Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and his Taraba State counterpart Darius Ishaku joined Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong to celebrate the golden jubilee of St Augustine Major Seminary in Jos, Plateau State yesterday.

Other dignitaries at the seminary’s 50th anniversary include Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, Minister of State for Industries, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, Deputy Governors of Nasarawa and Benue States as well as the Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, that of Jos, Ignatius Kaigama and the Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, among others.

Prof Osibanjo in his speech assured the gathering that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to freedom of religious worship, adding that St Augustine’s Major Seminary has in the last 50 years played an “incredibly remarkable role in the service of the church, community and the nation.”

Osinbajo described the institution which has produced two Archbishops, 20 Bishops and 1,455 Reverend Fathers as famous for the sound instruction in practice and doctrine that emphasizes sacrifice over supremacy.

While speaking, Governor Lalong said the seminary remains a real asset to the universal Church.

Earlier, the Bishop of Sokoto, Mathew Hassan Kukah said the Catholic Church has more men and women representing Nigeria, than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “There are parts of the world where Nigeria does not have diplomatic presence but the Catholic Church is elementally present. As at last count, statistics show that there are over 1,500 Nigerian priests and reverend sisters working all over the world,” he said.