By Emeka Odogwu
Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, Anambra State led by Bishop Dr Owen Nwokolo at the weekend collated seven (7) Archdeacons and Installed ten (10) canons amid fanfare at the All Saints’ Cathedral Onitsha, Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Among the newly collated Archdeacons were: Ven Dr Chibueze Ezeibe, Ven Tochukwu Odilora and Ven Dr Ikechukwu Okwuosa.
Others were Ven Gabriel Nwabuobi, Ven Dr Nnanyelugo Enemuo, Ven Chibueze Abone and Ven Chukwunonso Israel.
The installed Canons included; Rev Canon Ugochukwu Ogunoegbunam, Rev Canon Sylvester Ọnụ, Rev Canon Nnabuike Maduka, Rev Canon Paul Ezeabata and Rev Canon Ifeanyi Modili.
The rest were Rev Canon Kelechi Ogbuji, Rev Canon Promise Udeh, Rev Canon Onyebuchi Obinwa, Rev Canon Izuchukwu Okoye and Rev Canon Emeka Nwabia.
The Bishop on the Niger, the Rt Rev Dr Owen Nwokolo who presided the collation service had in the cause of the collation rites subjected the candidates to various oaths of allegiance during which time they pledged to be loyal to God, the Church and to the Diocesan.
He appealed on Christians to always challenge evils around them, noting that it was not the prerogative of the ordained.
A senior minister in the Diocese on the Niger, Ven Dr Dave Udoezika, who handed out the challenge in the sermon he said during the collation church service explained that God is looking for courageous people today in an era where he said “things are falling apart.’
He described the contemporary generation as a ‘provocative one seeking false prophets that will tell them what they want to hear.’
He sternly directed Christians to be ready at any time to stand for the truth, buy the truth and refuse to sell it.
Wondering why today every preacher had become a prophet whose passwords have been, ”I decree, I declare, I manifest”, Ven Dr Udoezika entreated the newly collated ministers to be rather different in every standard.
‘I challenge these men and their wives lifted up to make God proud and stand for the truth anywhere they are, because the truth shall set you free, for we are responsible to God who called us,’ the venerable emphasized.
