Catholic Nun in Nigeria among Finalists for $1.2 Million Opus Prize for Championing “faith-filled change”

The Opus Prize, the note indicates, “is an annual award recognizing leaders and organizations that champion faith-filled change through their work to address the world’s most persistent social problems. It represents one of the world’s largest faith-based awards for social entrepreneurs.”

Organizations that the finalists represent are set to receive a total of $1.2 million, with $1 million going to the Opus Prize laureate and $100,000 awarded to each of the other two finalists, the note further indicates. 

The November event is to celebrate the organizations’ faith-based efforts to create transformational change in their respective home regions.

The Centre for Women Studies and Intervention that Sr. Ngozi oversees seeks to help women become politically aware, socially responsible, and economically independent for greater autonomy and parity with men.

The Abuja-based entity also advocates for the inclusion of women in government roles and for legal provisions to combat gender-based violence in five Nigerian States. 

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In a post on the website of SCU, the President of the Jesuit institution of higher learning, Julie Sullivan, says, “We are honored and delighted to host the 2024 Opus Prize, which celebrates and supports social entrepreneurs who operate from a place of faith to work for the betterment of humanity.”

“As a Jesuit, Catholic institution, Santa Clara emphasizes becoming men and women for others, while also employing an ‘entrepreneurial mindset’ to adapt and create meaningful innovation,” she adds.

“The opportunity to host the Opus Prize has been a humbling and profound experience for our campus,” SCU President is quoted as saying, and added, adds, “The finalists identified through this confidential and rigorous process are inspired by their faiths to make a broad and lasting impact among populations experiencing great need. They model for our students the power and richness of a life of faith-inspired, impactful service. “

She explains the process of selecting the finalists as having involved more than 30 experts, who confidentially identified and researched potential nominees.

Ms. Sullivan says, “13 leaders from the realms of business, government, athletics, and non-profits served as jurors, choosing three finalists; and 16 campus members, serving as ambassadors, helped the Opus Prize Foundation conduct due-diligence visits of the finalists before they were announced.”

The late Bishop Paride Taban was the Opus Prize 2023 Laureate. The Bishop emeritus of South Sudan’s Catholic Diocese of Torit was honoured posthumously for founding the Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron, where people from warrying South Sudanese tribes live in harmony.

“Bishop Taban’s Holy Trinity Peace Village Kuron will receive the one-million-dollar prize that recognizes social entrepreneurship championing faith-filled change,” the Opus Prize Foundation and Villanova University announced in a press release.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.