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INSTITUTE OF CHURCH AND SOCIETY, ICS
INSTITUTE OF CHURCH AND SOCIETY, ICS
CHRISTIAN COUNCIL OF NIGERIA
Founded in 1929Institute of Church and Society (ICS)
The study and research arm of the Christian Council of Nigeria — providing a platform for the Church to engage the society beyond the four walls of the sanctuary, through research, dialogue, training and peacebuilding.
📍 ICS Ibadan📍 ICS Jos📍 ICS Arochukwu
Overview
The Church’s platform for engaging society
The Institute of Church and Society (ICS) is the study, research and outreach arm of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN). It was established to give the Council — and the Church at large — a dedicated platform for engaging the wider society beyond the four corners of the church building, through research, dialogue, training, publications and peacebuilding.
To ensure the Institute’s work reflects the realities of Nigeria’s diverse regions, CCN established three regional centres, each responding to the particular social, religious and developmental context of its zone:
- ICS Ibadan — serving the South West
- ICS Jos — serving the North Central, with a strong focus on peacebuilding
- ICS Arochukwu — serving the South East
Our purpose: To provide a platform for the Church to meet with society, undertake research on issues affecting church and society, build the capacity of Member-Churches, and promote peace, justice and human dignity across Nigeria.
What the Institute does
🔎 Research & Study
Investigating social, religious and developmental issues affecting the Church and Nigerian society.
🤝 Peacebuilding
Facilitating dialogue, reconciliation and interfaith engagement in communities affected by conflict.
🎓 Training & Capacity Building
Equipping clergy, church workers and community leaders with skills for ministry and social engagement.
🏛️ Conferences & Facilities
Hosting seminars, workshops and consultations at the Institute’s regional centres.
ICS Ibadan
South West regional centre
SOUTH WEST
Institute of Church and Society, Ibadan
ICS Ibadan is the pioneer centre of the Institute, sited in the city where the Christian Council of Nigeria itself was founded in 1929. The centre coordinates research, seminars and community engagement programmes for the South West zone, and has, in recent years, facilitated capacity-building sessions for faith leaders and journalists on topics ranging from responsible media engagement to the ethical implications of emerging technology.
ICS Ibadan works closely with member churches, civil society groups and the media to strengthen the Church’s public voice on issues of governance, ethics and social justice.
ICS Jos
North Central regional centre
NORTH CENTRAL
Institute of Church and Society, Jos
Situated in Plateau State, ICS Jos plays a central role in CCN’s peacebuilding and interfaith engagement work in the North Central zone — a region that has experienced significant intercommunal and religious tension. The centre convenes dialogue platforms bringing together Christian and Muslim leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies and community stakeholders to promote reconciliation, tolerance and sustainable peace.
ICS Jos also supports research into the root causes of conflict in the Middle Belt and coordinates training for local peace actors and church leaders on conflict-sensitive ministry.
ICS Arochukwu
South East regional centre
SOUTH EAST
Institute of Church and Society, Arochukwu
ICS Arochukwu serves the South East zone from Arochukwu, Abia State — a town with deep historical significance in the region’s Christian heritage. The centre coordinates the Institute’s research, community outreach and capacity-building activities for member churches across the South East, and provides a venue for ecumenical consultations and training programmes serving the zone.
History
From an informal missionary meeting to a national Institute
The Christian Council of Nigeria traces its origins to November 1929, when a small group of missionaries from the Presbyterian Church, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Methodist Church, the Nigerian Baptist Convention and the Salvation Army met informally in Ibadan to respond to a new educational law that sought to separate religion from education. That meeting — described as the first ecumenical attempt of the Churches in Nigeria — succeeded in preventing the government from enacting the law, demonstrating the power of joint Christian action.
As the Council grew from four founding churches into a national body of fourteen member churches and seven associate members, its leadership recognised the need for a dedicated platform through which the Church could engage systematically with the society around it — beyond worship and internal church affairs. This conviction led to the establishment of the Institute of Church and Society as CCN’s study and research centre, with regional presence created in Ibadan, Jos and Arochukwu so that the Institute’s work would be grounded in the realities of each zone it serves.
Note for CCN Communications: This section reflects verified information about CCN’s 1929 founding and the rationale for establishing the Institute. Specific founding dates, pioneer directors and milestone events for each ICS centre should be confirmed with the Institute’s archives and added here.
