Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye (with mic)
Odinaka Uruakpa
The Diocesan Bishop of Lagos Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye has revealed the church’s intention to build a centenary city that would tend to the physical, spiritual, as well as the recreational needs of Lagosians at Lekki-Ibeju-Epe axis of the state.
Olumakaiye who made this revelation at a press conference held recently in Lagos to herald the Centenary anniversary celebration of Lagos Diocese (Anglican Communion), also disclosed that the diocese will always collaborate with the government to provide better living conditions for people in the state.
Said he: “People have been contributing greatly to the development of this church and it is high time we give something solid back to them. We will continue to make impact on the society and to cooperate with the government in making life worth living for people.
“In a bid to give something back to the next generation that will forever be cherished, and to make our environment worth living, we have decided to build a centenary city where we will put in place facilities, including low income housing estate that will tend to the needs of the people.
“We are giving back to the society and the bible said that we will always have the poor among us; it is the duty of the church to take care of the poor people”.
According to the bishop, the diocese has never reneged in seeing to the well being of members.
Said Olamakaiye: “We have provided accommodations and we have been giving scholarships to student for our members without making noise.
“When we complete the low income housing estate and we see those people that are in dire need of shelter, then we can now give them the opportunity of having some of these houses.
“We have widows amongst us that are seriously suffering; our duty is to take care of them and it is a city for all.
“The diocesan assured that in all her activities, the church will not compromise her standards and faith.
“At the end of the day we are not going to compromise our standard and faith. We are going to raise the funds internally by members of our church”.
According to him, the project will be done in phases, and five billion Naira has been earmarked for the first phase.
“The centenary city will have rehabilitation and youth development centre, convention ground, rehabilitation centre, women empowerment centre, low income housing estate among other things”, he said.
While commending philanthropist who have keyed into the project, the bishop revealed that the Rtd. General T. Y. Danjuma is the Grand Patron of the celebration.
He also revealed that the diocese was inaugurated in 1919 as the first Anglican Diocese in Nigeria and has given birth to 161 dioceses.
He called on Nigerians to make wise decisions during the forthcoming general elections by voting in credible leaders that would move Nigeria forward.
“We have embarked on sensitisation and mobilisation efforts toward educating our members on their rights and the right attitude and procedures to adopt.
“We as clerics are fathers of all, as such we are not to endorse anybody, we pray that the forthcoming election in Nigeria will be peaceful and credible leaders will be elected,’’ he said.
