Peace Building and Conflict Management

In this area, Caritas Gboko ensures that, there is peace in all communities within our diocese, by organizing Peace and Conflict Resolution workshops with both Youths, Women wigs, Traditional and Religious Leaders.  It is through the support of our Bishop that there is relative peace in almost all the communities in the diocese of Gboko.

Human Rights and Justice

We have a Department of Legal Aid which constitute a team of lawyers who offer pro-bonus services for those who do not have lawyers to stand for their cases in court and with this Lawyers, we are able to re-instate some inmates of their freedom from the Correctional Centre (Prison).

Good Governance and Accountability/Social Developmen

We do sensitize people about dividends of democracy and the need to have competent elites in public offices.

In the area of social development, we solicit partnership with donor agencies to provide some basic needs of the local communities. In 2022 through the partnership of Irish Aid Abuja, Caritas Gboko drilled a solar pump borehole and distributed water storage jars which provided access to clean water to  Mbaikya Community of Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.

In January 2024, through the partnership of US Embassy Abuja, drilled a solar pump borehole which provided access to clean water for the community of Atonko Mbayion in Gboko LGA of Benue State.

In February 2024, through the partnership of Mr. Juliana from Spain, will drilled an electric pump borehole which provided access to clean water for the community of Igboor Mbagwaza in Ushaongo LGA of Benue State

Rural Agriculture and Economic Strengthening

To ensure there is zero hunger and people have source of income generating revenue, several workshops are held on agricultural inputs and empowerment for both youths, women, and men within the diocese and beyond. The Office has provided improved and certified Cassava stems from National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) worth 500, 000 stems to farmers across the Diocese.

We also Supplied fortified vitamin A Cassava worth 450, 000 stems to Vulnerable households in Tarkaa and Buruku LGAs. Caritas Gboko was also able to Set-up 20 demonstration Farms of improved Cassava in 4 LGAs (Buruku, Gboko, Ushongo, and Konshisha) through CRS funded BASICS project.

Voter Education and Election Observation

We do sensitize people of their rights to vote and to shun vote buying. During Voter’s card registration, we train Volunteers across the diocese to registered people for voter’s card. And in the just concluded General Election, we trained and deployed 175 Election Observers to observe elections in the 7 LGAs within our Diocese.

In the 2023 General Election, Caritas Gboko hosted the 2023 General Election Situation Room for the Northern Geopolitical Zone and Observed the election across Benue State.

Health Interventions

In this area, we do ensure that people have access to good healthcare services. In partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) on USAID-SMILE project, APIN on I-Care Project, Caritas Gboko was able to support 35,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) with their Caregivers and households with Services like HCT testing, TB screening, WASH, nutrition and weight assessment, House Economic Strengthening, Protection, and Educational and psychosocial support. We also trained and empowered 635 OVC and 279 Caregivers into different vocational skills. Some of the empowered items include; grinding machines, canopies, sewing machines, Hair salon equipment, Computer Sets, Welding Machines, cash donations, etc to support their source of livelihood.

In a quest to ensuring that HIV affected mothers give birth to children who will be HIV free, Caritas Gboko in 2021 collaborated with PEPFAR US Embassy Abuja and established a PMTCT, Antenatal and Adherence Counselling Facility at Usen community, Buruku local government of Benue State for pregnant women in order to prevent Mother-to-Child-Transmission-of-HIV.

To also improve access to good Healthcare Services in remote areas, Caritas Gboko in 2022 collaborated with Switzerland Embassy Abuja and established and donate a 10-bed capacity health facility for pregnant women and children of the community of Mbagwaza in Ushongo LGA.

In  2023, through the support of Irish Aid Abuja, Caritas Gboko procured hospital equipment (Scanning Machine, Oxygen and Incubator) for St. Christopher’s Hospital Annune. The procured medical equipment has reduced neo-natal infant mortality and improved maternal health care significantly from the current 200 still birth per 1,000 birth

Child Development and Protection

We have safeguarding policy to protect individual children identified as either suffering or at risk of significant harm as a result of abuse or programme of work. We also provide measures and structures designed to prevent and respond to abuse.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Here, we carry out community sensitization, conducting GBV assessment and referral of victims for therapy, and carrying out advocacy works both in churches, schools and market squares which facilitate to mitigate the overall GBV problem.

From 2014 to date, Caritas Gboko annually trains and empowers 20 women and girls with livelihood skills for their economic generating income which  has reduced GBV cases within our fold.

Humanitarian Interventions

In this area, we respond to emergency situations within our fold by providing relief materials to affected persons and communities. 

As a way of reducing poverty and improving socioeconomic development in the diocese, Caritas Gboko is collaborating with Foundation Open Hand-SWISSHAND on a PROMIC Loan project for women within Gboko Diocese to enable them engage in income generating micro-enterprises that will improve their living standard. So far, 370 CWO members across the diocese are currently benefiting from the project.

Prison Apostolate

We look after the welfare of the inmates. We have a Legal Aid department which comprises of Lawyers who solicit for inmates without lawyers. We pay fines for inmates with fines. We look after their spiritual well-being too by celebrating masses with them. The Bishop with his Priests and the Christian community in the diocese visits the Correctional Centre (Prison) every 26th day of December.

In 2023, Caritas Gboko donated 33KV Transformer and 2 tanks of 5000liters to the Correctional Centre in Gboko Benue State for the welfare of the inmates.