Anglican Communion News Service

by Matthew Davies

The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Revd Peter Jasper Akinola, was elected last night (Wednesday 12 November) as the head of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), an ecumenical umbrella organisation based in Kaduna. The decision was announced at the meeting of CAN's 6th General Assembly in Abuja.

In his initial reaction to his election as the CAN President, Archbishop Akinola called on all Christian people to pray for him as he assumes office saying that he "attributed the elevation to God and the goodwill of those who have reposed confidence in him to lead". He added that, in view of the enormity of the responsibility, he "covets the prayers of all and sundry to be able to succeed...."

At the end of September, the prelate was also elected as the new Chairman of the Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa (CAPA), a continental body that brings together all the 12 Anglican Provinces in Africa and the Diocese of Egypt.

Archbishop Akinola began his ministry as a vicar at St James, Suleja, Nigeria in 1978 after graduating with a Diploma in Theology from the Theological College of Northern Nigeria. He was later admitted to Virginia Theological Seminary in the United States where he graduated with a Masters Degree in Theology.

He served as the Provincial Missionary for the Church of Nigeria between 1984 and 1989 before being elected Bishop of Abuja in 1989 and later Archbishop of Province III in 1998. He became Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria in 2002. Nigeria has an estimated 60 million Christians, of which 17.5 million are Anglican.