The Bishop of the Ijumu Anglican Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Paul Olanrewaju Ojo, has urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in faith and trust in God despite the security and economic challenges facing the country, expressing confidence that the nation will overcome its current difficulties.
Bishop Ojo made the call during the First Session of the Fifth Synod of the Diocese held at Ogale-Idioro in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The synod, themed “Thanksgiving,” brought together church leaders and delegates for spiritual renewal and discussions on the growth and development of the Diocese.
Delivering his presidential charge, the cleric emphasised the importance of thanksgiving, noting that gratitude to God remains a key pathway to receiving greater blessings.
Speaking on national issues, Bishop Ojo appealed to Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and allow him more time to implement his administration’s policies and programmes.
According to him, President Tinubu assumed office with a clearly defined agenda and has remained committed to pursuing reforms in critical sectors, particularly education and the economy.
“I am a bishop, not a politician, but as a church leader and an educated person, I can say that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into office with a clear agenda. Unlike some leaders who campaign without a clear manifesto, he presented his plans and is working towards achieving them,” he said.
The bishop commended the administration’s education reforms, particularly the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a landmark initiative aimed at expanding access to tertiary education.
“He is the first President, to my knowledge, to introduce a programme like NELFUND. It is designed to support students and secure the future of education. I appeal to Nigerians to give him more time because he is laying foundations for both the present and future generations,” he added.
On the Diocese’s developmental projects, Bishop Ojo disclosed that construction work is progressing steadily at the proposed Ijumu Anglican College of Nursing Sciences in Ogidi. He called on individuals and organisations to support the initiative, which he said is aimed at empowering young people, especially girls, through education.
He explained that upon assuming office, he sought divine guidance to identify the most pressing needs of the Diocese, leading to investments in agriculture and education.
“We started with agriculture because this is an agrarian area. We planted 1,000 palm trees on church-owned land. Thereafter, we expanded into education by establishing nursery, primary and secondary schools. By God’s grace, the first school is operational, while the second has grown to the Junior Secondary School level,” he said.
The bishop revealed that the proposed College of Nursing Sciences would initially offer programmes in Nursing and Midwifery, with plans to eventually transform it into a full-fledged University of Nursing Sciences.
“Our vision is to establish a world-class institution that will empower young people and contribute meaningfully to healthcare development. In the future, we hope to upgrade the college into a University of Nursing Sciences,” he stated.
Also speaking at the event, the Provost of the Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa, Dr. Paul Femi Fashagba, commended the Anglican Church for its contributions to peacebuilding, education and national development.
The traditional ruler of Ogale, Oba Abdulrahaman Ibilola, expressed appreciation to the Diocese for choosing the community as host of the synod, noting that it was the first time the event had been held in the area since the Diocese was established.
The synod concluded with prayers for peace, security and sustainable development in Nigeria.
