Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, a passionate cleric recognized for advocating the rights of persecuted Christians in central Nigeria, and Leah Sharibu, who was kidnapped by the Islamic State West Africa, a faction of Boko Haram, on February 19, 2018, at the age of 14, have been honored among global leaders at the 2026 U.S.–Nigeria Faith Hero Awards.
Other notable Nigerians included in the roll of honour are Bishop David Oyedepo, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, and Prophet Isa El-Buba.
The U.S.–Nigeria Faith Hero Awards also featured other prominent global leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The Chairman of Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) RCC, Barkin Ladi, Rev. Dachomo, was named for his unwavering advocacy against the genocide of Christians in Nigeria and his humanitarian service.
Tagged “Voice of the Persecuted and Community Defender,” the award was given to the cleric in recognition of his efforts of amplifying the voices of persecuted Christian communities across Nigeria’s Middle Belt.
Reacting to the award, Dachomo, penned a message on his official social media handle stressing, “My heart is full…this award is not mine alone.
He further stated that “This award is a reminder that our cries are not falling on deaf ears. Somewhere in the world people are listening. Somewhere hearts are still breaking with ours.”
According to him, “Today I stand before you with tears in my eyes and gratitude in my heart. I have received the award for being the Voice of the Persecuted from the Nigerian Christians in Diaspora. I receive this honor with deep humility because this award does not belong to me alone.
“It belongs to every grieving mother who has buried her child because of their faith in Jesus Christ. It belongs to every orphan who cries through the night because terrorists took away their parents. It belongs to every pastor whose church has been burned. It belongs to every Christian who has refused to deny Christ despite unimaginable suffering.”
He provided a rationale for standing up for the marginalised and persecuted in the region who are constantly targeted and killed for their faith.
“Many have asked me, ‘Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo, why do you keep talking? Why don’t you rest?’ My answer is simple. How can I keep silent when children are becoming orphans overnight? How can I be quiet when families are wiped out simply because they call upon the name of Jesus? How can I sleep peacefully while mothers search through the bodies of their loved ones?
No. I cannot be silent. The Bible says in Proverbs 31:8–9: ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly…'” he stressed.
The 64-year-old religious leader urged Christians not to give up, insisting that “We will keep speaking. We will keep crying out. We will keep telling the stories of our murdered brothers and sisters until the whole world hears our voice. We refuse to allow the blood of the innocent to be forgotten. We refuse to let silence become another weapon against us.”
Editor’s Note: All photos are courtesy of Rev Ezekiel Dachomo.
