ABOUT THE DIOCESE OF OJI RIVER
About Church
DIOCESE OF OJI RIVER
The Diocese of Oji River (Anglican Communion) was carved out of the Diocese of Enugu in 1999, following the resolution passed on Tuesday, 25th April, 1995, by the Diocesan board of the Diocese of Enugu. It was under the primacy of His Grace, The Most Rev’d Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye, The Archbishop Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria. The Pioneer Bishop was the Rt. Rev’d Dr. Amos A. Madu, who was enthroned in July, 1999. On the 24th May, 2009, upon the creation and inauguration of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, the Diocese of Oji River became the first headquarters of the Province of Enugu as the Diocesan Bishop, RT. Rev. Amos A. Madi became the pioneer Archbishop of the new Ecclesiastical Province. In the same year 2009, the Diocese gave birth to the Diocese of Udi. With the help of God, the Diocese which started with only 2 Archdeaconries, at the moment, boasts of 16 Archdeaconries. Upon retirement of the Pioneer Bishop, the Episcopal Synod of the Church of Nigeria, met at the Diocese of Ika, Delta state, in February, 2024 and elected the Venerable Dr. Ikechukwu Joseph Egbuonu, a Priest of the Diocese on the Niger, Anambra State as the 2nd Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Oji River. He has since been Consecrated and Enthroned to the Episcopal See of Oji River as the Diocesan. Since assumption of office, God has been using His Lordship, The Rt. Rev’d. Dr. Ikechukwu Joseph Egbuonu, to do remarkable and tangible exploits for the Lord Jesus Christ. Some laudable projects introduced such as the College of Nursing Sciences and Oji River Mission Specialist Hospital are being given serious attention.
The bishop
Rt. Rev. Dr. Ikechukwu J. E.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Ikechukwu Joseph Egbuonu was born on 30th September 1976 to the Roman Catholic family of late Chief David and Mrs Rose Egbuonu of Uruagu, Umudioka in Dunukofia L.G.A of Anambra State. He attended Aforigwe primary school Umudioka and thereafter proceeded after the manner of most Igbo boys into apprenticeship because of insufficient funds owing to a marital glitch between the father and his mother who had married 5 wives.
The desire and intelligence were there but the vision faded at the sight of lack of funds on the side of a woman who then was left to herself and her children. He joined Mr Tochukwu Umunze in Bamenda Cameroon for a business apprenticeship that lasted for about 6 years in shattered hope.
He was born again on the 21st of April 1995 and joined Scripture Union Nigeria, AYF, EFAC, Full Gospel Fellowship International, and other fellowships of his time out of hunger for God in a time where there was not a king in Israel and he grew into leadership in most of these fellowships.
He later subscribed to be ordained in the Redeemed Christian Church of God which God resisted. There in an attempt to evade the call of God and make some money being an only son of a poor forsaken woman, he joined Mr Onyebuchi Achebe as an apprentice again in the Drug business at Bridge Head market Onitsha (Ogbo ogwu) after which he was settled to start up his own business and prospered in a phase until the death of his mother at about 10:10 pm on 27th March 2000.
He never went back to the market again from the hospital where the mother died. In the year 2001, he became a Sexton and Local Helper in the Church church of the Holy Spirit, Housing Estate Fegge, Onitsha where he served until September 2000 and was admitted into Trinity Theological College Umuahia on self-sponsorship under another arrangement but not under the Diocese on the Niger and was withdrawn by Bishop Ken Sandy Okeke in January 2003. The then Ven Ubaka Mbanugo’s refusal to post him to a church as minuted by the Diocese orchestrated his second service as a local helper in Christ church Attar Road Nkpor and he became officially reemployed on the 1st of November 2003 where the journey started again.
He got married to Ifeoma Igboabuchi of Akokwa, Imo state on the 1st of May 2004, a marriage that is blessed with 4 children; Divine, Favour, Rejoice, and Great. After his service at Church of the Holy And his furtherance to Trinity College Umuahia, he was posted to St Mark’s Church Ifite Awkuzu in January 2005. From St. Mark’s Church, Awkuzu he went back to complete his studies at Trinity Theological College, Umuahia. He served in the following churches after his Diaconate Ordination in 2007 and subsequent Priestly ordination in 2008; St Matthias Nkpor, St Andrews Awuda Nnobi, St Paul’s Sanniez Onitsha where he brought down the old existing church structure and put up a new one in about 2 years under God, St Monica’s woliwo Onitsha where he hosted the most outstanding synod on the Niger and commenced the building of the 3000-seater Chapel at University on the Niger Umunya, Immanuel Church Nkwelle-Ezunaka until his election. Other churches he served on special arrangements include, St Silas Anekwasompu, Amazing Grace Isiowulu, St Faith Fegge, St John’s Fegge, St Paul Nkpor among others.
He is a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he acquired a BA in Religion, and later MA in New Testament and a Ph.D. New Testament. Other certificates he acquired include; Dip.Th(TRICOL), B.Th, (SPUCA), and several training and conferences certificates and awards.
He has effectively served the Diocese and the church in the following capacity: Coordinates the Diocese on the Niger Mission and Outreach Team (DONMORT)- an effective Evangelistic Missions arm of the Diocese on the Niger established in the year 2008 under Bishop Ken Okeke and reorganized in 2012 by The Rt Rev’d Owen Nwokolo; Coordinator Diocese on the Niger Strategic Discipleship movement an extension of Church of Nigeria strategic Discipleship movement under Archbishop Akanya and being mentored by Bishop Aloysious Agbo;
chairman Fresh manna conferences publicity sub-committee Chairman, under Ven Ndubisi Obi (now bishop Diocese of Nnewi); Chaplain, Gideon on the Niger; Assistant pioneer Initiator Evangelist on the Niger; Coordinator Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association, leader Anglican children ministry; assistant chairman Ugwunche camp Umunya. He leads Gospel Labour Partners(GoLPart) – a worldwide Evangelistic movement.
He is a teacher of the Word with an in-depth knowledge of the scripture and has always proved that effortlessly in synods, Conferences, Ministers’ training, and Crusades. By the grace of God, he has ministered in major countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, the US, and Canada. His wife Mrs Ifeoma Egbuonu has been a strong and effective partner and life supporter in his worldwide ministry.
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Our fathers
Bishops of oji river
Rt. Rev. Dr. Ikechukwu Joseph Egbuonu
Bishop of Oji River
Rev. Emmanuel Umeh. Vicar.
St Barth's Church Isikwe Achi.
