SECOND EDITION OF ARCHBISHOP MAXWELL ANIKWENWA ANNUAL PUBLIC LECTURE

This Thursday, all roads will lead to Paul University, Awka for the second edition of Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa Annual Public Lecture, organized by the university. The event will take place at the university auditorium, beginning by eleven o’clock in the morning.

The annual public lecture series which was instituted by the senate of the university is to honour and immortalize His Grace, the Most Reverend Maxwell Samuel Chukwunwike Anikwenwa in recognition of his service to God, humanity and contributions to the establishment of Paul University, Awka.

The topic for the Lecture is NIGERIA AT CROSS-ROADS: THE WAY FORWARD. The guest lecturer is His Excellency, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia South Senatorial District in the National Assembly. The Chairman of the occasion is His Royal Majesty, Igwe Sir Ben Emeka, Oke Ebo the Second of Umueri, while the special guest of honour is His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State.

Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo is expected to be the chief guest of honour. The occasion is expected to attract who is who in the society, comprising the government and its representatives, the clergy, knights, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, political office holders, the academic community and others.

The maiden edition of the annual lecture was delivered on the twenty-second of October last year, by His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha.

Most Reverend Anikwenwa, in whose honour the annual lecture is mounted, is a product of Furray-Bay University, Sierra Leone, where he studied combined honours in Theology, Philosophy and Sociology. He later proceeded to Graduate

School of Ecumenical Studies in Geneva to study Ecumenism. On completion of his course, he proceeded to Ripon Hall of Oxford University, where he obtained a Masters Degree in Theology in 1974. He was preferred Canon in 1976. He holds a Ph.D (Honourary Causas) of Paul University, Awka.

Upon graduation from Oxford University, the then Bishop of the Niger Diocese, Bishop Jonathan Onyemelukwe spotted a budding star and church statesman in Maxwell and posted him on a missionary and development project to Saint Andrew’s Church, Onitsha. Maxwell, with the support and encouragement of his wife, Blessing, took the congregation to another realm of glory, both in numerical strength, overall spiritual growth, facility development, youth empowerment, missionary engagement in church planting, attraction of international assistance for urban and industrial ministry, through the World Council of Churches and embarking on interior outreaches.

The then Reverend Canon Maxwell established a reputation for being a wise master builder and a catalyst for church and corporate development. Throughout his tenure there, he served the diocese on the Niger as synod secretary, becoming a formidable aide to the then Bishop Onyemelukwe.

When the Diocese of Awka was created in 1987, Canon Maxwell was elected and consecrated as its Bishop and enthroned during the inauguration of the new diocese in March, 1987. He served as Bishop of Awka for 24 years where his giftedness resulted in milestone achievements for the diocese in areas of education, youth empowerment, capacity building, ecumenical relationships, moral growth and spirituality. As Bishop of Awka, he was able to return former Saint Paul’s College, Awka and Saint Mark’s TTC Nibo/Nise to the Anglican Mission and subsequently established a thriving theological college there.

At the retirement of then Archbishop of Province Two, the Most Reverend Jonathan Onyemelukwe, Bishop Maxwell was elected and proclaimed the Archbishop of Province Two with twenty-three dioceses under his watch. When Province Two was further divided into three provinces, he became the Archbishop of Province of the Niger, and the Chairman of Joint Provincial Council East of the Niger. During this period, he ensured the full licensing and certification of Paul University, Awka by the Federal Government of Nigeria with the support and assistance of his brother bishops, East of the Niger. He recovered Trinity College, Umuahia to the Anglican Communion East of the Niger, following the abandonment of their responsibilities by the partners and consolidated the reforms that made the Superannuation Fund to thrive and become a solace to retired and ailing priests, while also serving as a vehicle for investment for the church.

Archbishop Maxwell was made the Dean of the Church of Nigeria, in 2000, an office he held for ten years, becoming the longest serving Dean of the Church of Nigeria.

This is the man Paul University, Awka is honouring on Thursday this week: a consummate missionary statesman; a distinguished, self-effacing servant leader, a quintessential educationist and a master builder of persons and institutions.

Come and be part of this epoch-making event.

To God be the Glory!

Written by SIR IKECHUKWU ABANA