By Timothy Dokpesi Adidi

Dear Church Fathers,

You have once again rekindled the hope of the Church. I am writing this open letter to you as a member of the Catholic community in Nigeria and a product of the Church. I am writing this letter not out of sentiment (although it will be interpreted as such) but out of a burning desire to put in perspective what the Catholic Church stands for. Your visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was not necessarily political, as understood and misinterpreted. The joy of this visit lay in the collegial dimension it took on. It really brought out the beauty of the Catholic Church as known in the era of the Church Fathers through the ages. Your voice represented the old long saying, ‘Roma locuta est, causa finita est’ (Rome has spoken and the case is finished). A saying that comes from an early fifth-century sermon by Saint Augustine of Hippo, who stated, “The two councils sent their decrees to the Apostolic See, and the decrees quickly came back. The cause is finished.”

Your Excellencies, the visit was indeed timely and necessary. It reflects the unity and oneness of the Catholic Church. This was quite different from the usual ‘one-man squad,’ which sometimes confuses the true nature and identity of the Catholic Church. The visit you had definitely puts an end to the difference between when one speaks from the church and for the church. Your voice has changed the narrative in the nation’s political landscape, and these changes have given the Church a ray of hope in the current economic realities that confront the poor. Your Excellencies, you have also brought to the limelight the Catholic Social Teachings (CSTs). It has become very obvious that the CSTs are not theoretical; they are alive and impactful.

More so, in this regard, you have also reiterated and unraveled the concept of the Church as the Family of God, which was famously highlighted and formally adopted as the guiding pastoral image for the Church in Africa during the “Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops” in 1994 and subsequently promulgated by Pope John Paul II in his post-synodal apostolic exhortation, “Ecclesia in Africa” (1995). As the President of the CBCN, Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso was reading the mind of the Church; I truly see what the Catholic Church represents.

The Church is known to be non-partisan. This nonpartisan dimension of the Church is indifferent to the realities that characterize the membership of political parties that reside in the Catholic community.

The Catholic Church represents the true Body of Christ but does not belong to any political party. Hence, it underscores the fact that it is this nature of the Catholic Church that gives it the prerogative to speak truth to power. Your Excellencies, you indeed spoke truth to power. It reminds me of the draconian days of Sani Abacha when the likes of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah (then Fr. Kukah) and Fr. George Ehusani spoke truth to power as they constantly used the Catholic Secretariat to engage the military government.

Your Excellencies, you have done what you ought to do, and the world has seen your significant effort in calling a spade a spade. Your message defied any form of diplomacy and corporate negotiation. It was firm and without fear of intimidation. The gleaming red buttons and the red colors on your cassock reflect your acceptance of the consequences of your position you were ready to take. You were ready to die for the sake of the truth. You were ready to become martyrs for the sake of the members of the Catholic community and all of Christendom, knowing full well that the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity. You took the risk to surrender your lives like the Good Shepherd who laid down His life. This you have done for Nigeria and Nigerians. It is also important to know that you have done this not for the Catholic community alone; you have added your voice to liberate Nigerians and Africa by extension. You have set the path for economic recovery.

It is indeed worthwhile to know that the Prophetic mission of the faith is very much alive. Again, you have re-echoed the true understanding of prophecy in Ancient Israel. Your prophetic voice stands out against the misunderstanding of Biblical prophecy. A prophet is not a soothsayer, nor is he a prognosticator, neither is he person who forecast the future. A prophet is a mouth piece of God; he is one who addresses the socio-economic and political condition of his time and addresses the ill; thereby warning the leaders to do what is right or else face the wrath of God. You have issued a warning to the leaders of our time. May they take heed and let no one lead them astray.

On this note, I commit myself to the fidelity of the faith as seen in the Catholic Social Teachings and as deposited in the authority of your mission as Fathers of the Faith. In so doing, I renew my baptismal promises to align with the Faith that was handed over to you through the apostles. May your faith in the teachings that were handed down to you through the Apostles be constantly renewed and reinvigorated.

By Timothy Dokpesi Adidi, PhD

By Son Tertsegha, Abuja

FIFA, world soccer’s governing body, and the man at its helm, Infantino, yet to revel in the euphoria of the successful, unprecedented dollar haul from the 2026 world cup, launched a controversial idea called FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, that would have changed world cup history and financing: allowing billions of dollars in private commercial investment in the game.

But the predictable turn of dangerous signals from soccer bodies against his plans, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, caved in. He reversed himself with the statement Friday evening that:
“Having listened carefully to all the views, it has become clear that the project has created divisions of a nature that, regardless of the level of support, are no longer in the interest of the objective set out in the first place.”

First to spill the beans earlier last week, was the British newspaper, The Times, which exposed the secret FIFA Forward Enterprise, or FFE, deal under which FIFA would have created a commercial rights and event operations company, 20% of which was to be sold to private investors with FIFA retaining ownership of 80%

The next pain in FIFA’s, precisely Infantino’s, neck was the prompt, fierce opposition from UEFA’s reaction, calling the proposal “irresponsible and indefensible.” It stated further that:
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product,” stressing, “It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies,” and that “the World Cup is not for sale.”

Coming out next was North America’s soccer governing body, the 41-member Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) which rejected the plan, questioning “the need for private equity investment to fund new and existing FIFA Forward programs following the most profitable FIFA World Cup in history.”

CONCACAF, however, stopped short of making a boycott threat.

