First Lady Remi Tinubu Commissions National Assembly’s First Christian Chapel

Nigeria’s political and spiritual leaders on Sunday converged at the National Assembly for the commissioning of the legislature’s first Christian chapel, using the occasion to call for repentance, unity, patriotism, and lawmaking guided by God.
The event, attended by the First Lady, Mrs.

Oluremi Tinubu, ministers, diplomats, and senior clerics, underscored the moral obligations of lawmakers serving over 200 million Nigerians.
Mrs. Tinubu, who served as Special Guest of Honour and performed the ribbon-cutting ceremony, commended the leadership of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, for bringing the project—initiated during the 8th Assembly—to completion.
The Senate President recounted that upon assuming office and visiting the designated site for the chapel, he found it abandoned.
“When I first came to this place as the President of the Senate, it was overgrown with weeds—silent and abandoned. And we resolved that neglect would not have the final word. Delay would not have the final word. Faith would have the final word,” he said.
Akpabio described the chapel as a covenant between lawmakers and God, stating, “While men legislate for a season, God legislates for eternity.”
He explained that the chapel was completed through donations from past and present lawmakers rather than public funds, and urged Nigerians to emphasize competence and patriotism in leadership selection.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, reminded legislators that their authority is temporary, whereas God’s authority is everlasting.
“I think all lawmakers must have the same humility, because the eternal lawmaker is God himself,” Kukah said, urging them to enact laws that promote unity and shared humanity, while cautioning against division and hypocrisy.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, referenced 2 Chronicles 7:14, emphasizing that repentance remains essential for national restoration. He also noted that the chapel’s true significance depends on unity among lawmakers.
Former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, congratulated the National Assembly and encouraged legislators to place national unity above religious differences.
“God says that we should love one another as we love ourselves. We must use this to ensure the continuity and unity of this country,” he said.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, stated that the chapel symbolizes accountability to God. Quoting Psalm 127:1, he said, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain,” stressing that political calculations alone cannot resolve Nigeria’s complex challenges.
The commissioning of the chapel represents a historic milestone for the National Assembly, reinforcing the belief that moral and spiritual direction has a role to play in governance.