Father Kevin O’Hara
For 30 years, Father Kevin O’Hara challenged massive extractive industries such as Shell Nigeria in the Niger Delta, hoping to give voice to the people affected by these industries and to attempt to redress the balance of power.
“I believe there is a need to engage with powerful actors to hold institutions and powerful people accountable for their responsibilities to those with less power,” he says.
It is this work which he says caught the attention of the Irish Ambassadors in Nigeria, and led to his being awarded the Presidential Distinguished Services Award in the Peace, Reconciliation and Development category.
Missionary priesthood
Father Kevin O’Hara was born in Stranorlar, Co Donegal, and was ordained for missionary priesthood in 1980. He was posted to Nigeria that same year, and remained there for 42 years. In May 2023, he transferred to Kenya, where he’s now based. His work in Nigeria over the decades he spent there focused on human rights, access to justice and environmental rights.
Father O’Hara says the Irish Missionary priests and Sisters in Nigeria were his family and support systems over the years.
“The Medical Missionaries of Mary provided the health care that saved our lives time and again from tropical illnesses, and the Irish Embassy in Abuja was a great source of support for us missionaries,” he explains of the Irish community in Nigeria.
Support from home
Of the support he and his fellow missionaries received from back home in Ireland since moving to Africa, he says: “Our families, friends, church groups and GAA football clubs in Ireland have been a tremendous support to all of us over the years. In a sense, we were their ambassadors in Africa.”
One of the notable projects O’Hara worked on was improving the relationship and power dynamic between Shell Nigeria and the local Ogboloma community.
“I found myself working on myself, being patient with myself because I wanted to empathise with others. I wanted to befriend adversaries, listen to them and respect their points of view. I wanted to empower and be empowered. I wanted everyone to respect the dignity of difference. But most importantly I wanted everyone to appreciate the importance of respectful face-to-face dialogue in a safe environment,” he says of this project.
Quiet and humble service
His work there helped to bring a better understanding between the huge force that is an multinational oil company, and the local people who are affected by their practices.
“Winning the Presidential Distinguished Services Award is a huge privilege. It is also a humbling experience because I am so aware that there are many other Missionaries who have given greater service than myself. So I accept it on behalf of the thousands of Irish Missionaries who gave quiet and humble service to Africa,” says Father O'Hara.