A Befitting Secretariat For Church Of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) In Abuja

THE Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) rose from its last standing committee meeting held at David’s Cathedral, Akure, Ondo State, (September 21-25, 2015) with a firm resolution to have a befitting secretariat.

Following this, the Primate of All Nigeria, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, in conjunction with the standing committee, set aside Advent Sunday, which is today, to kick-start this noble objective with a special collection.

Understandably, 164 Dioceses of the Communion are expected to actively participate in the special collection to give force to the resolution.

Any student of history will recall that the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) was born on the feast of St. Matthias, February 24, 1979. She had her first Primate in the person of the then Most Rev. Timothy Omotayo Olufosoye (now late). Most Rev. Olufosoye was the Bishop of Ibadan and the Primate of All Nigeria for a 10-year tenure. The administrative headquarters of the Communion, at the time, was in Ibadan.

Following this precedence, the other Primates, The Most Rev. Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye (now late) and The Most Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola (rtd) had to run the administrative headquarters of the Church were they served, which was Lagos and Abuja, respectively.

But Most Rev. Akinola should be commended as he led the Church to accept that subsequently Primates will double as Bishop of Abuja and Primate of All Nigeria. To the glory of God, the Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh set this in motion with his election as Primate in 2010.

From the scenario above, one will agree that the Church of Nigeria, all the while, had been using makeshift administrative headquarters; hence the need for a befitting headquarters in Abuja.

At this point, we sincerely need to appreciate the Dioceses of Ibadan, Lagos and Abuja that at one time or the other played significant roles in assisting the Communion. We implore our heavenly Father to reward them adequately.

The task of having a befitting secretariat is an immediate need, as it will assist in the numerous assignments required at the centre. We must join the Church to appreciate a wonderful donation made towards the take-off of this laudable project by a doyen of faith and a philanthropist in the person of General Theophilus Danjuma who graciously gave his parcel of land to the Church for realisation of this noble task, as revealed recently by the Primate, Most Rev. Okoh.

Men and women of goodwill are called upon to be part of the special collection throughout the Communion. It is important we key in to this vision of having a befitting edifice for our Communion at this time of her national life, and to the glory of God.

Give, for God loves a cheerful giver! (II Cor 9:7).

•Ven. Ernest Onuoha, Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State www.ibrucentre.org