Caritas Nigeria, the humanitarian and development agency of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, has been able to reach out to over 15 million beneficiaries through its various interventions in the past 14 years, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins announced.

At a press conference in Lagos on September 19, 2024, Most Rev. Alfred Martins, the Archbishop of Lagos and also the Chairman of the Board of Caritas Nigeria, highlighted the organization’s achievements since its inception in 2010.

“Through our interventions, Caritas Nigeria has supported over 10 million persons with HIV testing and counselling services, TB diagnosis and treatment. We are currently providing Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) to over 140,000 persons living with HIV, while supporting over 100,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC),” Archbishop Martins noted.

He also stated that Caritas Nigeria’s humanitarian interventions have supported over 5 million persons, including internally displaced persons, their host communities, and returnees affected by the insurgency in North-East Nigeria.

The organization has also provided support to Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria, promoting agricultural input-support to farmers, nutritional support to acutely malnourished children, and education in emergency initiatives.

The Board Chairman emphasized Caritas Nigeria’s commitment to promoting social justice, building resilience, and supporting development initiatives.

“This year’s celebration of Caritas Day, on September 22, is a reminder of the need to strengthen collaboration with different stakeholders to better impact people’s lives,” he said. 

Archbishop Martins went further to call on government and people of goodwill to join Caritas Nigeria in uplifting the poor and in adding their voices to speak up for the marginalized.

“In a society ravaged by injustice, inflation, hunger, poverty, and conflicts, we must be united in our efforts to make life worth living for people in disadvantaged situations,” Caritas Chairman urged.

In view of the daunting task before them aggravated by the deploring socio-economic situation in the country, Caritas Nigeria is seeking support from individuals, organizations, and government to continue its humanitarian work. 

“We invite men and women of goodwill to join us and partner with Caritas Nigeria to offer succor to the most disadvantaged among us,” Archbishop Martins appealed.