PRESS STATEMENT
Buhari hails the appointment
of Dorgu as the 13th Bishop of Woolwich
President Muhammadu Buhari has described the appointment of a Nigerian, Mr Woyin Karowei Dorgu as the 13th Bishop of
Woolwich, by the church of England as gladdening and reassuring.
This is contained in a
congratulatory message sent on his behalf by the Senior Special Assistant on
Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa to the new Bishop.
The letter reads: "Your appointment is
gladdening and reassuring being the first black man to be so appointed in 20
years.
"This is an attestation
to the fact that Nigerians in the diaspora are excelling in their various
fields of human endeavours, thus projecting a good image for the country
abroad." President Buhari said in the
letter.
The President hoped and
prayed that Dorgu's appointment as a Bishop will serve as a catalyst for others
in the region as well as enhance Nigeria's spiritual rejuvenation.
"You have worked really
hard and earned the respect of the Church of England to be so appointed. With
you on this, we are sure you will continue to contribute your quota to the
success of the Church.", he added.
The SSA expressed the
willingness of President Muhammadu Buhari to receive Dorgu in Nigeria and
rejoice with his unique feat which has made Nigeria proud of him.
Mr. Dorgu will be consecrated
at Southwark Cathedral on March 17, 2017.
Born and raised in Nigeria,
Dorgu was trained as a medical doctor in Lagos before being ordained in the UK.
He has since served as a minister in various London parishes.
Dorgu said he hopes to
embrace the diversity of Woolwich, which hosts a significant Nigerian
expatriate community, and to encourage more ethnic minorities to participate in
the ministry, which is predominantly white.
Out of the 15 percent of the
general population engaged in the process of becoming ordained, ethnic
minorities of blacks represented only 1.9 percent.
It is believed that quite a
lot of Nigerian Christians [in the Woolwich area] are from an Anglican
background.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa
Senior Special Assistant to
the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.
