Northern Christians Reclaim 1964 Identity
Last update: February 28, 2026
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The Forum of Northern Christians, also known as the Northern Christian Association, described the move as their mandate to reinforce their regional voice.
Christian leaders from the nineteen Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory have formally adopted a new identity, the Northern Christian Association, describing the move as a strategic return to their historical roots rather than a breakaway from the national Christian body.
CBI News reports that the resolution was reached at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Kaduna, attended by state chairmen, secretaries, and leaders of the youth and women wings of the Northern bloc of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
Speaking at the meeting, the first General Secretary of Northern CAN, Engineer Samuel Salifu, said the Northern Christian Association was originally founded in 1964 in Kaduna before evolving into the national CAN structure in 1976, when Christian leaders across the country agreed to operate under a united platform.
He explained that the re-adoption of the name is aimed at correcting longstanding misconceptions, ensuring historical continuity, strengthening coordination, and providing structural clarity within the broader CAN family.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Northern Christian Association, Reverend Joseph Hayab, stressed that the new identity was deliberately chosen to avoid confusion with the national structure, emphasizing that the association remains fully committed to the unity and authority of CAN at the national level.
Reverend Hayab described the development as a step toward more coordinated engagement on issues affecting Northern Christians, including religious freedom, equitable access to education, and insecurity impacting communities across the region.
CBI News noted that the Christian leaders reaffirmed their loyalty to the national body and their commitment to peace, interfaith harmony, and national unity, stressing that the platform will operate within the framework of the Nigerian Constitution while advancing justice, equality, and peaceful coexistence.
They maintained that the adoption of the Forum of Northern Christians, also known as the Northern Christian Association, is not merely a change of name but a reaffirmation of the region’s purpose and mandate.
