On March 5 afternoon, the General Secretariat of the Synod met with a first group of 36 Bishops of Nigeria on the occasion of their ad limina visit. A second group of Nigerian Bishops is expected to be met next week.

 On behalf of all the Nigerian episcopate, Mons. Matthew Man’oso NDAGOSO, Archbishop of Kaduna and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, reported on how the Church in Nigeria has lived the synodal process, and particularly how and what the local communities are doing in this implementation phase.

 “The idea of synodality is not foreign to the Church in Nigeria”, Archbishop Ndagoso said, “Across our dioceses, consultative and participatory structures are in place: pastoral councils, finance councils, presbyteral councils,… These structures embody consultation, co-responsibility, and shared pastoral action. At the grassroots, Basic Christian Communities remain a living expression of synodality. Organised around neighbourhoods and local bonds, they foster prayer, Scripture reflection, mutual support, and pastoral outreach. In large and often complex parish settings, they create spaces of listening and accompaniment, ensuring that communion and participation are not abstract ideals but daily realities”.

 While there is genuine enthusiasm for synodality, certain misunderstandings persist. “In some places, synodality is mistakenly understood either as simple consultation without real discernment and responsibility, or as a parliamentary process driven by debate and majority opinion. […] The vastness of our dioceses, cultural diversity, and security challenges in certain regions also affect the pace of implementation. Nonetheless, we remain committed to moving from reflection to embodiment”, Ndagoso commented.