The Catholic Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese, His Eminence Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke, has declared that Nigeria’s progress can only be achieved through adherence to the rule of law where all citizens are treated equally.
Okpaleke stated this on Wednesday at the maiden edition of the Madonna Legacy Lecture Series organised by Madonna University, Okija Campus, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Delivering a lecture titled “Faith and the Future: Reclaiming Moral Leadership in a Fractured Nigeria,” the cleric urged Nigerians to embrace values that align with conscience and national aspirations.
“When everyone is equal before the law, only then can we have it right. The rule of law is the only way to live according to what is larger than oneself,” he said.
“When social order is violated and offenders are reprimanded despite their status, the law is seen to command politicians, professors, traders, and producers alike.”
He added that true national renewal would emerge when society — including the church, students, and academia — resolved to be guided by the law, integrating faith, spirituality, and intellect for national progress.
Okpaleke also highlighted the contribution of the church in establishing “citadels of knowledge” where young people are groomed to discern right from wrong, warning that unhealthy lifestyles had “eaten deep into the present world.”
Other speakers at the event echoed similar concerns.
Prof. Chibueze Aniebo, of the Department of Economics, called for stronger collaboration between the church and other actors in developing frameworks for youth formation, stressing that young Nigerians need a clearer push to realise their potential.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Jonah Onuoha, described the lecture as a timely platform for “national reflection, intellectual engagement, and visionary discourse.” He recalled the role of early Catholic missionaries in establishing schools and hospitals that laid Nigeria’s foundation but lamented the moral decline that followed government’s takeover of mission schools in the 1970s.
“The church has a role to play in cleansing society of drugs, kidnapping, fast money and moral decadence. In short, the church must reclaim its leadership in Nigeria,” Onuoha said.
Prof. Nkechi Ezenwaamadu, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts and Chairperson of the Planning Committee, said the series was conceived as an annual intellectual and cultural event that would serve as “an enduring moral landmark for the university, the church, and the nation.”
In his vote of thanks, the Administrator of the Okija campus, Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Emedolu, encouraged students and staff to uphold high moral standards. He noted that since its establishment in 1999, Madonna University had consistently aimed to groom students in academics, morals, culture, and faith.
During the interactive session, a student asked whether a peaceful community was possible despite Nigeria’s religious diversity. Respondents agreed that peace was attainable, provided the rule of law was respected.
The event drew participants from academia, the church, and government, including Mr. Patrick Ahga-Mba, Anambra Commissioner for Youth Development.
