There are heroes and there are legends. Heroes are remembered but legends never die. Their names are carved on hearts, not tombstones, their legacies are etched into the minds of people from generation to generation because they believe in being the change that they wish to see in the world. And this is a way to achieve immortality. In the words of Sarah Bernhardt, legends remain victorious in spite of history. One prolific writer by name Shannon Alder reflected that anytime you get action legends together, it has to be a classic. From every stand point, the recent Award and Gala Night for the
Diocese of Lagos Centenary Celebration and Fundraising for the Centenary City which was held at Harbor Point, Wilmot Road, Victoria Island Lagos, on the 9th of December, 2019 was indeed a classic.
It was a gathering of crème de la crème with strong abilities to make things happen; global personalities who has strong and genuine desire, good purpose and lifelong habit to turn the wheel for good. The Bishop of Lagos and Missioner, His Lordship the Right Revd Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye, Ph.D in conjunction with the centenary committee approved the nomination of these rare species after a meticulous scrutiny by the screening committee based on their indelible and consistent contributions to the work of God in their respective parishes, at the Diocese and in the National Church.
Speaking to National Impact Magazine, Sir Stanley Amuchie KSC the founder of Good Light Foundation and APGA gubernatorial Aspirant in the last election in Imo state appreciated the administration of Rt Rev Dr Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye for the golden initiative of the Centenary City. “The Diocese of Lagos has indeed come of age. You can agree with me that the dream of the Centenary City which will accommodate Youth empowerment and development center, Convention ground, Women empowerment center, Rehabilitation center, Amusement park, Gethsemane garden, St Luke global hospital, Games Village, Low cost housing estate and many more will be a worthy dimension of building an enduring legacy that will touch lives for several generation to come. As a matter of fact, looking at the quality of people that are gathered here today and their generous donation, I am sure that the centenary city is a dream come true” he concluded.
Sir Stanley Amuchie is a first class graduate of Industrial Chemistry from the University of Benin and holds M.sc in Corporate Governance from Leeds Beckett University, UK. He started his career at Arthur Andersen, Lagos, Nigeria (now KPMG Professional Services) in September 1995 where he rose to the level of a senior before exiting the firm in February 2000 to work in the banking industry. He joined the Financial Control & Strategic Planning Department of Zenith Bank Plc in February 2000 and he was the Group Chief Financial Officer of the bank. In addition to his responsibilities, he was a Director of Zenith Nominees Limited, a global custody subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc. He was at various times in-charge of the coordination of the Group’s Foreign Operations and real estate operations. Prior to the Bank’s election to operate as a commercial bank with foreign authorization he held the following positions in the subsidiaries of the bank; Chairman-Zenith Securities Limited; Director-Zenith Trustees Ltd, Director-Zenith Bureau De Change Ltd.
Among the crème de la crème that graced the occasion with their presence were Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, APC leader, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, His Excellency, Governor Darius Ishaku, Governor of Taraba State and Chief Tunde & Engr (Mrs) Oluseyi Afolabi, Chairman & CEO of Amni International Petroleum Company and many other dignitaries. Representing the highest donation at the event General T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd) made a whopping donation of N5 billion for the development of the Low-Cost housing Estate in the Centenary City. Chief Tunde Afolabi also made a generous donation of N500 million for the Youth Empowerment centre followed by all other heroes and legends.
It is worthy of note that on the 10th December 1919, the Nigeria Country, West and North of the Niger were cut-off from the Diocese of Equatorial west Africa to form the Diocese of Lagos. Through the initiative of Bishop Herbert Tugwell. F. Melville Jones, an energetic European Missionary Educationist and Principal of St Andrew’s College, Oyo was consecrated as the first Bishop. The Rt. Rev. F. Melville Jones served as Bishop for twenty-one years (1919-1940) before bowing out on retirement in 1940, The Rt. Rev Lesile Gordon Vining (who was then Assistant Bishop of the Diocese on the Niger) became the second Bishop of Lagos. On 17th April 1951 at the inauguration of the province of West Africa, Lesile Vining was elected and presented as the first Archbishop of the new Province. Under him, Lagos Diocese was divided into four Dioceses (Niger delta, Ibadan, Kaduna and Ondo inaugurated in 1952). Vining died at sea on March 1955 and was succeeded by The Rt. Rev. Adelakun Howells. At his demise, Seth Irunsewe Kale came in and shepherded from 1963 to 1974. Festus Oluwole Segun came in January 1975 to 1985 and the visionary Bishop Most Revd. Dr. Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye from 1985 to 1999.
