President Bola Tinubu has appointed a five-member delegation to represent Nigeria at the funeral of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, taking place Saturday in Vatican City.
According to a statement from presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga on Friday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio will lead the high-level delegation.
Other members include Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu; Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria; Archbishop Matthew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese; and Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Abuja Diocese.
The delegation will deliver a condolence letter from President Tinubu to the Vatican’s acting head, expressing sympathy over the pope’s passing.
Earlier in the week, President Tinubu joined Catholics and Christians around the world in mourning the 88-year-old pontiff, describing him as “a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.”
He noted that Pope Francis’ death, which came shortly after Easter celebrations, marked “a sacred return to his Maker.”