Then, on Friday, the Asian Football Confederation followed without clearly rejecting the plan, only to say that it stood “in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF in expressing serious concerns over FIFA’s proposal to introduce private investment into FIFA’s flagship competitions and the decision-making process around FFE.”

Further harm was to come on Friday, when Carlos Cordeiro, one of Infantino’s senior advisers, threw in the towel, saying in a statement that he could not “stand by while FIFA considers selling a stake in the World Cup.”

But Infantino’s defence that “The FIFA Forward Enterprise project was intended to provide a basis for further strengthening our FIFA Member Associations and our sport worldwide, especially in those countries where support is most needed,” in the morning of Friday, fell flat with Cordeiro’s resignation in the day.

Consequently, Infantino had to entirely drop the idea in the evening of the same day.

Intriguingly, the FFE saga has the image of President Trump and his son-in -law’s Kushner family looming large in the dark.

For different reasons, Infantino has reportedly received “mounting criticism in recent months over his close relationship with Mr. Trump leading up to the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. hosted with Mexico and Canada. Last year, Infantino awarded Mr. Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.”

Earlier last month, during the World Cup tournament, the soccer world exchanged Mr. Trump said he pressed Infantino to review the red card that was given to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during a knockout game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Under FIFA rules, the red card required that Balogun be suspended for the team’s next match against Belgium.

“All I did, I asked for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Mr. Trump said at the time. “… If they wouldn’t allow, you know, a top player, maybe the best, maybe among the best players on the team, I think it would have had a big stain. And I related, just that, I didn’t tell him what to do, I can’t tell him what to do.”

Curiously, in an unprecedented move, FIFA overturned Balogun’s suspension one day before the Belgium match, and without a detailed explanation.

FIFA confirmed in an earlier statement that Thrive Eternal, a venture spearheaded by Joshua Kushner, the brother of President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, was “expected to lead the proposed investor group.” Thrive Eternal is a subsidiary of Thrive Capital, an investment firm owned by Joshua Kushner.

FIFA had estimated that under the deal, the 211 member associations of FIFA would see their so-called FIFA Forward Funding rise from $8 million per four-year cycle to approximately $20 million.

Last week Tuesday, a source close to Thrive Capital told CBS News that criticism of the firm’s involvement was unjustified.
“I think the first assumption is that Trump was involved in FFE in any capacity, which is just not accurate,” the source told CBS News. “Josh himself does not have any links with the administration, he does not have any political roles, he has not donated to them, he is not involved in any capacity. If you look at his donation record, all of the causes he has donated to are Democrat … it’s kind of unfair to assume a lot about somebody just because of what their brother does.”

Asked by reporters during a Cabinet meeting Friday if FIFA officials or Infantino had spoken to him about Infantino’s plan, Mr. Trump responded, “No, I never spoke to him.”

Meanwhile, FFE has created “no confidence” votes against a once top pride of the football world. Now, global soccer administrators and governing bodies are up in arms, not only against Infantino’s FFE, but against the man himself.

By Son Tertsegha, Abuja

In a gesture that is likely to open debate about aid options, Canva billionaires Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht are investing $150 million in an ambitious experiment that challenges conventional aid by putting cash directly into the hands of Malawi’s poorest households.

Since launching the initiative in 2021 through the Canva Foundation and nonprofit GIVEDIRECTLY, the couple has expanded what began as a $10 million pilot into the largest unconditional cash transfer program ever attempted in a low-income country.

Their strategy is not building infrastructure or distributing food, but the programme sends cash directly to recipients via mobile phones, with no strings attached. Each adult receives about $550—an amount that can exceed a year’s income for many Malawians.

The initiative has expanded rapidly. With initial commitment of $50 million between 2021 and 2023, the couple pledged another $100 million in October 2025, so far the largest single donation in GiveDirectly’s history.

In justifying the initiative, the founders said Canva has always been guided by what they call a “simple yet ambitious” two-step plan.

According to them: “Step One is to build one of the world’s most valuable companies. Step Two is to do the most good we can. With more than 30% of Canva’s value (shares) committed to doing good in the world, this vision has shaped everything we do, from the products we create to the kind of company we’ve strived to be.”

So far, more than $52.5 million has reached recipients, with the remainder scheduled for distribution over the next four years.

Early results have been striking. In Malawi’s Khongoni sub-district, where every adult received cash, 90% of recipients rose above the extreme poverty line within three months, according to GiveDirectly.

The result, according to the organisation’s reported, is a 48% decline in child mortality, a 27% reduction in illness and a 23% increase in school enrolment. More than 139,000 people have benefited from the programme.

Researchers have also found broader economic gains. A study showed that every $1,000 transferred generated roughly $2,400 in local economic activity as recipients spent and reinvested the money in nearby businesses. Fears that the influx of cash would trigger inflation failed to materialise, with markets absorbing the increased spending.

Testing the model
The next phase is even larger. In Malawi’s Chiradzulu district, the program aims to reach 185,000 people by early 2027 in what GiveDirectly says is the world’s largest randomised controlled trial of unconditional cash transfers.

Conducted in collaboration with the Malawian government, the study will examine whether additional support, such as technical assistance or community grants, yields better outcomes than cash alone.

For Perkins and Obrecht, the project reflects a broader philosophy. The pair, who signed the Giving Pledge in 2021, have committed to donating most of their Canva wealth through their foundation. Their belief is simple: people experiencing poverty are often best placed to decide what they need most.