Again, history was made, last Sunday, at the Cathedral Church of Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja, where the Primate of Church of Nigeria and Metropolitan, The Most Rev Henry Ndukuba, presented the Most Rev Dr. Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye as the new Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos.
The event brought together many personalities, including Archbishops, Bishops, senior clergy, members and non-members, as well as the celebrant’s mother, Mrs. Abigail Olumakaiye. And they all showered encomiums on Archbishop Olumakaiye, who came with his wife, Professor (Mrs.) Motunrayo Olumakaiye.
In his sermon, the Bishop of Jos and Secretary of GAFCON, The Most Rev Benjamin Kwashi, said believing in money, position, fame and acquired properties is a grievous offence to God. He advised Christians to trust in God alone and put their trust in Jesus Christ Who can save them from any embarrassment.
“He is a man that seeks knowledge, is humble, forthright, a Bible scholar, focused, visionary, a dynamic child of God and leader, who seeks to please God more and more,” he said.
Also, the Synod Secretary of the Anglican Diocese of Lagos, the Ven. Segun Ladeinde, said: “Today is the evidence that, indeed, those who truly serve God will always be remembered. I feel really enthused and excited about today’s proceedings, and I know that today is the beginning of even greater testimonies of what God is going to do through his servant, in the Diocese of Lagos, Province of Lagos, in the Church of Nigeria and Christianity in general.”
For the Dean of Immanuel College of Theology and Christian Education, Ibadan, the Ven. Dr. Oyeneye Isaac, “Olumakaiye is a generous donor and an open-hearted man, who has positively affected the institution as the Chairman of Board of Governors. He is one in a million. He sincerely deserves this office.”
According to the Ven. Williams Mehinsan, “Olumakaiye is a Bishop with special endowments, which he will utilise those endowments for the Province of Lagos and Church of Nigeria at large. We are sure of that.”
The elated Mrs. Abigail Olumakaiye, who prayed that God’s light would continue to illuminate her son’s path, also asked God to grant him more grace, when he opens his mouth, and fills it with His words as well as long life.
With the presentation, Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos has returned to the Diocese of Lagos, after eight years of being held by other Dioceses. Olumakaiye becomes the fourth Archbishop to wear the cap since its inauguration in 2002. The former Bishop of Lagos and former Dean Emeritus of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Rev Dr. Ephraim Adebola Ademowo was the first person to wear the cap.
The Rev Paul Abiodun Fasoro,
Communicator Diocese of Lagos