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Anglican Province of the Niger

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TheAnglican Province of the Nigeris one of the 14 ecclesiastical provinces of theChurch of Nigeria.It comprises 9 dioceses:

Archbishops of the Province[edit]

Maxwell Anikwenwa,Bishop of Awka was the first archbishop of the Niger Province, from its erection in 2002 until his retirement in 2010; he had previously been Archbishop of Province II since 2000. He was re-elected in 2007.[2]

Christian Efobi,Bishop of Aguata, was the second Archbishop of the Province, until his retirement in 2018.[3]He had started his second term as archbishop on 24 July 2016.[4]

Godwin Okpala,Bishop of Nnewi, was the third Archbishop, from 4 April 2018[5]until his retirement in September 2019.

Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim,Bishop of Awka, has been Archbishop of the Province of the Niger[6]since his election during 2019[7]and installation on 24 September 2019.[8]

Diocese on the Niger[edit]

The oldest diocese in the province and in all Nigeria is the Diocese of Niger; ultimately, all the dioceses of the province have split from that on the Niger.

Diocese of Awka[edit]

The Diocese of Awka was created on 9 March 1987, from the Diocese on the Niger and inaugurated during a ceremony at the then Pro-Cathedral, St Faith's. The cathedral isSt Faith's,Awka;the diocese was split on 5 September 2005, to create the Aguata diocese.[9]

Bishops of Awka[edit]

Diocese of Nnewi[edit]

Nnewi diocese was split off from the Diocese of the Niger, and inaugurated on 14 February 1996.[10]The cathedral of the diocese isSt Mary's, Uruagu Nnewi(formerly a pro-cathedral).[5]The Diocese of Nnewi has since been split twice, to form the Dioceses of Amichi and of Ihiala.[2]

Bishops of Nnewi[edit]

Diocese of Aguata[edit]

Aguata diocese was erected from that of Awka in 2005; it was inaugurated on 4 September 2005, in a ceremony led byPeter Akinola,Primate of All Nigeria.[12]The mother church of the diocese isSt John's Cathedral, Ekwulobia.[13]

Bishops of Aguata[edit]

Diocese of Ogbaru[edit]

Previously a Missionary Archdeaconry of the Diocese on the Niger, Ogbaru was erected a missionary diocese on 15 March 2007; its headquarters are atAtani,and the cathedral isSt James's Cathedral, Atani.[15]

Bishops of Ogbaru[edit]

Diocese of Ihiala[edit]

On 7 June 2008,[16]Ihiala diocese was inaugurated, having been split from the Diocese of Nnewi.[17]The mother church is St Silas' Cathedral, Ihiala.[18]

Bishops of Ihiala[edit]

Diocese of Niger West[edit]

The Diocese of Niger West was split from the Diocese on the Niger on 9 June 2008; the mother church isSt Gabriel's Cathedral, Umueri.

Bishops of Niger West[edit]

Diocese of Mbamili[edit]

Erected from Niger Diocese, Mbamili was inaugurated on 9 June 2008 and Okeke was her first bishop.[20]

Bishops of Mbamili[edit]

Diocese of Amichi[edit]

The Diocese of Amichi was founded from the Diocese of Nnewi, and inaugurated on 13 January 2009; the mother church isSt Andrew's Cathedral, Amichi.[22]

Bishops of Amichi[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion elects Fabuluje, Uzochukwu as bishops
  2. ^ab"Latest Election of Archbishops in the Church of Nigeria, Global South Anglican Official Website".globalsouthanglican.org. 13 September 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 13 June 2018.Retrieved21 August2022.
  3. ^ABS — Commentary: The Legacies of Archbishop C. Efobi in Aguata Diocese(Abuchi Nwozor, 26 January 2018; accessed 9 August 2021)
  4. ^Church of Nigeria — elects 3 new bishops, new dean and 2 archbishops.(Accessed 28 August 2021)
  5. ^abABS — Commentary: The Profile of the Third Archbishop of the Niger Province(Abuchi Nwozor, 10 April 2018; accessed 9 August 2021)
  6. ^Anglican Province of the Niger at the Church of Nigeria Official Website
  7. ^ABS — Bishop Ibezim Emerges New Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of Niger(Amaka Okoye, 5 July 2019; accessed 9 August 2021)
  8. ^The Authority — Archbishop Ibezim calls for increased security in Southeast(Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, 22 November 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)]
  9. ^Nwude O. (2012). "Brochure for the Silver Jubilee Anniversary of the Diocese of Awka." (Awka: SCOA) cited in Egwuonwu, Onyeka & Mgbemena, Stanley C. "The Evangelical Trends of Awka Diocesan Synod of the Anglican Communions, 1987–2011"[1]
  10. ^Diocese of Nnewi (Archived24 November 2015; accessed 9 August 2021)
  11. ^Anglican Ink — Six bishops elected by the Church of Nigeria house of bishops, 23 August 2019(Accessed 9 August 2021)
  12. ^Vanguard — Obiano states benefit of Anambra health insurance scheme(Vincent Ujumadu, 9 September 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)
  13. ^ABS — Aguata Anglican Diocese Ends 15th Anniversary with Thanksgiving Service(Blessing Uchendu, 7 September 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)
  14. ^abDiocese of Aguata — Bishop of Aguata Diocese (Archived8 July 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)
  15. ^Anglican Diocese of Ogbaru — Our History(Accessed 15 November 2021)
  16. ^"Anglicanism in Nigeria".Anglican Church of the Ascension, Opebi.Archived fromthe originalon 23 June 2012.Retrieved28 August2021.
  17. ^Ihiala Diocese Anglican — About Us(Archived3 April 2021 and accessed 28 August 2021)
  18. ^Ihiala Diocese Anglican — Archdeaconries(Archived3 April 2021 and accessed 28 August 2021)
  19. ^Church of Nigeria — elects 3 new bishops, new dean and 2 archbishops.(Accessed 28 August 2021)
  20. ^Vanguard — Anglican Communion laments lack of federal, state govts’ presence in Anambra West(Accessed 15 November 2021)
  21. ^Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion elects Fabuluje, Uzochukwu as bishops
  22. ^History of Diocese of Amichi (Archived19 January 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)