LagosExplorer reports: The Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly (NOCRELA) has appointed former TETFund boss Professor Suleiman Bogoro as Grand Patron and ex-Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen as Grand Matron, marking a significant moment for Christian leadership in Northern Nigeria.
The official investiture is scheduled for October 2 at Dominion Chapel International Church, Area 1, Garki, Abuja, where leaders and dignitaries are expected to gather for the symbolic ceremony.
The announcement was made in Abuja through a statement signed by Archbishop John Praise, NOCRELA’s national chairman, and Reverend Simon Dolly, the group’s general secretary. Both Bogoro and Tallen have formally accepted the roles, which are expected to strengthen the body’s spiritual and social influence across the region.
According to NOCRELA, Professor Bogoro will serve as a father figure, offering moral guidance, spiritual counsel, and leadership direction to advance the assembly’s vision of peace, justice, and unity. Dame Tallen, on the other hand, will act as a maternal pillar, advocating for women and youth while fostering reconciliation and national solidarity.
Founded in the early 2000s, NOCRELA emerged as a coalition of northern Christian clerics and leaders with a mission to promote unity, defend the interests of Christian communities, and provide a collective voice in matters of governance, peace, and social justice. Over the years, the assembly has been active in national conversations around security, religious tolerance, and the rights of minority groups in the north.
The Christian body described the appointments as a testament to the duo’s track record in governance, education, and ministry. Their vast experience, NOCRELA stressed, will provide a strong foundation for building a united and morally upright society.