26/02/2026
MCE Workshop in on Transparency, Accountability, and Evaluation in the Catholic Church of Nigeria
Last week, on the occasion of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria’s first plenary session of 2026, 146 leaders of the Catholic Church in Nigeria - including 54 Bishops, 78 diocesan administrators, and 14 staff members of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria and agencies of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria - came together for a 2-day workshop on Transparency, Accountability and Evaluation in the Catholic Church of Nigeria.
Nigeria, with approximately 243 million people, is the most populous country in Africa. About 46% of the population is Christian (around 11% Catholic), 47% Muslim, and 7% followers of traditional religions. In such a vibrant and complex context, the Catholic Church plays a decisive spiritual and social role through parishes, schools, healthcare institutions, and charitable works.
The workshop was organized by the Markets, Culture & Ethics center at the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce, together with the University of St. Thomas, and with the participation of St. Mary's University, Twickenham, London, Catholic International University, and Lagos Business School, in collaboration with the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.
Through sessions on Financial management, Donor relationships, Leadership, Crisis Management and Strategic planning, participants were challenged to move from good intentions to clear vision, concrete priorities, and measurable goals.
Key messages emerged:
👉 Transparency builds credibility.
👉 Credibility generates trust.
👉 Trust strengthens communion.
👉 Communion sustains the Church’s spiritual mission.
Transparency, Accountability, and Evaluation are not a bureaucratic burden. They are an act of stewardship. This is how church institutions protect their mission, engage the laity, and ensure long-term sustainability.
Seeing bishops and financial administrators working side by side was a clear sign that the Church is committed to protecting her credibility through responsible and transparent leadership.