Leadership
Institute oversight and regional advisory boards
The Institute of Church and Society operates under the general oversight of the Christian Council of Nigeria’s national leadership, with each regional centre guided by its own Advisory Board.
| Office | Name |
|---|---|
| CCN President | Most Rev. Dr. David O. Chikezie Onuoha |
| CCN General Secretary | Rt. Rev. M. Evans Onyemara, Ph.D. |
| ICS Advisory Board Chair — Ibadan | Archbishop M. O. A. Dare, JP |
| ICS Director — Ibadan | Kolade Fadahunsi |
| ICS Advisory Board Chair — Jos | Ven. Dr. E. A. Adesina |
| ICS Advisory Board Chair — Arochukwu | Bishop C. Daniels |
Note for CCN Communications: Please confirm current office-holders before publishing, and add photographs and short biographies for each leader where available.
Programmes
Bringing the Church into active engagement with society
Across its three regional centres, the Institute runs programmes designed to strengthen the Church’s witness in the public square and respond to pressing social needs. Programme areas include:
Seminars & Workshops
Regular gatherings on faith, governance, ethics, media and emerging social issues.
Interfaith & Ecumenical Dialogue
Platforms bringing Christian and other faith leaders together for mutual understanding.
Community Engagement
Outreach connecting member churches with the social, civic and developmental needs of their communities.
Advocacy Support
Research-informed input into CCN’s advocacy on justice, human dignity and national issues.
Note for CCN Communications: Replace or expand this list with the Institute’s current flagship programmes, target audiences and upcoming schedules.
Research
The study and research mandate of the Institute
As CCN’s designated study and research centre, the Institute investigates issues at the intersection of faith and public life in Nigeria — including religious pluralism, church-state relations, social justice, community development and the impact of social change on the Church’s mission. Findings from this research inform CCN’s advocacy positions, public statements and programme design.
Note for CCN Communications: List current or recent research themes, ongoing studies, and partner institutions here as they become available.
Publications
Sharing the Institute’s research and reflections
The Institute of Church and Society publishes findings, position papers, seminar reports and reflections arising from its research and programmes, contributing to CCN’s broader body of publications on church and society issues in Nigeria.
Note for CCN Communications: Link specific ICS publications, papers and downloadable reports here once available.
Peacebuilding
Reconciliation, dialogue and sustainable peace
Peacebuilding is central to the Institute’s work, particularly through ICS Jos, given the history of intercommunal and religious tension in the North Central zone. The Institute convenes dialogue between Christian and Muslim communities, traditional and religious leaders, security agencies and civil society, in line with CCN’s broader commitment — alongside bodies such as the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) — to interfaith harmony, justice and national unity.
This work reflects CCN’s wider advocacy for peace and unity across Nigeria, including public calls for prayer, dialogue and justice in response to conflict and insecurity.
Note for CCN Communications: Add specific peacebuilding initiatives, partner organisations and outcomes coordinated through ICS Jos and the other centres.
Training & Capacity Building
Equipping the Church for effective witness
In line with CCN’s mission to “facilitate and build the capacity of Member-Churches for a sustained Christian lifestyle [and] effective Christian witness,” the Institute organises training programmes for clergy, church workers, youth and community leaders. Recent capacity-building sessions facilitated through ICS centres have covered topics such as responsible media engagement and the ethical use of emerging technologies including artificial intelligence.
- Leadership and ministry development for clergy and lay leaders
- Media and communications training for church communicators and journalists
- Ethical engagement with technology and emerging social issues
- Conflict-sensitivity and peacebuilding skills for community leaders
Note for CCN Communications: Add training calendars, certification details and application procedures where applicable.
Facilities & Conference Services
Venues for seminars, retreats and consultations
Each regional centre of the Institute of Church and Society provides venue space that can be used for CCN’s own seminars, workshops and consultations, as well as for hire by member churches, partner organisations and the public for conferences, retreats and training events.
Conference & Seminar Halls
Suitable for workshops, dialogues and training sessions.
Meeting Rooms
For smaller consultations, committee meetings and planning sessions.
Accommodation
Guest accommodation for multi-day programmes, where available.
Catering
On-site or arranged catering for events hosted at the centres.
Note for CCN Communications: Add capacity figures, facility photos, rates and booking contacts for each of the three centres.