Meritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has called on the Federal Government to allocate funds to faith-based schools to ensure equal educational opportunities for all children in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 4th National Catholic Education Summit in Abuja on Wednesday, Cardinal Onaiyekan criticized the biased funding that overlooks high-achieving faith-based institutions like Regina Pacis College, Christ the King College, and St. Jude Seminary. He emphasized the need for parents to have the right to choose faith-based education without facing financial penalties.
“It’s time to end the unnecessary rivalry between church and state. Our children are also the government’s children. If this marks the beginning of a new collaboration between church and state in education in Nigeria, I thank God for witnessing it,” Onaiyekan stated, highlighting the existing history of collaboration between the two entities.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by limited resources due to corruption but insisted that some funds remain available. “When budgeting, please consider all children. It is a matter of justice. Parents have the right to choose Catholic schools for their children without penalty. Above all, the children should not be penalized for attending Catholic schools,” he stressed.
The Cardinal pointed out the inequity in funding, stating, “It is unjust to allocate funds to government schools while neglecting our Catholic schools. This isn’t fair to our children. I advocate on behalf of my students. The government supports schools with low performance, yet hesitates to fund institutions like CKC and St. Jude Seminary, where Nigerian children also study.”
Onaiyekan reiterated that every child deserves government attention, regardless of their parents’ wealth, and expressed hope that the government’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda would advance the cause of faith-based education. “With more support, schools like Regina Pacis and CKC can achieve even greater results. Our Catholic educators work tirelessly, and while the government often congratulates us for our success, we also deserve financial support from public funds. Am I asking for too much?” he concluded.
Most Rev. Moses Chikwe, Episcopal Chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Education Committee, also emphasized the importance of education in fostering a more fraternal world, advocating for inclusive policies that reflect the values taught by educators. He echoed Cardinal Onaiyekan’s appeal, underscoring the need for equitable funding to avoid undermining national growth.