IKENNE-REMO, OGUN STATE — On the eve of the 15th General Synod of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Church’s episcopal leadership paid a historic visit to the family home of the late nationalist and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The visit served as a prelude to the official commencement of the Synod and the consecration of four new bishops for the Dioceses of Makurdi, Uyo, Ekiti-Oke, and Awori, scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo.
Setting the scene for the historic evening, the Primate of All Nigeria, The Most Rev’d Henry C. Ndukuba, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Angela Ndukuba, alongside Archbishops and Bishops, were hosted to a dinner at the Efunyela Hall by Ambassador Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu on behalf of the Awolowo family.
Speaking from the Awolowo family’s private chapel during the gathering, Primate Ndukuba delivered a charge to the nation’s leaders, drawing extensively on the legacy of Chief Awolowo.
He described the visit as a fitting precursor to the Synod’s official proceedings and expressed deep concern over the diminishing regard for national history. The Primate warned that modern leaders are failing to provide the younger generation with exemplary models of public service.
“His name always rings a bell,” Primate Ndukuba said of Awolowo, adding that “our leaders, instead of keeping history alive, are trying to kill it.”
Drawing from Philippians 1:21, the Primate emphasized that true leadership is defined by selflessness rather than political acquisition.
Thereafter, Dr. Dosumu presented copies of Chief Awolowo’s books to the visiting clerics. She also led the Church leadership on a tour of the residence, which included the family museum and the rooms where Chief Awolowo and his wife, Yeye Oodua H.I.D. Awolowo, lived.
In her remarks, Dr. Dosumu connected the Primate’s message and her parents’ philosophy of public service to the central theme of the 15th General Synod, “The Priesthood of All Believers: Equipping God’s People for the Work of Ministry.”
She noted that Chief Awolowo and his wife viewed their Christian faith not merely as a Sunday obligation, but as a mandate for continuous service to humanity. “They believed that faith had to be lived and that service to God must find expression in service to humanity,” she said, emphasizing that ministry extends beyond the pulpit into professional and community life.
She also noted her parents’ central role in the creation of the Diocese of Remo 42 years ago and described the Church’s decision to host its 15th General Synod in the diocese for the first time as a significant and poignant milestone.
The evening concluded with prayers for the Awolowo family and the nation, setting a reflective tone for the Church’s leadership as they transitioned into the primary business of the General Synod.
