The First Session of the thirty-third Synod of the Diocese on the Niger holds from Thursday fifth June to Sunday eighth June 2025 at the St. Banabas Anglican Church Ojoto in Idemili South Council Area with Right Reverend Owen Nwokolo, Bishop on the Niger presiding.
On Thursday fifth June, Bishop Nwokolo and his wife Elsie, will lead Synod delegates to a courtesy call on Igwe Gerald Mbamalu of Ojoto, make a stopover at All Saints Church Ojoto and St. John’s Church Ojoto, before arriving St. Bananas Church, for the Synod opening service at twelve noon and blessing of Ojoto community. According to the Clerical Synod Secretary of the Diocese, Venerable John Nkwoemezie, the Bishop will on Friday sixth June at ten am deliver his Charge to the people of the Diocese who will launch the Bishop’s Charge to identify with the lofty vision and mission of Bishop Owen Nwokolo.
On Sunday eighth June at nine thirty am, there will be special Synod Thanksgiving Service and pooling of funds for major diocesan projects.
According to the Synod schedule, Right Reverend Gideon Ilechukwu is the Synod Guest Preacher, while the Synod theme is “Christ In You, The Hope of Glory’ Colossians Chapter One Verse Twenty Seven.
Bishop Nwokolo will use the opportunity of the 2025 Synod to showcase the incredible milestones recorded so far at the University on the Niger, Umunya which has been specially packaged to become the Star of the East amongst Ivory Towers in Africa.
At the UniNiger Permanent site, many projects have been completed through the support and donations from many stakeholders and yet many more need to be done.
According to Bishop Nwokolo, the vision of the University on the Niger is “to be a leading tertiary institution in the achievement of excellence in knowledge dissemination, character building and leadership for the nurturing of entrepreneurial and globally competitive graduates for national development,” in line with the University motto, “LUX FIAT VIA SAPIENTIA” which means show the light through knowledge .
The UniNiger also has institute for Chinese Studies which offers weekend Mandarin Chinese Certificate Programmes that will serve the Chinese language needs of the business community.
UniNiger is the first to establish nursery, primary , secondary schools and some tertiary institutions in this part of the world. The Diocese also established various health and entrepreneurial institutions, including one of the oldest hospitals in Nigeria, the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital now renamed University on the Niger Teaching Hospital, Iyi-Enu.
Also the Schools of Nursing at Iyi-Enu and Alor have been upgraded to College of Nursing Sciences Iyi-Enu and College of Nursing Sciences Alor respectively after the visit of the National Board for Technical Education. The Diocese has also instituted Episcopal Educational Merit Award which is for students from diocesan owned and managed schools who perform exceptionally well in the JAMB Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and other post primary examinations.
Also the Calvary Care Foundation, Humanitarian wing of the Onitsha Bishop’s Court is offering scholarships to university levels, with hundreds of students who benefited already graduated in various disciplines.
Bishop Nwokolo is consolidating on his achievements and the Diocese on the Niger has reclaimed its position as the first Anglican Diocese to be established in Nigeria.
The Bishop’s Episcopacy deserves the support of all stakeholders.
Come and identify with the lofty Vision and Mission of this Lion on the Niger at the diocesan Synod as Bishop Nwokolo offers young Nigerians renewed hope and a chance for brighter future.
SIR OSELLOKA OFFOH
