Nigeria’s Anglican Church consecrates 15 bishops in major expansion

ABUJA – In a powerful display of growth and spiritual renewal, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) consecrated 15 new bishops on Sunday, significantly expanding its leadership to 183 across the nation.

The historic service, held on November 9, 2025, at The Cathedral Church of The Advent, was a vibrant gathering of faith. Thousands of worshippers, including archbishops, clergy, and laity, filled the cathedral to witness the new bishops kneel before the Primate of All Nigeria, The Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, for their consecration.

For many of the new bishops, this moment was the culmination of years of dedicated service and unwavering hope.

The atmosphere was thick with emotion as ancient prayers were recited and sacred oil was applied, marking their entry into the episcopal order.

The spiritual charge for the new leaders was delivered by The Most Rev’d Edmund Akanya, Bishop of Kebbi. Preaching from Matthew 5:13, he declared the new bishops must be the “salt of the earth”—bringing healing, truth, and light to their communities. His homily was both an exhortation and a stark warning, urging them to guard against the temptations of “money and immorality” that have damaged other ministries.

“Go to your new dioceses to build, to heal, to lead,” Bishop Akanya implored. “The altar you now serve is not a marketplace. Guard your integrity.”

The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda and Chairman of GAFCON, Archbishop Laurent Mbanda.

Following the ceremony, the scene outside the cathedral erupted in celebration. Supporters from the bishops’ home dioceses greeted them with drums, traditional choruses, and ululation, transforming the Abuja air into a festival of joy.

The Primate later emphasized that this consecration is a call to deeper sacrifice, not privilege. Each bishop will return to a newly created diocese with a mandate to reignite evangelism, strengthen rural ministries, and uphold biblical orthodoxy.

This significant expansion underscores the Church of Nigeria’s resilience and its committed advance in a nation navigating complex social and moral challenges, positioning itself as steadfast “salt in a world in danger of losing its savour.”

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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