BRIEF ABOUT LOKOJA DIOCESE

Christianity came to Lokoja through the explorers in the 1857 expedition under the leadership of Dr. Baike, with Samuel Ajayi Crowther in the team. By September 1858, a mission station had been established in Gbobe, east of the Niger- Benue Confluence. There the first baptism of 8 adult and 1 infant was done by Rev Samuel Ajay Crowther in September 14, 1862. A tussle between two heirs to the throne of Gbobe destroyed much of what had been established by Ajayi Crowther. The mission station had to be moved to Lokoja in 1865 where the pupils transferred from Gbobe School became the first pupils of the new school in Lokoja. Located on the premises of the Holy trinity Church that later became the Cathedral, it is the first school providing western education in the entire Northern Nigeria.

After many years of being part of Ondo-Benin and Kwara Dioceses, the Diocese of Lokoja was inaugurated as an autonomous diocese on October 18, 1994 (St. Luke the Evangelist’s day) with Rt. Rev. George Bako, OON, as the pioneer Bishop. He and his wife, Mrs Adejumoke Bako, shepherd the diocese for ten years during which the historic missionary landmarks were resurrected, including the extension of the existing building  into modern style Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. On November 30, 2004 (St. Andrew day), the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel A.S. Egbunu was enthroned as the second Bishop of the Diocese of Lokoja and with his wife Abiodun commenced their ministry following their translation from the Diocese of Abuja Diocese where he had been suffragan Bishop.

As at 2004, Lokoja Diocese, composed of all the Anglican Churches in Lokoja metropolis, Bassa land, and Bassa Komu (East of the Niger), Igala land, Oworo land, Ajaokuta, Ebira land,  Ogorimagongo land, Ijumu land, Ebira and Gbagi areas (Koton Karfe, Chikara), etc. In the spirit of evangelism, four missionary dioceses have been carved out of Lokoja diocese, namely:  Idah (2005), Ijumu (2008), Okene (2008), and Ogorimagongo (2009). The development no doubt came with its own challenges however, the administrative prowess of the incumbent, Most Rev Emmanuel A.S. Egbunu, PhD, the challenges were sumounted. The Diocese of Lokoja presently has 12 Archdeaconries. The Archdeaconries are: Cathedral, Lokoja, Bassa, Ajaokuta, Lokoja Central, Lokoja Southwest, Bassa East, Kogi (Missionary), Ecewu (missionary), Oworo (missionary), Adankolo (Missionary) and Zango missionary Archdeaconries totaling with about 80 churches most of which are  located in rural areas.