Aguata Diocese of the Anglican Communion is nineteen years today. The Diocese which was carved out from the old Awka Diocese ranks ninety-sixth in the one hundred and sixty-one Dioceses in the Church of Nigeria. It was inaugurated by the then Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Most Reverend Peter Akinola, on fourth September, 2005 at the Cathedral Church of Saint John, Ekwulobia.
Following its inauguration, Right Reverend Christian Efobi was translated from Yola Diocese and enthroned as pioneer Bishop with his wife, Dame Jane of blessed memory as the president of women’s ministry. The Diocese has since grown to fifteen Archdeaconries from the initial five inherited.
Bishop Efobi set the tone of development in the Diocese. He built All Saint’s Seminary, Ekwulobia, remodeled Saint Mary’s the Virgin Convent, Ufuma inherited from the old Awka Diocese including other schools and diocesan hospital at Umunze.
Bishop Efobi also laid the foundation stone and completed the new Cathedral, dedicated by the then Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh on sixth October, 2013. Other projects completed under his shepherdry are Saint Peter’s Church, Ndiukwuenu and Saint John’s Church, Ndiokolo.
vision and mission and education board, among others. Bishop Ezeofor also enlarged the diocesan legal team from three to nine with an erudite jurist, Justice Peter Obiora as Chancellor and upgraded the diocesan Media and Communication Department to a directorate.
diocesan institutions including schools and hospitals. The Bishop also inaugurated Good News Archdeaconry making it the fifteenth in the Diocese.
Under the women’s ministry, the president, Mrs Chinyere Ezeofor, is working closely with the Vice Presidents of various women’s ministries in the fifteen archdeaconries of the diocese who are the wives of archdeacons and is ensuring that all the projects inherited including the Lampada Water are adequately upgraded for efficient service delivery.
The Diocesan Women’s Ministry has built and dedicated the Lampada Community Children’s Home at Igboukwu and introduced series of programmes for widows and interest free loans for indigent women to help them in sustaining their businesses or to start up new ones. The women Ministry is also into farming activities to help eradicate hunger in the country in addition to producing yoghurt for improved healthy living of the people among others.
To mark the celebration of Aguata Diocese at nineteen, services will take place in all the churches across the diocese to thank God for the journey so far and pray for continued guidance of the Bishop, the clergy, diocesan officials and the laity for the tasks ahead. To God be the Glory.
Aguata Diocese, Lampada Christi.
Written by ABUCHI NWOZOR
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