Anglican Province of the Niger

The Anglican Province of the Niger is one of the 14 ecclesiastical provinces of the Church 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

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

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

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 is St Faith's, Awka; the diocese was split on 5 September 2005, to create the Aguata diocese.^[9]

Bishops of Awka

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

Nnewi diocese was split off from the Diocese of the Niger, and inaugurated on 14 February 1996.^[10] The cathedral of the diocese is St 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

1996 – 2019 (ret.): Godwin Okpala (also Archbishop, 2018–2019)
2019–present: Ndubuisi Obi (elected 23 August 2019)^[11]

Diocese of Aguata

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

Bishops of Aguata

2005 – 2018 (ret.): Christian Efobi (previously Bishop of Yola)
2018 – present: Samuel Ezeofor (previously Bishop of Ogbaru, translated 6 February 2018;^[14] also Archbishop)

Diocese of Ogbaru

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

Bishops of Ogbaru

2007 – 2018: Samuel Ezeofor (first bishop; translated to Aguata, 6 February 2018)^[14]
2018 – present: Prosper Afam Amah

Diocese of Ihiala

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

2008 – 2016 (ret.): Raphael Okafor (aka Ralph or Raph)
24 July 2016 – present: Israel Kelue Okoye (consecrated 24 July 2016, at Archbishop Vinning Memorial Church Cathedral, Ikeja)^[19]

Diocese of Niger West

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

Bishops of Niger West

2008–2015: Anthony Nkwoka
2015–present: Johnson Ekwe

Diocese of Mbamili

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

Bishops of Mbamili

2008–2020: Henry Okeke (translated to Ideato)
February 2021 – present: Obiora Uzochukwu)^[21]

Diocese of Amichi

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

Bishops of Amichi

2009–present: Ephraim Ikeakor

References

^ Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion elects Fabuluje, Uzochukwu as bishops
^ ^a ^b "Latest Election of Archbishops in the Church of Nigeria, Global South Anglican Official Website". globalsouthanglican.org. 13 September 2007. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
^ 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)
^ ^a ^b ABS — 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 (Archived 24 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)
^ ^a ^b Diocese of Aguata — Bishop of Aguata Diocese (Archived 8 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 from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
^ Ihiala Diocese Anglican — About Us (Archived 3 April 2021 and accessed 28 August 2021)
^ Ihiala Diocese Anglican — Archdeaconries (Archived 3 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 (Archived 19 January 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)

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[1] Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion elects Fabuluje, Uzochukwu as bishops

[arch2007-2] "Latest Election of Archbishops in the Church of Nigeria, Global South Anglican Official Website". globalsouthanglican.org. 13 September 2007. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2022.

[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)

[okpala-5] ABS — 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 (Archived 24 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)

[ezeofor-14] Diocese of Aguata — Bishop of Aguata Diocese (Archived 8 July 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)

[15] Anglican Diocese of Ogbaru — Our History (Accessed 15 November 2021)

[Ascension-16] "Anglicanism in Nigeria". Anglican Church of the Ascension, Opebi. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2021.

[17] Ihiala Diocese Anglican — About Us (Archived 3 April 2021 and accessed 28 August 2021)

[18] Ihiala Diocese Anglican — Archdeaconries (Archived 3 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 (Archived 19 January 2020; accessed 9 August 2021)

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