The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Most Rev’d Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba has inaugurated the Missionary Diocese of Zuru in Kebbi State as the 175th Diocese of the Church.
It was a landmark service gathering the Christain communiry of Zuru land on the 13th of December, 2025 at the Cathedral Church of St. Matthias, Rikoto, Zuru.
Declaring the diocese inaugurated after all processes and legal documentation were executed, the Primate urged the all in attendance to work with and pray for the bishop and his wife, The Rt.Rev Dr. and Mrs Ayuba Kanta for the grace to carry the mission work at hand which has been placed on them to develop the new missionary diocese; spreading the gospel of Christ.
The service which started by 11:00am 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 16:13-19.
In the sermon delivered by The Rt. Rev’d Joseph Musa, Bishop of Idah Diocese, called for aggressive evangelism as the primary weapon against rising insecurity and spiritual opposition in Nigeria.
Preaching from Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail,” Bishop Musa addressed the unique challenges of establishing a diocese in an environment where the Church has faced physical and spiritual attacks.
Bishop Musa did not shy away from the harsh realities facing the region, noting that while the “gates of hell” used to manifest as abstract spirits, they have now taken the form of men who seek to extinguish the Church through violence and the burning of houses of worship.
“Of recent, the gates of hell have moved their headquarters to Nigeria,” the Bishop stated. “But they shall not prevail. It doesn’t matter how many churches they have burnt; the Church is a militant body covered by the blood of Jesus.”
The Bishop emphasized that the creation of new missionary dioceses is not merely an administrative act but a strategic military maneuver in the spirit. He argued that the only way to combat the “wickedness of the devil” and silence principalities is through the consistent preaching of the Gospel.
Key charges given to the pioneer Bishop, the Rt. Rev Ayuba Kanta, and the congregation included:
1. Evangelism as Confrontation: Standing on the truth and preaching the Gospel is the only force capable of confronting the “gates of hell.”
2. Fearless Leadership: The Bishop was urged to visit every “nook and cranny” of the diocese without fear, serving as a mentor to the clergy and a shepherd who builds without rest.
3. The Nehemiah Model: Leadership must be characterized by passion, zeal, and a commitment to building even when things are tough.
4. The Sword of the Spirit: The Bible must remain the primary weapon of the diocese to ensure that the enemy is driven back to where they came from.
Bishop Musa also admonished the Primate of All Nigeria, to continue the expansion of missionary dioceses into even the most dangerous territories, including the Sambisa forest.
“That is our weapon,” he remarked. “If 10 or 20 people of my kind [converts] are saved in the forest through the Gospel, they can take that message and overtake the enemy from within.”
The Bishop concluded with a plea to government authorities, including the Governor of Kebbi State and the President of Nigeria; While acknowledging the importance of physical security agencies, he insisted that leaders must allow the Gospel to thrive, as it is the “truth that will save Nigeria.”
He reminded the congregation that the strength of the new diocese lies in the personal salvation of its members. “Whosoever is here and doesn’t know Jesus Christ, you don’t know life,” he cautioned, urging clergy, wives, and youth to be truly converted so they can effectively join the Bishop in this new missionary frontier.
After the message, the representatives of the various archdeaconries being carved out as a diocese namely; Zuru, Elembelu and Rivah Archdeaconries, presented their petition to create the missionary diocese of Zuru 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 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 Most. Rev. Dr. Edmund Akanya and his wife ceremonially 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 Kaduna, The Most Rev’d Dr. Timothy Yahaya and attended by bishops of the Church, clergymen from various part of Kaduna province, Church of Nigeria officials, among other dignitaries.
Zuru Missionary Diocese was created from Kebbi 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.
