The Bishop on the Niger and Chancellor of the University on the Niger, His Lorship, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Owen Chiedozie Nwokolo, has reaffirmed the importance of faith, education and national development, urging scholars and students to emulate the legacy of the first African Anglican Bishop, Samuel Ajayi Crowther.
Bishop Nwokolo made the call while delivering remarks at the maiden edition of “The Dialogue,” an annual public lecture organised by the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The lecture, themed “Bishop Ajayi Crowther: His Life, Missionary Work and Impact on National Development,” coincided with the 162nd anniversary of Bishop Crowther’s consecration as the first African Anglican bishop.
Before the event, Bishop Nwokolo paid a courtesy visit to the university management, where he was received on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Onyia.
Welcoming the Anglican bishop, Prof. Onyia described him as one of the institution’s distinguished alumni, noting that he obtained his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies.
Responding, Bishop Nwokolo congratulated the Vice Chancellor on his appointment and commended the university’s ongoing developmental strides. He prayed for wisdom and strength for the management to sustain the institution’s progress.
Addressing participants at the lecture, Bishop Nwokolo highlighted Bishop Crowther’s enduring contributions to evangelism, education, language development and nation building, stressing that genuine missionary work extends beyond preaching to transforming society.
He said Crowther demonstrated that the Gospel and national development go hand in hand by investing in education, preserving indigenous languages and promoting human dignity.
The cleric challenged scholars, students and church leaders to remain grounded in Scripture while applying their knowledge to address Nigeria’s contemporary challenges. He urged the academic community to embrace integrity, critical thinking and selfless service as tools for national transformation.
He also prayed for the continued growth of the university, expressing hope that it would remain committed to its mission of restoring the dignity of humanity through education.
In recognition of his contributions to the Church, education and national development, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. T.C. Nzeadibe, presented Bishop Nwokolo with an Award of Excellence during the ceremony.
The bishop also announced a donation of ₦5 million to the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies to support its academic development and future programmes.
Following the public lecture, Bishop Nwokolo and his entourage paid a courtesy visit to the Anglican Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Eze Agbo, who congratulated him on the successful hosting of the maiden lecture, describing it as a significant achievement for the Anglican Communion.
