WRITTEN BY ABUCHI NWOZOR
History was made on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 when the church of Niger, Anglican Communion, presented the Bishop of Nnewi Diocese,

His Grace, Most Reverend Professor Godwin Izundu Nmezinwa Okpala JP (OON) as the third Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger. He was presented alongside the new Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Most Reverend Ali-Buba Lamido, the Bishop of Wusasa Diocese and Archbishop of the Kaduna Province. The presentations were made by the Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, His Grace, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, at Saint Mathew’s Cathedral, Sakponba in Benin City, Edo State, during the consecration of Bishops.
Bishop Professor Godwin Okpala was elected during the just-concluded standing committee of the Church of Nigeria in Ilorin, Kwara State, on February 6, 2018. The Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger is made up of nine Dioceses. They include Aguata, Awka, Amichi, Niger and Mbammili. Others are Niger West, Ogbaru, Ihiala and Nnewi dioceses.
The first Archbishop of the Niger province was Most Reverend Maxwell Samuel Chukwunwike Anikwenwa OFR while the second was the Most Reverend Christian Ogochukwu Efobi JP. The third Archbishop of the Niger Province, Bishop Godwin Okpala, hails from Ikenga Village in Adazi-Ani, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Bishop Okpala, who was born on September 17, 1949, attended Saint Jude’s Primary School, Adazi-Ani from 1954 to 1961; Ife Grammar School, Ife, Ezinifite  from 1964 to 1967 and Oraukwu Grammar School from 1970 to 1971. He also went to Trinity Theological College, Umuahia from 1974 to 1976 and the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
At an Episcopal synod in Benin City on December 2, 1995, he was elected a Bishop and consecrated on  February 11, 1996 at the Cathedral Church of All Saints Wuse, Abuja, and enthroned on February 14, 1996 at the Pro-Cathedral, now Cathedral Church of Saint Mary, Uruagu Nnewi. He obtained the First School Leaving Certificate, the West African School Certificate, Diploma in Theology (Umuahia) and another Diploma in Theology in London. Other certificates he acquired include the Bachelor of Arts (UNN), Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa), Cornerstone University of Hawaii, USA and Professor of Theology by the University of the Caribbean, British Virgin Island. All these have equipped him intellectually and spiritually to superintend the nine Dioceses of the Niger Province.
To reach this present Episcopal apogee, Bishop Okpala became a Church Teacher at Saint Mark’s Church, Nnewichi, Nnewi, Deacon, All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha, and Assistant Priest/Curate of the same Cathedral from 1977 to 1979. He was also an Assistant Priest/Curate, Saint Faith’s Pro-Cathedral, Awka; curate, Christ Church, Onitsha; District superintendent, Saint Andrew’s Church, Obosi; Honorary Canon, Archdeacon, Nnewi Archdeaconry and Bishop, Nnewi Diocese.
Bishop Professor Godwin Okpala has received various institutional, national and international honours and awards among which are Bishop Uzodike award; Grand patron, Nnewi Group Council of Boys’ Bridge; Merit Award, Anambra State Development Foundation; Life Member, Bible Society of Nigeria and Paul Harris Fellow Award of the Rotary Club. Others are National Honours Award – Order of the Officer of the Niger (OON); Ambassador of Peace and National Development Merit Award.
Bishop Okpala recorded far-reaching achievements in life and they include Bible Study Coordinator, Anglican Students Association of Nigeria, UNN Chapter; Youth Chaplain, All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha; Member, 20-man Peace Panel that restored peace at Adaz-Ani lingering Chieftaincy tussle in 1985; National Patron, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Youth Fellowship; Member, Elders Forum, Anambra State and member, Ohanaeze, Anambra.
Bishop Professor Godwin Okpala is married to Mrs. Eugenia Okpala  from Adazi-Enu and they are blessed with children. His home church is Saint Jude’s Anglican Church. His hobbies are swimming and reading while his philosophy of life is hinged on truth, justice and fair play.
So, as Bishop Professor Godwin Izundu Nmezinwa Okpala (OON) has been presented as the third Archbishop of the Niger Province, it is expected that all the nine Dioceses in the province should rally  round the Bishop Professor to enhance not only rapid evangelism in the areas but also relative peace and development of the Dioceses. Congratulations, Bishop Professor Godwin Okpala, for a position well deserved.

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