Nicholas Okoh

Nicholas Dikeriehi Orogodo Okoh ( born November 10, 1952 in Owa - Alero, Delta, Nigeria) is a Nigerian theologian and soldier. He is Archbishop of Bendel, Bishop of Asaba and was elected in September 2009 as the fourth Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria.

Life

After completing primary school in 1964 Okoh worked for four years in the business of an uncle. In 1969 he joined during the Biafran war in the Nigerian army, where he ( after his ordination as a military chaplain ) performed different functions and it took until 1982 to lieutenant colonel, the rank he held also at its exit from the military in 2001.

During his time in the army he continued his education: After higher education degrees in 1974 and 1976 and thus the attainment of higher education he attended from 1976 to 1979 the Immanuel College of Theology in Ibadan and then graduated from the University of Ibadan in 1982 with a Bachelor of Theology and 1985 Master of Theology.

In 1979 he was ordained a deacon in 1980 and priest. In 1987 he was canon and archdeacon in 1991. In 1996 he married. He is now the father of five children.

He was elected Bishop of Asaba, capital of Delta State of Nigeria 2001. He was elected Archbishop of the Province of Bendel, 2005. In 2009 he was chosen after several rounds of voting, in which no candidate received the required two- thirds majority vote by secret ballot unanimously as successor of Peter Akinola. His office was in March 2010.

Positions

Okoh accompanied his predecessor Akinola to the Global Anglican Future Conference in Jerusalem in June 2008 and has called him with the Episcopal Church of the United States of America and the Anglican Church of Canada to reverse in terms of their attitude towards homosexuality. Influenced by his military career, expect the Lagos Guardian by him a continuation of tight conservatism of his predecessor.