Buhari congratulates Onuoha as CCN President

The Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) has elected His Grace, Most Rev. David O. C. Onuoha of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), as president. He becomes the 20th president since Africans took over the leadership of the body from the missionaries in 1951.

Onuoha’s election took place at the CCN’s 31st Triennial General Assembly, which held at the Basilica of St. Andrew, Trans Ekulu, Enugu, in the Diocese of Nike, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). The five-day event, which coincided with the 93rd anniversary of the body had as theme: “Christ’s Love Compels Us,” taken from 2 Cor. 5:14.

The new President, who also heads a 12-Diocese Province of Owerri, Imo State, in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), took over from Most Rev. Benebo Fubara-Manuel of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, who served from 2016 to 2022.

Onuoha is expected to serve for three years, and is eligible for re-election in the next General Assembly. He has been the leader of the Anglican delegates and representative of the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, in the CCN meetings for a while. A total of 680 voters, out of 747 registered delegates participated in the election.

In his acceptance speech, Onuoha commended the transparency of the Electoral Board and promised to revive the council, make it responsive to issues affecting the church.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the new President, Most Rev. David Onuoha, saying that his election “is a testament to his spiritual fervour, sound theological training and passion for ecumenical unity in Nigeria, as well as his remarkable stewardship as a Church Leader.”

The Christian Council of Nigeria, which is the foremost ecumenical body in Nigeria, was formed as United Missionary Council for Education in November 1929 by the missionaries of the mainline Protestant churches, and later changed its name in 1930 to Christian Council of Nigeria, so as to respond to other challenges of Nigerian Christians other than education, which informed the formation.

CCN is one of the five blocs of the Christian Association of Nigeria, alongside, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship/Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Organisation of African Instituted Churches and TEKAN/ECWA churches, and is made up of a total of 16 churches, including, the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria; The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Methodist Church, Nigeria; The Nigerian Baptist Convention; the African Church; Church of the Lord Prayer Fellowship; The Salvation Army; the United Evangelical Church, among others.

The event featured courtesy visits to the Governors of Ebonyi and Enugu states, Women and Youth Pre-Assembly meetings.