President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, to embrace the country’s rich diversity as a foundation for stability and rapid development. Speaking in Rome on Sunday, May 18, 2025, during a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, Tinubu emphasized that Nigeria’s hope for a prosperous future lies in using its diversity not as a source of division but as a catalyst for unity and progress.
The president made the remarks while receiving the Catholic bishops, who were part of his delegation attending the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV. Tinubu described it as a historic moment to serve as Nigeria’s president during the installation of a new pope in Rome.
“If we use our diversity not for adversity but for prosperity, the country’s hope is stability and progress,” Tinubu stated, urging leaders at all levels to prioritize the welfare of citizens and work collaboratively toward national development.
Archbishop Lucius Ugorji of Owerri, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for facilitating the delegation’s visits to the Vatican, including the late Pope Francis’ burial and the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV. He highlighted that these engagements mark the beginning of a stronger relationship between the Nigerian government and the Catholic Church.
“You are always there for us. Now that you have come to the Vatican, whenever we have our conference in Nigeria, we will also invite you, and we look forward to interfacing with you just as you were able to do with the Holy Father,” Archbishop Ugorji said.
The meeting was also attended by prominent church leaders including Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos, and Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese.
President Tinubu’s call to harness Nigeria’s diversity reflects his administration’s broader vision of fostering unity and leveraging the country’s multifaceted cultural, religious, and ethnic landscape to accelerate social and economic progress.