state to be loyal, maintain their dignity in the society and relate mutually with government saying “if you go cap in hand to government, you will lose your respect”.
Explaining further, he reminded CAN that their first responsibility was to win souls for Christ and advised those saddled with leadership to emulate biblical leaders by consulting God through the Church before taking critical decisions.
Apostle Numbere charged CAN to inspire Christians and lead them rightly so that they can make heaven saying, “You should not teach Christians to be dependent on money but on the Gospel of the kingdom of God”.
In his acceptance speech the new CAN chairman in the state Rev. Gideon Oyibo thanked the national and South-South executive council of CAN for ensuring a transparent election which led to his emergence as chairman.
He promised that the new executive will do its best to build on the foundation laid by the out-going state executive.
Rev. Oyibo charged Christians to look beyond their different denominations and focus on God to build a united CAN in the state.
“We should not be sectional centered, let us look beyond our denomination and focus on God to build a united CAN in the State,” he said.
He pledged his exco’s commitment in partnering with the state government, traditional institution, security operatives and other stakeholders to ensure peace and security and build a better state.
