BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF IKA

Korede Akintunde
February 7, 2024
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In May 1952, the Ondo/Benin Diocese was created from the then-Lagos Diocese. It comprised of Benin and Ondo Archdeaconries. On 3rd January 1962, the then-Benin Archdeaconry was inaugurated as the Diocese of Benin. On the inauguration of the said Benin Diocese, the Asaba District became an Archdeaconry, and the Warri Archdeaconry was split into 2 Archdeaconries known as Urhobo and Isoko Archdeaconries. The Asaba Archdeaconry was later split into three Archdeaconries of Asaba, Ika, and Ndokwa. The three Archdeaconries of Asaba Diocese were therefore, on the 10th day of August 1977, inaugurated as the Diocese of Asaba, with the Right Reverend Rowland N.C. Nwosu, as its pioneer Bishop, has been duly elected.

At a meeting of the Asaba, Diocesan Board held at Holy Trinity Church, Asaba, on 15th July 2000, a resolution for the creation of the Ika Diocese, which then was made up of two Archdeaconries of Ika and Igbodo, was made. The Church of Nigeria Standing Committee held at St. Cyprian’s Church, Port Harcourt, from 13th – 17th March 2001, by a resolution, approved the creation of Ika Diocese.

The inauguration of the Diocese took place at the Pro-Cathedral of St. John’s, Agbor, on the 14th day of September 2001, by His Grace, the Most Revd. Peter Jasper Akinola, then Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria as the 78th Diocese in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), and the Rt. Revd. Dr. Peter Onekpe having been duly translated to the Diocese, was enthroned as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Ika. The Diocese has since grown in membership and workforce.

During the Episcopal Synod of the Church of Nigeria held under the protection of the Almighty God on Tuesday, September 18, 2018, at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Minna, Niger State, Godfrey Ifeanyichukwu Ekpenisi was duly elected Bishop, consecrated on Friday, 16th November 2018, and enthroned as Bishop of the Diocese of Ika at the Cathedral Church of Ascension, Boji–Boji Owa, on Friday, 15th December, 2018. Since 2019, the Diocese has experienced massive growth and transformation.

The vision is to grow a strong Diocese and a mighty Ika nation. Since then, twenty-five new churches have been planted, as well as the establishment of three new schools, a hospital, a Diagnostic Centre, a Bakery, a Printing Press, a Water Factory, a Media House, a Retreat Centre, Diamond Mothers’ Kitchen, Park and Gardens and many more, to the glory of God.

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