NJIKO: A Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Humanities, Law, Education and Social Sciences

This study evaluated the role of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in national politics and social responsibility between 1999 and 2015. Using historical and documentary methods, it examined how CAN engaged political actors, public policy, and governance, and how its interventions shape debates on democracy and public morality. The analysis showed that CAN functions both as an interest group defending Christian concerns and as a civic actor promoting accountability, social welfare, and human development. Empirical evidence indicated that CAN and the wider Christian Church have made notable contributions to Nigeria’s political life and to education, health care, poverty alleviation, and community rehabilitation. These interventions have expanded access to essential services, offered safety nets to vulnerable groups, and sustained public advocacy on justice and peace. The article argued that, beyond its symbolic religious role, CAN has emerged as a significant normative and institutional force in Nigeria’s evolving democratic order, with continuing potential to advance responsible governance and community welfare.

Open Full Text (PDF)