GOING DOWN THE MEMORY LANE.

An article for the maiden bulletin of the Civil Chaplains of Nigeria Inc.

The first 12 years of civil (public) chaplaincy existence in Nigeria was used by the first generation Chaplain Sir Dr. Ige Olumide of blessed memory to chaplains as soldiers of Christ, May 1^st 1981 to Sept. 1993.

In the year 1993AD, Dec. 6^th to be exact, the Civil Chaplains (Non-Military Chaplains) in Nigeria had an opportunity to visit the Army chaplaincy conference in Lagos held at Abati Barracks – Yaba, where the Civil Chaplains had her first recognition for existence or received recognition for existence by the military authority.

This opportunity and recognition, made the military authority advised us to coordinate the group in the most appropriate and professional way.

The Civil Chaplains in Nigeria as at 1993AD, were all under one umbrella, enjoying the unity we were endowed with; with NECA (National Chaplaincy Advisory Council) put in place for the supervision of all Chaplaincy activities in Nigeria and CECA (Chaplaincy Executive Council for Africa) to take charge of the African command.

The granting of chartered affiliation to some organizations in the year 1993 became the breeding ground for the individualism we are presently witnessing and an erosion of the unity in diversity we had earlier before now.

In the year 1994, the first generation Chaplain moved the profession a little forward as the advanced training of chaplains was introduced for first Degree programme in “Spirituotherapy.”

By 1995, the graduates from the institution had become “Clinical Chaplains” or “Spirituo-therapists,” who were qualified to engage in clinical practice in hospitals, hospice and chaplaincy centers.

Chaplaincy centers were established at Agege and Ikeja where Chaplains were to have their practice and tutelage in professional practice.

This was to be the beginning of professional Chaplaincy practice in Nigeria which was only on the drawing board, for the unity we had enjoyed was dashed as chaplaincy body became fragmented and broken into segments. The present day multi-chaplaincy outfits we have are as a result of the fragmentation.

In the year 2005AD, Chap. Prof. Mike-Jacobs began the work of reunification amongst various chaplaincy organizations. In the year 2008AD, Gen. Dr. Yakubu Gowon put together a meeting of Chaplains in Abuja at the defence headquarters after he was appointed chaplaincy general for Africa by American World-wide Chaplaincy organization.

This meeting ended up in chaos as there was power tussle for supremacy between men of IIPEC and CFN which made the military authority withdraw the recognition earlier granted civil chaplains.

Individual chaplaincy organizations began the race for securing recognition and identity with various arms of the military. The military authority refused to yield to pressures and directed the Director of Army Chaplains Service to have nothing to do with any chaplaincy organization until we all come under one umbrella.

By the advice of the Director, Col. Dr. D.D. Danfulani, we came together to incorporate Civil Chaplains of Nigeria whose official inauguration is being celebrated today as we mark 35 years of civil (public) chaplaincy existence.

God of the second chance is giving us in this nation another opportunity to put chaplaincy profession on the right path, and restore to us all lost glories and recognition through Civil Chaplains of Nigeria Inc.

The clarion call to all Chaplains is for us to imbibe the spirit of team work, embrace the principle of working together to advance chaplaincy practice in Nigeria, building upon solid foundations laid by the first generation Chaplain – Late Dr. Sir Ige Olumide and making it a stepping stone to professionalizing chaplaincy profession in the most appropriate way in line with international standards.

Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Long Live the Chaplaincy Profession!

Long Live Civil (public) Chaplaincy!

Long Live Civil Chaplains of Nigeria Inc!

From the desk of the Secretary General

Chaplain Prof. David Mike-Jacobs JP, AP, CBC, CPC.