Furthermore, from 2000 to 2018, the Diocese of Lagos flourished under the able leadership of His Grace, Most Rev Dr Ephraim Adebola Ademowo, a calculated, amiable and sagacious Bishop of note. His return to Lagos Diocese was most significant and symbolic as both Bishop and Archbishop of Province one comprising all the dioceses geographically located in the Southwest and Midwest areas of the Country. In 2008, he was re-elected for another 5years term as Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos. With eight (8) Bishops between 1919 and 2018, and it’s phenomenal expansion by leaps and bounds within the same period, the Diocese of Lagos has indeed come of age. Having given birth to numerous other Diocese and having produced several Bishops who are holding their own in different parts of the Church of Nigeria.
Be it as it may, Most Rev Dr E Adebola Ademowo retired on the 29th of July, 2018 and was succeeded by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye who was translated from the Diocese of Osun North East; he was enthroned as the 8th Bishop of Lagos an historic ceremony held on Monday July 30, 2018. Realizing that “whoever or whatever we desire to be, tomorrow, begins with whatever and wherever, we are today”; he therefore started with a proclaimatory message for the teeming people of the Diocese, at the threshold of her celebration of 100years of existence, to “Arise and Shine” (Isaiah 60:1).
In his maiden sermon he unfolded and declared his 5-fold Divine Mandate of priestly, Pastoral, Prophetic, Prayer and Praise Ministries! Which he has taken on headlong and invited all the priest numbering almost 200 across the Dioceses, to further key into; as a way of consolidating on the rich heritage inherited from his immediate predecessor.A number of Programme have been put in Place:
– A 21 days fasting and prayer programme (which is now an annual event) from 1st to 21st August, 2018 was declared and was rounded off with a prayer convocation at the Faith Plaza, in Bariga;
• Full-scale staff audit and project/facility assessment exercise which was tagged “Episcopal Visitation” to all existing Parishes, Churches and Preaching Stations across the diocese was carried out;
• One very tangential leg of the tripodal operational mandate – the Divine mandate Voices a musical band and an Important group that steadily oils the operational gears and wheels of the New Vision and Mandate at both the regular and occasional divine service;
• A quiet reform began with the great school Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Comprehensive College, Igboye; which was handed over to the Diocesan Women’s and Girls’ Organisation, under the able leadership of Mama Lagos, Prof. Mrs Motunrayo Olumakaiye for proper oversight functions;
• The maiden edition of the Diocesan Festival of Hymns was held at our saviour’s Church, TBS, Lagos on Sunday 18th November, 2018 and at the April 2019 edition, the Lagos Diocesan Anthem was introduced and it is now being sung every Sunday in all parishes in the dioceses
• A Central internet Facility Service was launched at the Diocesan Headquarters, 29, Marina, Lagos and
• The Unveiling of the Centenary Celebration Logo and Commissioning of the divine Mandate Partners selected funders and supporters of the multibillion naira centenary projects was held.
One major giant stride of the Olumakaiye administration within a short period of time is the acquisition of 1500 plots of land at Kaiyetoro, in Ibeju lekki, for the establishment of the Centenary city to mark the 100 years of the existence of the dioceses and a way by which the church can give back to the society. The city is planned to have a Youth empowerment and development center, Convention ground, Women empowerment center, Rehabilitation center, Amusement park, Gethsemane garden, St Luke global hospital, Games Village, Low cost housing estate and many more.
Finally, it is safe to remark that as the Diocese of Lagos marks 100 years of its existence, the Lord has indeed been our great support and help. As they thank the Lord for the journey so far, and for the lives of all who have labored and are now at rest, they confidently commit the future into His hands, Standing on the golden promise that, the church shall march on and, on; and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it.’ Obviously, the future of the Diocese of Lagos is certain and bright. We wish her, her leader – the Diocesan, – and her people, the clergy, the clergy wives and the laity, the very best. May He continue to make us all, veritable vessels unto honour and to the glory of his holy name. Amen.
