Pope Francis appoints Nigerian, Prof. Kokunre A. Agbontaen-Eghafona, into Vatican Academy

Prof. Agbontaen-Eghafona was a lecturer at the University of Benin

Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis has appointed a Nigerian woman, Professor, Kokunre A. Agbontaen-Eghafona, into the Vatican Academy.

By this appointment, Prof. Agbontaen-Eghafona becomes the only Nigerian to ever make the prestigious Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS) membership.

Agbontaen-Eghafona studied at the University of Benin and University of Ibadan and was a lecturer at the University of Benin prior to her appointment into the academy.

Pope John Paul II established PASS on January 1, 1994, with the aim of helping in promoting progress in social science researches in order to help in Catholic Church teaching.

Also, read WTO accepts Okonjo-Iweala as Nigeria’s nominee

The Pontifical Academicians are no less than suitable 20 men and women and not more than suitable 40 men and women.

They are appointed by Pope after their nomination by the Vatican Academic body on the basis of their competences.

According to Wikipedia, PASS is one of the 10 pontifical academies at the Vatican City in Rome, Italy, established to promote the study of social sciences, primarily economics, sociology, law, and political science.

Through appropriate dialogue, it offers the Roman Catholic Church elements useful to the development of its social teaching, and reflects on the application of that doctrine in contemporary society.