Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most. Rev. Matthew Kukah, yesterday urged Nigerians to compel political office holders to fulfill their campaign promises.

He gave the advice in a keynote address at a centenary public lecture and awards ceremony by the Catholic Herald.

Catholic Herald is Nigeria's oldest surviving newspaper and weekly publication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

The event was held at the Mother of Perpetual Help Church, Victoria Island, Lagos State with

the theme: "The Nigerian State: Transcending Challenges, Attending True Nationhood".

The cleric who spoke on nation building, said the quality of civil society, to a large extent, determines the extent of change in a society.

He appealed to the government to be people-oriented in their policies and administration.

Kukah said there was need for governments to carry the citizens along in projects and programme implementation to meet the needs of the masses.

"Nigeria's journey to nationhood should be of concern to the people and with eyes on the desired destination. Pray that God renews our strength to champion just causes.

"Nation building is a long distance race that needs patriotic zeal to sustain to stardom," he said.

The Catholic Herald was one of the platforms used by nationalists to push for Nigeria's independence.

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Adewale Martins, said at the event that the newspaper played a major role in the pre- independence era.

He said the newspaper would, aside its evangelism function, continue to stir public discourse to advance the society.

He called on its editorial board to do more to expand its scope of enlightenment. (NAN)