The 48th/13th Biennial Conference of Methodist Church Nigeria, at its Representative Session on Sunday 14th August, 2022 held at Catheral Unity, Abuja FCT, hosted by the Archdiocese of Benue, resolved that the Diocese of Awkunanaw, comprising Awkunanaw Central, Amodu, Ozalla Circuits, Obe and Umueze Sections, with its seat at Immanuel Methodist Cathedral, Mission Avenue, Obuoffia, Nkanu West L.G.A. Enugu, be created out of the existing Diocese of Agbani, Archdiocese of Enugu.
The Electoral College Conference, which also met on Sunday 14th August, 2022 at the same venue, in accordance with section 23(iv) and section 370 of the 2021 Constitution of the Methodist Church Nigeria translated the Rt. Rev. Dennis Okechukwu Mark as the pioneer Bishop of the Awkunanaw Diocese, Methodist Church Nigeria.
The service for the inauguration of the Diocese of Awkunanaw, enthronement of the Bishop and the presentation of the Diocesan Lay President was done on the 2nd May, 2023 to give effect to the decision of Conference, to seek divine approval for the choice and to commit the Bishop’s ministry together with the Lay President”s tenure in office into the hands of God.
The service was graced by the high and the mighty in the christendom across the state and beyond. Odalije Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, ex-Federal Permanent Secretary and several of his political allies and friends were on ground to grace the occasion.
The Prelate, the Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese, His Grace, the most Rev. Barr. Christopher Ede and several other Bishop’s who officiated on the occasion thanked God for the gift of Sir Ohaa for his boundless philanthropy that has brought joy to countless people.
The officiating ministers of God recounted that Sir Ohaa has been known as a committed community and religious leader, not known to shirk an assignment or duck a challenge. He has raised funds from friends and associates for numerous communities’ and religious projects, sponsored several projects in, and attracted numerous federal and state government infrastructures to, different communities in Awkunanaw clan and several other parts of Nkanuland and Enugu state with an incredibly staying power, sparing no resources, nor himself, and deploys the full artillery of his incredibly wide network of contacts. While he was the Federal Permanent Secretary of Abuja Federal Capital Territory, FCT, he rectified the imbalance in the FCTA workforce as he ensured the proper implementation of the federal character principle in FCTA which culminated in the employment of several south easterners and people from other geo-political zones that were hitherto marginalized in the workforce of FCT.
It was recalled that he was the immediate past Lay President of Methodist Church Nigeria, Agbani Diocese from 2012 to 2018.
Sir Ohaa and his friends, beside procuring operational vehicles for the Diocese, raised substantial sum to facilitate the construction of a befitting Bishop’s Court and other infrastructural needs of the Diocese. Some of Sir Ohaa’s allies and friends who joined him on the occasion included a former Minister and the 2023 Enugu state APGA governorship candidate, Chief Frank Nweke Jr, Ex-Commissioners Deacon Okay Ogbodo, Barr. Emeka Okeke, the Enugu state Chief Fire Officer, Engr Okwudiri Ohaa, Council Chairmen of Enugu South and Nkanu West respectively, Hon. Barr. Nkwuo and Hon. Uche Ejim, former Chairman of Nkanu West LG, Akajiugo Orlando Nnamani, former Chairman of Enugu Sports Club, Hon. Onyeka Onwe. Also sported in the company of Sir Ohaa, were Hon. Oscar Egwuonwu, former Udi Council Chairman, Chief Amobi Ede, industrialist/businessman, ex-Permanent Secretary, Emma Agbo, Chief Ijego Ukwu, Chief Gab Onuchukwu, Barr. Chukwu, Awgu LG PDP Deputy chairman, Hon. Chukwujekwu Nebo, Chief Emeka Okpara, Abia state PDP chieftain and several others.
The climax of the occasion was the declaration by the Prelate that by the Will and Authority of Conference of Methodist Church Nigerian on this Tuesdsy, the 3rd day of May, 2023 at this Devine Service held primarily for the specific purpose of inauguration of the Diocese of Awkunanaw at Immanuel Methodist Cathedral, Mission Avenue, Obuoffia, Nkanu West L.G.A. Enugu State, I , His EMINENCE, Dr. Oliver Ali Aba, JP, by the grace of God, Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria hereby declare and inaugurate the Diocese of Awkunanaw comprising Awkunanaw Central, Amodu, Ozalla, Obe, Umueze Circiuts with its seat at Immanuel Methodist Cathedral, Mission Avenue, Obuoffia, Nkanu West L.G.A. Enugu state.
