About Us
To build a society where justice and equity are enthroned for human development
Background
The Bakhita initiative (TBI) which began as Justice, Development and Peace/Caritas (JDPC Sokoto) is a structural response to the second Vatican Council Appealing for the churches involvement in the affairs of the society. In the document of the council, populorum progression of 1967, Pope Paul VI wrote, “The progressive development of people is an object of deep interest and concern of the church. This is particularly true in the case of those people who are trying to escape the ravages of hunger, poverty endemic disease and ignorance; of those who are seeking a large share in the benefit of civilization and more active improvement on their human qualities; of whose are consciously striving for fuller growth with an even clear awareness.”
Since the second Vatican Council, the demands imposed by Christ’s Gospel in this area, the church judges it her duty to help all people explore this serious problem in all dimensions, and to impress upon them the urge to meet this gospel demand that pope VI created the pontifical Commission, JUSTITIA ET PAX on January 6, 1967.
The purpose of the Commission is to awaken in the people of God full awareness of their mission today; to further the progress of poorer nations and international social justice, as well as their own development for more justice and peace in the society. Bakhita Initiative (JDPC Sokoto) strives to answer in concrete terms, the challenging question posed at the beginning of the special synod of Catholic Bishops of Africa, held in Rome, 1994. “What must the church in Africa become for her message to be authentic and credible?” The answer to the question is: “The church must be prophetic”. The Organization does this by naming the social evils of our time and addressing them concretely in line with the life and teachings of Christ.
The Organization’s activities cover geographical area of the catholic diocese of Sokoto, which comprises four (4) states in North-West Nigeria: Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States with 24 towns and several local areas, with a population of over 12 million. Bakhita initiative (JDPC Sokoto) is part of a national network of JDPCs in the 54 Catholic Dioceses and Vicariates in Nigeria, coordinated nationally by the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN), Abuja.
Our Core Values
Dignity of the Human Person (DHP)
Solidarity, Equity and Mutual Respect
Care for Creation
Justice, Reconciliation and Peace
Accountability & Transparency for Common Good
Livelihood and Economic Justice
Our Vision
To build a society where justice and equity are enthroned for human development
Our Mission
Promote human development, using an inclusive approach for women, children and the vulnerable in the society and in furtherance of structural transformation of the individuals’ capacity in the society, for sustained development.
