The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Rev’d Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba has inaugurated the Diocese of Ozoro as the 170th Diocese of the Church which was a landmark service gathering sons and daughters of Isoko land on the 2nd of December, 2025.

Declaring the diocese inaugurated after all processes and documentation were executed, the Primate urged the all in attendance to pray for the bishop and his wife, The Rt.Rev Dr. and Mrs Benjamin Idume for the grace to carry the workload which has been placed on them in developing the new diocese.

The service which started by 09:00am at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Ozoro featured a procession by the choir, lay readers, priests, wardens, legal officers, Bishops and Archbishops, Registrar and General Secretary of the Church of Nigeria, the Dean and the Primate.

The only lesson for this service was taken from the book of Matthew 16:13-28.

The service was marked with a deeply spiritual sermon delivered by the Most Revd Dr. Joseph Akinfenwa, Bishop of Ibadan Diocese.

The Archbishop’s message focused on the foundational role of the bishop in a diocese.

Archbishop Akinfenwa praised the Rt. Rev’d Dr. Benjamin Idume who is the pioneer bishop for his doggedness and good records in his ministerial journey right from his youth days till now.

He noted that new dioceses being created by the Church of Nigeria are not ego mechanics or machines, positions and offices but to reach into more spaces in the country; preaching the gospel of Christ to every corner of the nation. The simple goal is to win more souls to Christ.

He emphasized that the creation of Ozoro Diocese will help fast track development spiritually, educationally, health delivery in the Isoko land.

He call on the new bishop not to be a traveling and township bishop because he cannot raise children in absentia.
He added that he should embrace a life of sacrifice to move the diocese forward, paying attention to the spiritual development of the people and Ozoro land by promoting prayer, diligent study of the word and promoting effective discipleship.

Baba Akinfenwa noted that the Bishop and his wife must have a burden of carrying the diocese from the ground to the top through investment, promoting quality education, Investing in the youths and reap quality man power, cultivate and develop the people.

He concluded that the bishop and his wife should not be an isolated leader but always be present as the diocese needs a father and mother figure who is hospitable, loving, charitable, welcoming.

After the message, the representatives of the various archdeaconries being carved out as a diocese namely; Ozoro, Ozoro East, Ozoro Central, Ozoro West, Ashaka, Ellu, Ofagbe, Okpe-isoko, Iyede-Ame Archdeaconries, All Saints Chapel Southern Delta University, Faith Chapel Anglican Grammar School, St. Joseph Chapelry, presented their petition to create the diocese of Ozoro before the Primate who accepted the petition and called for the deeds (relinquishment and acceptance) to be read and executed.

The primate thereafter inaugurated the Diocese of Ozoro with a great sound of joy from the congregation and lead the prayers for the new diocese, the bishop, clergy and laity.

The relinquishing diocesan, The Rt. Rev. John Aruakpor thereafter moved out with his staff of office as a sign of signing out his jurisdiction over the said area now inaugurated.

The service was conducted by the Archbishop of Bendel, The Most Rev’d Dr. Cyril Odutemu and attended by over 30 bishops and Archbishops of the Church, Delta State government representatives, clergymen from various dioceses, Church of Nigeria officials, captains of industries among other dignitaries.

Ozoro Diocese was created as a full-fledged Diocese from Oleh Diocese as part of the newly created 15 dioceses in the Church of Nigeria at its last Standing committee meeting held in Ekiti last September, 2025.

At the close of the inaugural service, the enthronement service commenced.

Korede Akintunde
CoN Communications Officer
2nd December, 2025
Email: communication@anglican-nig.org