Founded in 2009, the Association of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria consists of members who have been honoured by the Vatican in one of the Pontifical Orders or With a Medal. When such an honour is bestowed, the recipient is warmly invited to become a member of the Association.

The Pontifical Orders and Medals represent one of the highest and most prestigious distinctions which the Pope, who is not only Supreme Pontiff and Head of the Roman Catholic Church, but also “Sovereign Prince” (Fons Honorum) of the Vatican City State, can bestow on an individual.  Such awards are made to lay people, individually, both male and female, mainly of the Roman Catholic faith but also to those of other Christian denominations and indeed, other faiths.  Such awards are granted in recognition of an individual’s pre-eminent service to their faith, community, or the work of the Holy See on a local, national or international level.

The Association took root with a decree and approval of the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria (CBCN) and the subsequent approval of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2009. Following the incorporation of the Association the first election which was held in 2009 produced Sir Moses Braimah, KSG as the President. At the end of Sir Braimah’s tenor, the Rt Hon Chevalier Patrick Ikemefuna was elected as President and following the directive of the CBCN to limit the tenor of Officers in Catholic organizations to four years, a new Executive was elected in 2019 headed by Rt Hon Dame Esther Uduehi, KSG, PhD.

The life of this third Executive will end in November 2023. Although the Association was only founded in 2009 available records show that the First Papal Knight in Nigeria was invested in Onitsha in 1956. Since then many others have followed and as date the Association has about 350 members. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), approved the formation of the Association to give Papal honorees the group cohesion to serve the Church in greater capacity and as a Peer Referent Group to help honorees with greater service to the Church and humanity while helping them to promote greater Catholic life and tenets. This was also believed would help the members carry out projects as a group at Diocesan/Provincial and National levels.

Members are encouraged not to see their Awards as an end to itself but as a call to greater service to the Church and humanity.