Anambra: Bishop Crowther lived a life without border, says Gov Soludo
...calls for service for humanity regardless of class, creed, ethnicity
From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has said that the first African black Bishop, Samuel Ajayi Crowther lived a life without border.
The Governor called for service to humanity regardless of class, creed and ethnicity which he said was the virtues of Bishop Crowther.
Soludo who stated this during the thanksgiving service to mark the 160th anniversary of the Consecration of first Bishop of the Niger, Bishop Crowther at All Saints Cathedral Onitsha.
“We celebrate history and authenticity. In doing this, we must ensure that we do not forget the full essence of the Man, Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther. We will be missing something if in this ceremony we miss the essence of today’s celebration, which for me is that Bishop Crowther lived a life without borders.
“For a moment, imagine how this terrain was 160 years ago, only then can you fully appreciate the depth of his sacrifice; Journeying from the uttermost parts of the West to the East to establish the Diocese on the Niger.
“Today, I hear them mention critical institutions from health to education whose foundations were laid by the efforts of a man who decided to serve humanity regardless of class, creed and ethnicity.
“As you deal with others in your daily lives, ask yourself, “where is the Ajayi Crowther in me?” In Anambra we are building a State that serves all, not minding where you come from, the language you speak or where you worship.
“I am here today to celebrate with the Diocese on the Niger, even as I pray that this legacy will continue to grow across generations to come” Soludo stated.
The host and the Bishop of the Niger, Rev. Dr. Owen Nwokolo in his welcome address said that Bishop Crowther was a bishop of the Church of England in the West African Territories beyond the British Dominions, commonly named Niger Territories.
“Bishop Crowther, a slave boy, a victim of Muslim Marauders of the 19th century who became the first black Bishop in the world. His Consecration marked a pivotal moment in the history of Christianity in West Africa, symbolizing the dawn of a new era in which the gospel message was deeply rooted and spread by one of its own sons.
“It was on 29th June, 2024 , exactly 160 years ago he walked through the nave of Canterbury Cathedral, England, like a sheep waiting to be slaughtered. He was not desirous neither was he ambitious to be a Bishop, but because of the burden for his people he accepted the onerous task of being the first black Bishop of the Diocese on the Niger Territories, which in contemporary times, is known as the Diocese on the Niger, the Mother and Nurse of many infants Sees.
“He established our Doicese in 1864, we are not taking it for granted rather we are taking the legacy of Bishop Crowther as as assignment to carry on the banner of Christ Jesus to the ends of the world and even among those within us who have not seen the glorious light of the gospel.” Bishop Nwokolo stated.
