Kukah, Martins preach ecological compassion, seek end to exploitation
The Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, said at the event that caring for the earth was not an option.
“Pope Francis reminds us that caring for the earth is not an optional concern. It is a moral, spiritual and social imperative.
“It is intricately connected to respect for the dignity of the human person, the protection of the poor, and the pursuit of the common good.
“The Catholic Church of Nigeria, and the Archdiocese of Lagos in particular, are deeply committed to realising this profound call to ecological compassion.
“Our emphasis on integral ecology recognises that environmental degradation and social injustice are interconnected realities, and that the cry of the earth, the cry of the poor, must be heard together, and treated together,” he said.
The Director-General of the NCF, Dr Joseph Onoja, while speaking with journalists, said that the religious community was large, and there was the need to involve it in environmental conservation.
“Everybody is kind of connected to a faith, and that is why there was a need to bring the erudite speaker so that the people will know that there is an obligation faith-wise to care for the environment.
“We have brought in the Sultan of Sokoto to speak on a similar subject from the perspective of faith as well, and this will be a continuous conversation because there is more to be done,” he said.
Earlier, Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi, the Chairman, National Executive Council, NCF, said that the theme of the lecture was timely.
“With the increasing threat to deforestation, pollution, climate change and other unsustainable human activities, the foundation of our very existence is under pressure.
“Considering that many of us are people of faith: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and adherents of traditional religions, this lecture serves as a vital reminder that conservation is not solely the responsibility of governments or organisations like NCF. It is a shared duty.
“It also calls for a collective action from us to adopt practices that protect and preserve our natural environment and heritage for the present and future generations,” she said.
