Godwin Okpala

Last updated

Godwin Izundu Nmezinwa Okpala is an Anglican bishop in Nigeria. [1] [2]

Okpala was Bishop of Nnewi and Archbishop of the Niger Province from 2018, [3] retiring from both posts in 2019. [4]

He was the first Bishop of Nnewi, consecrated in 1996 at the then All saints cathedral Abuja. [5] [6] He had previously been Archdeacon of Nnewi for Nnewi Diocese; he was elected at Sabongidda-Ora on 28 November 1995 for the Diocese of Nnewi, consecrated at the Cathedral Church of All Saints, Wuse, Abuja on 11 February 1996, and enthroned on 14 February 1996 [6] at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Uruagu Nnewi. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Nigeria</span> Nigerian Anglican church

The Church of Nigeria is the Anglican church in Nigeria. It is the second-largest province in the Anglican Communion, as measured by baptised membership, after the Church of England. As of 2016 it gives its membership as "over 18 million", out of a total Nigerian population of 190 million. It is "effectively the largest province in the Communion." As measured by active membership, the Church of Nigeria has nearly 2 million active baptised members. According to a study published by Cambridge University Press in the Journal of Anglican Studies, there are between 4.94 and 11.74 million Anglicans in Nigeria. The Church of Nigeria is the largest Anglican province on the continent of Africa, accounting for 41.7% of Anglicans in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is "probably the first [largest within the Anglican Communion] in terms of active members."

The Anglican Diocese on the Niger is the mother diocese of the Church of Nigeria. It is one of 10 Anglican dioceses in the Anglican Province of the Niger within the Church of Nigeria. The diocese was created in 1864 as the 'Diocese of West African Territories Beyond the British Dominions' or 'Diocese of the Niger' with Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther as the bishop. At Crowther's death in 1891, the diocese was merged with the Lagos and Yoruba sections of the Nigerian mission which had been under the Diocese of Sierra Leone and renamed 'the Diocese of Western Equatorial Africa' with Bishop John Sidney Hill as bishop. He was succeeded by Bishop Herbert Tugwell. In 1920 the Diocese of Equatorial West Africa was divided into two: an eastern part and a western part. A part of the Diocese on the Niger was subsequently carved out in 1946 to create the Niger Delta Diocese.

Nicholas Dikeriehi Orogodo Okoh is the former archbishop of Abuja Province and primate of the Church of Nigeria in the Anglican Communion. He retired on 25 March 2020. He has been married to Nkasiobi Amaechi since 1986 and they have five children.

Ignatius Crosby Ogborun Kattey is a Nigerian Anglican archbishop. His father was Chief Amos Kattey of the Nchia Kingdom of Eleme, and a devout Christian. He is married to Beatrice Goa Kattey with seven children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Ndukuba</span> Primate of all Nigeria (Anglican Communion)

Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba is the current Primate of the Church of Nigeria. Prior to his appointment, he was Archbishop of Jos and Bishop of Gombe.

Innocent Uchechukwu Ordu is a Nigerian Anglican bishop.

The Anglican Province of the Niger is one of the 14 ecclesiastical provinces of the Church of Nigeria. It comprises 9 dioceses:

Ndubuisi Obi is an Anglican bishop in Nigeria: since 2019 he has been the Bishop of Nnewi.

The Anglican Diocese of Okrika is one of ten within the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria.

The Anglican Diocese of Ahoada is one of twelve within the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria. The current bishop is Clement Ekpeye.

The Anglican Diocese of Ogoni is one of ten within the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria. The current bishop is Solomon Gberegbara. Gberegbara was consecrated a bishop on March 13, 2005 at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Abuja; and the missionary diocese was inaugurated on March 16 at All Saints' Cathedral, Bori.

The Anglican Diocese of Etche is one of ten within the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria. The current bishop is Precious Nwala. Nwaha was consecrated a bishop on March 4, 2007 at the Cathedral of the Advent, Abuja; and the missionary diocese was inaugurated on March 19 at St Matthias' Cathedral, Okomoko/Egwi, Etche.

The Anglican Diocese of Igbomina is one of eight within the Anglican Province of Kwara, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria. Bishop Michael Akinyemi, who was also the Archbishop of the Province, retired in 2017 and was succeeded by Emmanuel Adekola, previously Sub-Dean of the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Abuja.

Caleb Anny Maduoma was an Anglican bishop in Nigeria.

The Anglican Diocese of Minna is one of eleven within the Anglican Province of Lokoja, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria. The current bishop is Daniel Abubakar Yisa who is also Archbishop of the Province.

The Anglican Diocese of Enugu North is one of 12 within the Anglican Province of Enugu, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria. The pioneer and current bishop is Sosthenes Eze, appointed in 2007. Eze was consecrated a bishop on March 4, 2007, at the Cathedral of the Advent, Abuja; and the missionary diocese was inaugurated on March 16 at St Mary's Cathedral, Ngwo.

The Anglican Diocese of Niger Delta North is one of 12 within the Anglican Province of Niger Delta, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria. The current Archbishop of Niger Delta Province & Bishop of Niger Delta North is Wisdom Budu Ihunwo, who was consecrated a bishop on June 3, 2018, at All Saints' Cathedral, Onitsha.

The Anglican Diocese of Ikwerre is one of twelve within the Anglican Province of the Niger Delta, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria. The current bishop is Blessing Enyindah. Enyindah was consecrated a bishop on April 18, 2007, at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Enugu; the diocese was inaugurated on April 20, and Enyindah later became Archbishop of Niger Delta Province on July 11, 2021.

References

  1. Anglican Ink
  2. "The Rt Revd Godwin Izundu Nmezinwa Okpala on World Anglican Clerical Directory". World Anglican Clerical Directory. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  3. "election-of-bishops-and-archbishops-in-nigeria". anglican.ink. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  4. "Fides Nigeria".
  5. Diara, Benjamin C.D.; Christian, Nche George (2013-12-01). "Anglican Church and the Development of Pentecostalism in Igboland". Journal of Educational and Social Research. doi: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n10p43 . ISSN   2239-978X.
  6. 1 2 "PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE THIRD SESSION OF THE FIRST SYNOD OF THE DIOCESE OF NSUKKA AT ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL CHURCH" (PDF). www.adonsk.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 4, 2019. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
  7. ABS — Commentary: The Profile of the Third Archbishop of the Niger Province (Abuchi Nwozor, 10 April 2018; accessed 9 August 2021)