Anglican Province of the Niger
TheAnglican Province of the Nigeris one of the 14 ecclesiastical provinces of theChurch of Nigeria.It comprises 9 dioceses:
- Awka (Bishop:Alexander Ibezim)
- Aguata (Bishop:Samuel Ezeofor)
- Amichi (Bishop:Ephraim Ikeakor)
- Ihiala (Bishop:Israel Kelue Okoye)
- Mbamili (Bishop:Obiora Uzochukwu)[1]
- On the Niger(Bishop:Owen Chidozie Nwokolo)
- Niger West (Bishop:Johnson Ekwe)
- Nnewi (Bishop:Ndubuisi Obi)
- Ogbaru (Bishop:Prosper Afam Amah)
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]
- 1987 – 2010 (ret.):Maxwell Anikwenwa(also Archbishop, Province II, 2000–2002 and of Niger Province, 2002–2010)
- 2010 – present:Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim(also Archbishop since 2019)
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]
- 1996 – 2019 (ret.):Godwin Okpala(also Archbishop, 2018–2019)
- 2019–present:Ndubuisi Obi(elected 23 August 2019)[11]
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]
- 2005 – 2018 (ret.):Christian Efobi(previouslyBishop of Yola)
- 2018 – present:Samuel Ezeofor(previously Bishop of Ogbaru, translated 6 February 2018;[14]also Archbishop)
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]
- 2007 – 2018:Samuel Ezeofor(first bishop; translated to Aguata, 6 February 2018)[14]
- 2018 – present:Prosper Afam Amah
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]
- 2008 – 2016 (ret.):Raphael Okafor(aka Ralph or Raph)
- 24 July 2016 – present:Israel Kelue Okoye(consecrated 24 July 2016, atArchbishop Vinning Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja)[19]
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]
- 2008–2015:Anthony Nkwoka
- 2015–present:Johnson Ekwe
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]
- 2008–2020:Henry Okeke(translated toIdeato)
- February 2021 – present:Obiora Uzochukwu)[21]
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]
- 2009–present:Ephraim Ikeakor
References[edit]
- ^Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion elects Fabuluje, Uzochukwu as bishops
- ^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.
- ^ABS — Commentary: The Legacies of Archbishop C. Efobi in Aguata Diocese(Abuchi Nwozor, 26 January 2018; accessed 9 August 2021)
- ^Church of Nigeria — elects 3 new bishops, new dean and 2 archbishops.(Accessed 28 August 2021)
- ^abABS — Commentary: The Profile of the Third Archbishop of the Niger Province(Abuchi Nwozor, 10 April 2018; accessed 9 August 2021)
- ^Anglican Province of the Niger at the Church of Nigeria Official Website
- ^ABS — Bishop Ibezim Emerges New Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of Niger(Amaka Okoye, 5 July 2019; accessed 9 August 2021)
- ^The Authority — Archbishop Ibezim calls for increased security in Southeast(Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, 22 November 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)]
- ^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]
- ^Diocese of Nnewi (Archived24 November 2015; accessed 9 August 2021)
- ^Anglican Ink — Six bishops elected by the Church of Nigeria house of bishops, 23 August 2019(Accessed 9 August 2021)
- ^Vanguard — Obiano states benefit of Anambra health insurance scheme(Vincent Ujumadu, 9 September 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)
- ^ABS — Aguata Anglican Diocese Ends 15th Anniversary with Thanksgiving Service(Blessing Uchendu, 7 September 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)
- ^abDiocese of Aguata — Bishop of Aguata Diocese (Archived8 July 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)
- ^Anglican Diocese of Ogbaru — Our History(Accessed 15 November 2021)
- ^"Anglicanism in Nigeria".Anglican Church of the Ascension, Opebi.Archived fromthe originalon 23 June 2012.Retrieved28 August2021.
- ^Ihiala Diocese Anglican — About Us(Archived3 April 2021 and accessed 28 August 2021)
- ^Ihiala Diocese Anglican — Archdeaconries(Archived3 April 2021 and accessed 28 August 2021)
- ^Church of Nigeria — elects 3 new bishops, new dean and 2 archbishops.(Accessed 28 August 2021)
- ^Vanguard — Anglican Communion laments lack of federal, state govts’ presence in Anambra West(Accessed 15 November 2021)
- ^Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion elects Fabuluje, Uzochukwu as bishops
- ^History of Diocese of Amichi (Archived19 January 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)
- Church of Nigeria ecclesiastical provinces
- Anglican Province of the Niger
- Dioceses of the Anglican Province of the Niger
- Church of Nigeria dioceses
- Anglican bishops of Awka
- Anglican bishops of Aguata
- Anglican bishops of Amichi
- Anglican bishops of Ihiala
- Anglican bishops of Mbamili
- Anglican bishops of Niger West
- Anglican bishops of Nnewi
- Anglican bishops of Ogbaru
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