President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba on his election as the Primate-elect of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) by the Episcopal Synod of the Church.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Most Rev. Ndukuba, who is Archbishop of Jos Province and Bishop of Gombe Diocese was elected as the new Metropolitan/Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion on Tuesday, rising from the episcopal synod of the Church held on Tuesday 24th September 2019 at the Cathedral Church of St Peter’s Asaba, Delta State.
Born in 1959 from Anambra State of Nigeria, the Metropolitan/Primate elect was consecrated the first Bishop of the Diocese of Gombe, with seven other Bishops on 21 September 1999.
On 25 November 1999, the new diocese was inaugurated as the 71st diocese of the Church of Nigeria and he has the first bishop.
At the General Synod Meeting which was held at St Paul’s Cathedral in Port Harcourt in Rivers State on 22 September 2017, the House of Bishops elected Henry Ndukuba, Bishop of Gombe, as the new Archbishop of Jos. He succeeds Benjamin Kwashi, Bishop of Jos.
Ndukuba, who was Chairman of the Liturgy and Spirituality Committee of the Church of Nigeria, will succeed the Most Rev Dr. Nicholas D. Okoh, who would be proceeding to retirement.
Nduku, married to Mrs. Elizabeth Ndukuba, is noted for a sacrosanct spirituality devoid of ambiguity, and known for his unassuming gentle personality, however, rugged in evangelism.
President Buhari’s congratulatory message is conveyed via a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday.
The President also felicitated with members of the Anglican Communion in Nigeria on the successful election of a new spiritual leader, who will by the grace of God direct the affairs of the church in the next ten years.
President Buhari appreciated the role of the Anglican Church in promoting interfaith dialogue, peace, stability, education and social welfare in the country.
The president said he counted on the Primate-elect, ”to continue in propagating the qualities that epitomises the ministry of Jesus Christ, who taught his followers love, compassion and humility.”
He also commended the outgoing Primate of the Church, His Grace, the Most Rev’d Nicholas Okoh, for his dedication, service and leadership, recounting the invaluable support this administration has received from the Church.
The President wished Ndukuba, who is at present the Bishop of Gombe Diocese and Archbishop of Jo’s Province of Anglican Communion, a successful tenure as he begins a new phase of ministry as the fifth Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).