…inaugurates 2 Archbishops, 39 Bishops
The newly confirmed Primate of the African Church, Most Reverend Augustine Odufuwa, has pledged to lead the Church into a new era of growth and transformation within the next six months.
He made the commitment during a special service held on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the African Church Bethlehem Cathedral, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. The occasion marked the official inauguration of the Lagos Metropolitan Province and the consecration of new bishops.
In his acceptance speech, Primate Odufuwa—who transitioned from acting to substantive primate—described himself as a team leader committed to inclusive leadership, working with both clergy and laity to ensure holistic progress.
“Today we have added more Bishops to the fold of the African Church. They will go to work in their respective dioceses, and within six months, you will see a drastic change in evangelism and church expansion,” he said.
He noted that the Church is now better equipped for growth, with several clergy members holding advanced academic qualifications, including PhDs and Master’s degrees.
“So you don’t need to doubt what will happen with my emergence as the Primate of the Church,” he said confidently. “By God’s grace, we shall bridge existing gaps, especially in evangelism.”
The ceremony witnessed the elevation of 39 clergymen to the office of Bishop and two new Archbishops: The Most Reverend Dr. David Adedeji Sogbanmu and The Most Reverend Adesoji Aderemi Adetubo. It also marked the formal declaration of the Lagos Metropolitan Province.
Addressing criticisms and alleged smear campaigns against his person, Primate Odufuwa dismissed the claims, emphasizing that he has the full support of the Church’s trustees and majority of its leadership.
He called on all members to unite in prayer and offer their full support to move the Church forward.
“It doesn’t take anything from me, because he is not the owner of the Church, the Trustees of the Church has given me their blessings.
“He has no trustee backing him all those who are backing him are ex-members and ex-officers of the Church, I have the Acting Lay- President, I have all the Church Officers behind me.
“I have the grand patron of the Church and out of the seven living trustees six are solidly behind me, while the seventh which happens to be our former Primate is neutral because of his sensitive position.
“He is father of all so he doesn’t support anybody but he is praying for all of us. I have solid living trustees of the Church behind my office.
“When you have a knowledgeable leader the result is so clear and glaring that the Church have to move forward.” Primate Odufuwa said.
Commenting on the crisis rocking the African Church the General Secretary Mr. Bayo Ogundimu counselled that given the possibility of an harmonious resolution in no distant time, all parties need seek peace to further encourage the growth of the Church.
“When you talk of unity you are talking about something that is quite essential for a home to move forward, for an organization to move forward even for a nation to move forward not to talk of a Church, there is a need for us to come together.
“So when we talk of that we continue to appeal for unity,cooperation and I will also continue to say that we should sheathe our swords, we should come together.
“The cost of this struggle for the Church is enormous we can’t put that together now but in terms of the legal cost, the pains and the names we have given to ourselves,the shenanigans we have been involved in it has cost us a fortune, but like I said as a Church as a people we will always find a way.
“Our elders are not looking back and I am sure that we are working day and night to ensure that this is over and like I said that I am very very sure and there is God’s promise on that, very soon all the factions will come together and we shall sing Halleluyah.
Giving the Charge at the inauguration ceremony Most Rev’d Joseph Ola-Akinsanya Archbishop of Okka Province of the African Church and Bishop of Okka Diocese Akoko Ondo State, who coincidentally served as a priest of African Church Bethlehem Cathedral Ebute-Metta between 1987-1991 tasked the newly inducted Bishops to take prayer, fasting and searching of scripture as a mandatory requirement for eventual success.
Most Rev’d Ola-Akinsanya also described the crisis as a storm awaiting the order of calm, he added that it is not strange but urged all to give peace a chance.
“All along our elders the peace committee, the elders of the Church have actually said there must be sacrifice, afterall the Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for the salvation of mankind, to bring us back from the fall of our forefathers and so the same way there cannot be meaningful unity and love without sacrifice.
“That implies sacrifice on the part of the leaders and the led if we will be accountable onto God our creator then, necessity is now placed on us to make the necessary sacrifice for the Church’s growth, unity, oneness and propagation.”
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
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