Sokoto, 09 July, 2021 / 9:01 pm (ACI Africa).
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto in Nigeria has been admitted into the Honorary Fellowship of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), the “autonomous, scholarly and non-political” academy that advances scholarship and public interest in the humanities at the highest level in the West African nation.
In a letter addressed to Bishop Kukah, the President of the says the admission of the Nigerian Catholic Bishop to NAL was informed by his leadership qualities including the fostering of inter-religious dialogue, good governance advocacy, patriotism, and the healing of souls, among other traits that demonstrate “sterling exemplary character.”
“The President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Professor Francis Egbokhare, FNAL, with much delight, hereby congratulates you on your admission into the Honorary Fellowship of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL),” the head of the academy says in the letter availed to ACI Africa Thursday, July 8.
Professor Egbokhare reveals that Bishop Kukah’s admission into NAL follows the confirmation of his nomination on June 17 by the Academy’s Executive Committee that recognized his “sterling exemplary character, stage-holding of inter-faith dialogues, unceasing obligation to soul-healing, advancement of knowledge and education, outstanding leadership instinct, crusade for good governance, as well as your laudable outstanding commitment to national development (national patriotism).”
“In the main, your impressive stance as a humanist devoted to the crusade for human freedom, social justice and equity – attributes that run in tandem with the commitment of our Academy to deploy the humanities for social and national reconstruction – have informed your well-deserved appointment as an Honorary Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters,” NAL’s President says in the letter dated Monday, July 5.