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NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL NOUVELLES EN FRANÇAIS FEATURES ARCHIVES STAFF PRESS ROOM
Griswolds visit Nigeria, world's largest Anglican
province
By Emmanuel Adekola
2002-021
Wednesday, January 23, 2002
[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold arrived in Nigeria
January 14, on a visit that will take him to all three provinces of the Church of Nigeria,
the largest in the Anglican Communion.
Accompanied by his wife, Phoebe, and four aides, Griswold was met on arrival at Murtala
Muhammed International Airport in Lagos by a team of dignitaries headed by Archbishop
Ephraim A. Ademowo of the Church of Nigeria's Province I, which has 31 dioceses.
Griswold is expected to lead the annual Episcopal Retreat at the IBRU Center, Agbarha-Otor
towards the end of his stay in the country.
On Wednesday, January 16, the Griswold party visited the capital city of Abuja, where a
welcome team led by Bishop Tanimu Aduda of the Diocese of Gwagwalada drove in a convoy
into the city. The Most Rev. Peter Akinola, Primate of All Nigeria, was waiting to receive them
into Episcopal House, his official residence. A brief service of thanksgiving for safe arrival was
held in the chapel.
Dialogue rather than violence encouraged
The next day, the American team visited the city of Bida, where the presiding bishop
commended the Etsu Nupe--the Muslim traditional ruler of the kingdom of Nupe--Alhaji Umaru
Sanda Ndayako, for his wisdom in playing a moderate role between the Muslim and Christian
population.
The ruler informed Griswold of the sadness of his subjects over the September 11 attack
against the US, and said he wondered how such evil could be perpetuated in the name of
religion. He stressed that his townspeople have always lived in peaceful co-existence with their
neighbors and pledged the total commitment of his people to resolving issues of dispute
among them through dialogue rather than to resort to violence, as in some other parts of
northern Nigeria.
Griswold later visited the community of Doko, where he encouraged Christians in their struggle
to maintain their identity in a predominantly Muslim society. Doko, which has a history of
persevering faith in the face of stiff persecution, stands today as a bastion of Christianity in
Nupeland.
Griswold rounded off his visit to Bida by laying the foundation stone of a 10-room guest house
to be built by the diocese.
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_20626_ENG_HTM.htm (1 of 2) [8/17/2006 10:33:31 PM]
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