Commentary: The Legacies Of Archbishop C. Efobi In Aguata Diocese

^{WRITTEN BY ABUCHI NWOZOR}
Biblically, there is time for everything- time to come and time to go; time to begin an assignment and time to accomplish it; time for active service and time to retire.

All these point to a special valedictory service at the Cathedral Church of Saint John Ekwulobia tomorrow, January 27 in honour of the pioneer Bishop of Aguata Diocese and second Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger, His Grace, Most Reverend Christian Ogochukwu Efobi JP, who is retiring as a Bishop on attaining the age of seventy. The service begins at 10am.
Most Reverend Christian Efobi was born in Kaduna in 1948, into the family of Mr. Emmanuel and Mrs. Eunice Efobi, both of blessed memory. He started his primary education at Saint Michael’s Primary School Kaduna, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. He proceeded to Okija Grammar School in 1963, which he left a year after, for Anglican Boys Grammar School, Akwu-ukwu igbo in the Defunct Bendel state.
The young Christian returned to the east during the war and continued, after the war, with his secondary education at the New Bethel College Onitsha, where he obtained his West African School certificate. He later went back to Kaduna. He became a Sexton at Saint Christopher’s Church Kaduna, while in 1973 he was posted to Saint Luke’s Church Jos as a Church Teacher. Later in the year, young Christian sat for the entrance examination into the Theological College of the Northern Nigeria, Bukuru in Plateau State for a four-year Diploma Course, completing in 1977. Christian Ogochukwu Efobi was ordained a Deacon in July, 1977 and made a priest in December, 1977.
He was posted to the Holy Trinity Church Kotangora as a parish priest and later to Saint James’ Church Lafia. From Lafia, Christian proceeded to Australia where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Divinity. When he returned, he was posted to Saint Peters’ Church Bukuru Plateau state, as the parish priest. In September 1981, he was preferred a Canon and posted to Saint John’s Church Yola as the Vicar and Chairman of the Yola District Church Council. He equally served as the Clerical Synod Secretary of the Jos Diocese, and also the Chaplain of Jos District Church Council, for four years. In 1988, Christian Efobi was collated as the Archdeacon of Yola Archdeaconry, and in 1990, he was elected, consecrated and enthroned as the Pioneer Bishop of Yola Missionary Diocese and served for fifteen years.
Most Reverend Christian Efobi, who was translated from the Diocese of Yola, and enthroned as the Pioneer Bishop of Aguata Diocese in 2005, recorded series of achievements in the Diocese. Shortly after his inauguration, Bishop Efobi rolled out a five-point agenda for the speedy development of the Diocese.
Bishop Efobi established the All Saints Seminary Ekwulobia in 2008. The school was re-named after Archbishop Efobi because of his efforts towards the seminary. Besides, the Saint Mary the Virgin Covent Ufuma and Saint Catherine Comprehensive Secondary School Nanka, inherited from the Old Awka Diocese, have been renovated and structures put in place by the Bishop.
The Diocese equally built and furnished many churches in the hinterland especially at Ndiukwuenu, Ndiokolo, Ndiokpaleke, among others. The Diocesan Cathedral was also built and furnished. Other achievements are the increase in the number of priests in the Diocese from fifty-five on inception to one hundred and sixty-five at present. Bishop Efobi also increased the number of archdeaconries in Aguata from five inherited from the Old Awka Diocese to fifteen, while the number of parishes in the area is now seventy-one.
The Diocese has a modern hospital at Umunze with annexation at Ogbunka, while an orphanage and maternity home was set up at Igboukwu with qualified Doctors and Nurses and state-of-the-art facility. The Diocese equally has a printing press at Oko. In Agriculture, Aguata Diocese has a poultry and piggery farm at Ezira as well as a large expanse of land for Rice Cultivation. The achievements of Most Reverend C.O. Efobi in Aguata Diocese are legion. Under the Diocesan Women Ministry headed by his wife, Dame Jane, series of achievements were also recorded.
Apart from carrying the women of the Diocese along in all her activities, Dame Jane, popularly called Nneifunanya, introduced an interest-free loan for women of the Diocese to help them become self reliant. She equally established a skill acquisition centre at Ekwulobia. Mrs. Efobi also established a sachet and bottled water packaging plant at Aguluezechukwu and Garri factory at Okpeze.
What remains now is the sustenance of this legacy projects put in place by the Efobi’s in Aguata Diocese. Let the clergy, their wives, the laity, council of knights and ladies auxiliary, uniformed organizations and indeed all lovers of Aguata Diocese, extend the cooperation they gave to Most Reverend Efobi and his wife, to the incoming bishop and wife for more robust evangelism.
As he bows out from active evangelism tomorrow, Saturday, January 27, 2018, may the good Lord continue to be his strength and helper, Amen. Aguata Diocese, Lampada Christi.