Ekiti-West Diocese strives towards Self-Sustenance - Report
CONN/470805
Six years after her inauguration, the Diocese of Ekiti-West has invested in a 2-acre farm on Epe road to support the economic growth of the Diocese.
This is contained in a report by the Diocesan Communicator, Otunba Kunle Olasope outlining the strides of the diocese to mark their recent anniversary.
According to the report, the farm products such as cassava, palm seedlings, vegetables and orange are being sold to the public. Women organizations are not left out of the agricultural business, as they also own their own farms.
One of the key components of the vision of the Church of Nigeria, as encapsulated by the present Primate, the Most Rev Peter Akinola, shortly after his presentation in 2000, was for dioceses to be fully self-sustaining and self-financing.
Keeping with this vision, the report noted the diocese of Ekiti-West inaugurated in 1999 with Samuel Oke, as first Bishop, evolved a ten-year development programme hemmed around evangelism, investments in agriculture, women and youth participation.
Six years after, the report comments on evangelism: “our diocese (Ekiti-West) began with four archdeaconries and 31 churches, now we have eight archdeaconries and 50 churches.”
It reports that regular seminars are held for the clergy on the quarterly pulpit topics which constitute the uniform teaching (sermon) in all churches throughout the diocese. There is also the School of Discipleship and the ‘Jesus Carnival’ held annually, the report commented.
On the education and comfort of the clergy in the diocese of Ekiti-west, priests are encouraged to improve their academic qualifications which should ultimately have impact on their performances.
The report stated that funds for the building of the permanent Bishop’s court- now at the roofing stage- has so far been entirely raised from the annual launching of the Bishop’s charges at synod.
The Diocese of Ekiti-West, inaugurated November 22, 1999 is the 69th diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
