Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto and Founder of Kukah Centre, has won the 2023 Mundo Negro Fraternity Award.

Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, the Executive Director of The Kukah Centre in Abuja, announced this in a statement after receiving a letter from Rev. Fr. Enrique Bayo Mata, conveying the award. Rev. Fr. Mata is a dedicated priest of the Comboni Missionaries and the Director of the Madrid-based Spanish Magazine, Mundo Negro.

In the letter Rev. Fr. Bayo Mata explained that Mundo Negro annually organizes the “Encounter with Africa,” during which they bestow this distinguished award upon a noteworthy African personality or institution recognized for their substantial contributions to the advancement of a more promising world and a better African continent.

The letter also emphasized the profound admiration they hold for the remarkable work accomplished by the Kukah Centre.

This award has a cash prize of €10,000 and would be formally presented to His Lordship in Madrid on February 3, 2024.

“We, at the Kukah Centre, are deeply moved by this expression of gratitude for our Founder’s contributions,” declared Fr. Atta Barkindo. “While we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Bishop Kukah, we express our sincere gratitude to the originators of this Award. We pledge that this recognition will serve as a powerful motivator, driving us to redouble our efforts in championing the ideals that Bishop Kukah represents, thereby contributing to the betterment of our world through the endeavors of the Kukah Centre,” he added.