Knights of St. John Donates N8million to Flood Victims in Nigeria

------CBCN commends action,  calls for charity among Christians.

 Standing left to Right: The Supreme Subordinate Auxiliary President, Knights of St. John International Ladies Auxiliary, Noble Lady Dr. Chinwe Mgbajiaka, Archbishop Lucious Ugorji, CBCN President, and Supreme Subordinate President Nigeria, Major Gen. Prof Remy Uche, presenting their donation to the CBCN President recently, in Owerri.

By Editor

Nov 9, 2022

As part of its contribution to ameliorate the plights of those affected by the recent flood disaster, the Knights of St. John International and Ladies Auxiliary (KSJI) Nigeria have donated the sum of N8 million to eight Dioceses

Recall that the 2022 flood  created enormous humanitarian crises in the affected states of  Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Lagos, Kano, Imo, Adamawa, Jigawa, Benue, and Borno.

The flood negatively impacted farmlands, educational institutions, places of worship among others thereby compounding the economic challenges in the affected states as well as in the country.

The benefiting Dioceses are Idah Diocese, Markurdi Diocese, Lokoja Diocese, Auchi Diocese, Bomadi Diocese, Warri Diocese as well as Onitsha Archdiocese and Owerri Archdiocese respectively.

The national President of Knights of Saint John International Nigeria, Major Gen (Professor) Remy Uche said the donation is aimed at supporting the rehabilitation efforts of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) of catholic institutions affected by the ravaging flood in the country.

According to him, in living out the foremost principle of the noble order of the Knights of St. John International and Ladies Auxiliary (KSJI) Nigeria, KSJI had donated the sum of N6million  to ameliorate the plights of those affected by the flood.

"But sensing the enormity of the crisis, the body donated additional N2 million  bringing it to a cumulative N8million",he said.

He said the charity came when the church is celebrating the feast of All Saints Day.

He opined that through the gesture, the body  believe that it would assist families and children in need but also to follow them over time. 

Maj. Gen Remy Uche, further  explained that Knights and Ladies of St. John International are devoted to acts of charity, both for the church and within the Order.

"The message we carry forward is that ours is a real commitment, which never ends, with the certainty that even small gestures can really be a support for those in difficulty or in moments of fragility",he added.

Responding, Most Rev. Dr. Lucius Ugorji, Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, thanked the Knights for the show of charity to the affected people and Catholic institutions.

Archbishop Ugorji, who is also the Chairman, Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) noted that, "our lives as Christians will only be meaningful when we imbibe the spirit of charity, love and share what we have with the less privileged ones.

He noted that what KSJI done was not only an act of charity, but also, evangelization, adding  that the beneficiaries will know that they belong somewhere. 

“Interestingly, this charity is happening on the feast of All Saints Day. As Christians, we have important roles to play towards making the society beautiful and a better place for all. Jesus teaches us to love others as we love ourselves.

"He urged us to always give so that we can also receive. I charge all true Christians to learn to show love because life is meaningless without sharing.

"KSJI is a family apostolate charged with the defense of the Roman Catholic faith and came to Nigeria in 1976. 

"It has a membership of over 18,000 Knights and their Ladies in Nigeria. The Order exists in the USA, England, Germany, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as in other African countries like, Kenya, Ghana, Togo, Sierra Leone and Liberia", he stated.