The first session of the twenty-fourth Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese on the Niger was held at St. Barnabas Church District, Ojoto, Obosi Archdeaconry, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State. It commenced twentieth June, 1998 and ended twenty-fourth June, 1998. Late Arch. Bishop Jonathan Onyemelukwe presided. The Theme was “Christian Maturity”
After twenty seven years, the first session of the thirty-third Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Community), Diocese on the Niger is holding again at St. Barnabas Church, Ojoto, Oba Archdeaconry, commencing fifth June and ending eighth June, 2025. Right Reverend Owen Nwokolo, Bishop on the Niger is presiding. Theme of the synod is “Christ in you, the Hope of Glory”
Ojoto witnessed the arrival of CMS Mission in 1893. Ever since six churches have been added to the flock. They include St. Barnabas Church, St. Mark’s Church, St. John’s, All Saints Church, Holy Trinity and All Innocence Church.
The Church had early worshippers. The staunch early converts became the founding fathers of the first Anglican Church in Ojoto, St. Barnabas Church. They were brave, courageous and dependable pioneers. Some of these men later became church teachers.
In those early days, the missionaries were visiting from Oba and Obosi to conduct church services and Bible lessons among other church activities. it was not until 1895 that Alphonso Onyeabo of Onitsha, who later became the first Igbo Bishop of the Anglican Church on the Niger, was sent as the first Resident Teacher to Ojoto.
The First Baptism of some Ojoto converts took place at CMS Church, Obosi on eighteenth February, 1901. In 1906, the first Christian marriage of some Ojoto converts took place.
It is worthy to note that initial ministrations were conducted for interested Ojoto people at the out-house, ‘Oziobi’ of Chief Ezenwile, from where they moved to Ugwu-awo in Akabor village in 1906. The zealous converts were shown the Ugwu-awo forest in Akabor village, which they cleared and erected a mud hall with thatched roof. Such was the humble beginning of the early church in Ojoto. However, after some setbacks, the church regrouped and moved to Ugwu Nwankwo in 1912 which was really the beginning of the development of the church in Ojoto.
Henceforth, every Church service witnessed the presence of new converts. By 1936, the membership of the Anglican Church had grown tremendously and today it is a thing of joy that the Anglican community has grown in leaps and bounds. The gospel of Jesus Christ has spread into all the nooks and crannies of Ojoto like wildfire.
Ojoto has a natural endowment, The River John, cutting the town into two halves- Ojoto Uno and Ojoto Obiofia, each side housing three Anglican Churches. This is to the Glory of God.
The Ojoto Central Synod committee welcomes the Right Reverend Owen Nwokolo, The Bishop on the Niger, his spouse, Dr. Elsie Nwokolo, Mama Niger, the clergy and the over nine hundred Synod delegates to Ojoto.
Diocese on the Niger – Lux fiat.
SIR AMOBI ADIRIKA
