Matthew Hassan Kukah; Catholic priest in Nigeria and social critic, an engaging intellectual, author of memoirs about religion and politics, who also served as the General Secretary of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria. Kukah was ordained a priest in 1976 and became a bishop in 2011 when he was appointed to head the Sokoto Diocese. Kukah was involved in the Human Rights Violations Investigations Commission, HRVIC as a member and the National Political Reform Conference in which he served as secretary. He also aimed at bringing peace and reconciliation to the people of Ogoni land through an initiative which enjoyed presidential support.
Kukah was born on August 31, 1952 in Archunna -Sarki in Zongo-Kataf local government area of Kaduna State. After his primary education at St Fidelis Primary School, Zagom, he proceeded to St Joseph’s Seminary, Zaria, where he had his post-primary education between 1965 and 1970. He later attended St Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, from 1971 to 1976. Kukah has a master’s degree in Peace Studies from the Bradford University, United Kingdom, and a doctorate degree in Religion and Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He authored: Religion. Politics and Power in Northern Nigeria. Religious Militancy and Self Assertion in Nigeria and Democracy and Civil Society in Nigeria.
