Christian leaders across the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) have adopted a new identity, as they formally unveiling the Forum of Northern Christians, known as the Northern Christian Association (NCA) in a move aimed at clarifying their mandate and strengthening their regional voice.

According to the New Christian body in the North, the NCA was created without creating friction with the national body, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Specifically, the decision to establish the Northern Christian body was reached in Kaduna at a stakeholders’ meeting of CAN chairmen from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, together with their secretaries and representatives of the youth and women wings, convened between Wednesday and Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the Northern Chairman, Reverned Joseph John Hayab, in office.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Reverned Hayab explained that the change was not a breakaway but a return to history”,  adding that “the body was previously referred to as Northern CAN, a description leaders say often created misunderstanding about its relationship with the national structure of the Christian Association of Nigeria”.

He said the association’s roots date back to 1964 in Kaduna when it was known as the Northern Christian Association before evolving into the national Christian body in 1976.

According to him, the new name is intended to restore that original identity while maintaining full allegiance to CAN at the national level under its President, Daniel Okoh.

“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 way of showing respect to the Motherbody to avoid confusion with the national structure. The Forum, he added, has been fully registered and incorporated as the Forum of Northern Christians and the FCT, formerly known as Northern CAN.

Hayab said the body would focus on specific 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 given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to nation building, especially in Northern Nigeria”, he stressed.

Besides, providing historical context, the first General Secretary of Northern CAN, Samuel Salifu, recalled that the Northern Christian Association was founded in 1964 in Kaduna and later metamorphosed into the Christian Association of Nigeriain 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, formalised the process.

Salifu noted that the present name change was prompted largely 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.

He further remarked that the core values of the association remain the pursuit of fairness, equal treatment and constitutional rights for Christians in the region.

While recounting 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,  Reverend 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 fight 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 lawful and constitutional means to protect vulnerable communities in northern Nigeria.

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.