The Catholic Diocese of Pankshin, which was created on the 18th March 2014, and erected on Thursday 12th June, 2014, with Most Rev Dr. Michael Gobal Gokum as the pioneer Bishop, was part of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos and Shendam, North Central Nigeria. The Diocese covers the territory of the ‘Old Pankshin Division’, presently ‘the central senatorial District of Plateau State, comprising of Bokkos, Kanam, Kanke, Mangu and Pankshin Local Government Areas. It covers a land area of 8,486 square kilometre with a catholic population of about 218, 380 in 32 Parishes and chaplaincies. This area is predominantly an agrarian community with minimal social facilities. Social facilities such as schools, healthcare centers, portable water supply, sanitary facilities and access roads to the communities are minimal or in deplorable conditions. These are exacerbated by recurrent poverty resulting from poor means of livelihoods (mostly peasant farmers; petty traders and low-income earners). The great efforts made by the early missionaries have yielded so many good fruits that we celebrate today with great appreciation. Pankshin is a Diocese today because of their enormous generosity and contributions of their gifts, talents, time and material support. Today, the Church is completely indigenous with much prospects as it consolidates on the solid foundations laid by the expatriate missionaries. However, as a new Diocese, it is replete with challenges that are associated with every new beginning. JDPC Pankshin, along side other commissions, is working daily to attend to the needs of the most vulnerable population of the Diocese in areas of WASH services, sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation strategies, Humanitarian relief interventions, Peace education, promoting good governance and Human Rights, Peace building and conflict transformation, youth development and women empowerment and care for orphans and vulnerable children.
As a faith-based organization, guided by the Catholic Social Teachings, we serve all humanity regardless of their ethnic and religious affiliations. To this end, we have been responding to humanitarian issues in line with our vision and mission implemented through activities such as Community Animation, Peace Building and Conflict Transformation, Psychosocial Support Services, Women and Youth empowerment, Sustainable Agriculture and Provision of Portable Water, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) components, promoting accountable and responsive Governance through town hall meetings and round table discussion, and Humanitarian intervention in disaster affected communities.