Church of Nigeria elects Ten Bishops
By Peter Onwubuariri
CONN/040105
Updates: Church of Nigeria now has 91 dioceses
Abuja, Jan. 24, 2004- The Episcopal Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has announced the election of ten new Bishops.
In a statement issued at the weekend in Abuja, Director of Communication of the Church of Nigeria, The Rev Canon Tunde Popoola said the election was made at the Bishops’ meeting held in The Chapel of St Peter, Ibru Centre Agbarha-Otor in Delta state.
The names of the new Bishops are the Very Revd Ezekiel Ayodele Awosoga, formerly the provost of the Cathedral of Our Saviour Ijebu is now the Bishop of the Diocese of Ijebu.
The Revd Canon Solomon Gberegbara, formerly of St. Simon’s Church, Deken, as Bishop of Ogoni Missionary Diocese.
The Very Revd Mathew Osunade, formerly of The Cathedral of St. James. Ibadan, as Bishop of Ogbomoso Missionary Diocese.
The Venerable Samuel Chibueze Chukwuka, formerly of All Saints’ Catheral, Onitsha, as Bishop of Isikwuato Missionary Diocese.
The Revd Canon Johnson Chibueze Onuoha, formerly of Our Saviour’s Church, Garki, Abuja, as Bishop of Arochukwu/Ohafia Missionary Diocese.
The Venerable Joseph N. Musa, formerly of St. James’ Church Suleja, as Bishop of Idah Missionary Diocese.
The Rev. Chigozirim Onyegbule, formerly of Holy Trinity Church, Ubakala, Umuahia, as Bishop of Ikwuano Missionary Diocese.
The Venerable Duke Timothy Akamisoko, formerly Director Ecumenism and Inter-Faith Dialogue in the Primate’s Office, Abuja, as Bishop of Zonkwa Missionary Diocese.
The Venerable Babatunde Joseph Adeyemi, formerly of The Church of Pentecost Festac Town, Lagos, as Bishop of Badagry Missionary Diocese.
Also, The Rt. Rev Simon Bala, formely Bishop of Gusau Diocese in Zamfara Sate was elected the Bishop of Kubwa Diocese in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He is on translation.
The consecration of the new Bishops has been fixed for March 13, 2005 at the Cathedral Church of the Advent Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Church of Nigeria News (CONN) reports that the Episcopal synod last September approved the creation of additional nine dioceses, bringing the total number of dioceses to 91.
The Nigerian church has ten ecclesiastical provinces each administered by an Archbishop. The provinces include Kaduna, Jos, Abuja and Ibadan. Others are Lagos, Ondo, Bendel, Niger-Delta, Owerri and On the Niger.
