Lent: CAN President, President’s wife, Mbah seek forgiveness, sacrifice

The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to use the Lenten season as a time for reflection, sacrifice, and national healing.

In a statement in Abuja, the CAN president extended prayers and goodwill to all Nigerians, regardless of their faith.

“Lent is a 40-day journey of sacrifice, prayer, and charity, echoing the time Jesus Christ spent fasting in the wilderness. For us in Nigeria, this season arrives amid challenges — rising living costs, insecurity, and daily struggles to put food on the table. Yet, Lent calls us to hope, urging us to look beyond our hardships and draw strength from faith and community,” he said.

The CAN president added, “As Nigerians, we understand sacrifice and endurance. Lent resonates with the patience of mothers stretching meals, the courage of fathers toiling under the sun, and the faith of children praying for a brighter future.”

Also, First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday urged Nigerians to show kindness, deepen their commitment to serving others, and draw closer to Christ during the fasting period of Lent and beyond.

In a message to mark the commencement of Lent, the First Lady emphasised the importance of love, repentance, prayers, and good deeds, urging Nigerians to embrace the season as an opportunity for spiritual renewal and selfless service.

“I urge us to use this period to draw closer to Christ, show kindness to others, and deepen our commitment to serving others,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu also urged Nigerians to walk in the light of Christ with hope and compassion, reminding them that Lent is not just a time of sacrifice but also for reflection and renewal.

Also, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah urged residents of the state, Christians, and other Nigerians to see this year’s Lenten season as a time for forgiveness, penitence, charity, empathy, and sacrifice.

The governor spoke at a holy mass to mark Ash Wednesday at the Government House Chapel in Enugu.

He said: “For us as Christians, this is a journey of 40 days that has just started today. This year’s Lenten season is of particular resonance because, as you know, it also coincides with Ramadan, and Ramadan is also a fasting period for our Muslim brothers. So, it is indeed a call to peace and unity for our country.”