Arrangements have been concluded by the Methodist Church of Nigeria, to install His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Barr. Otuekong Ukut Ph.D, as pioneer Bishop of Atamunu Diocese in Calabar, Cross River State, by the Archbishop, Archdiocese of Calabar, His Grace, Most Rev. (Amb.) Chimezuo Nwankpa.
The choice of Otuekong was informed by his meritorious services to the growth of the church.
Rt. Rev. Otuekong disclosed this to journalists on Monday in Calabar while unveiling the programme of activities lined up for the inauguration of Diocese of Atamunu Calabar, as part of the activities for the ceremony.
Otuekong, who is often called by friends and associates as Billionaire Bishop, stated that the ceremony would have three events intertwined in one event on same day with men and women of faith drawn from different denominations around the world to grace the mega event.
“The three events are intertwined. It’s the reason we called it Trinity Service which would showcase almost all the strides that we archived to reverence God Almighty,” he stated.
Giving an insight into the activities lined up for the ceremony, the clergyman stated, “The ceremony would kick-start with inauguration of the Diocese, enthronement of myself as pioneer Bishop of Atamunu Diocese, and presentation of the Lay President, Elder Dr. Gabriel Inyang, to the congregation same day being May 7, 2023.”
Other activities lined up for the ceremony by the Methodist Cathedral Atamunu Diocese, include commissioning of multi-million naira projects including the Bishop’s office, Favour Shopping Complex and others.
He enumerated other projects to be commissioned also to include a school block at 97 Atamunu street, at the permanent site of the Susan Away Secondary School and laying of foundation stone for the Bishop’s Court still undergoing construction.
The cleric said that the entourage will pay a courtesy call to the treaty king of Efik kingdom, the Obong of Calabar, as part of activities to mark the Sunday event, with the whole council in attendance during the courtesy visit.
“And on Sunday morning, May 7, 2023, the inauguration will take place and my humble self will be enthroned as the pioneer Bishop of the Diocese of Atamunu on that same Sunday.
“And I will in turn present the lay president, Elder Dr. Gabriel Inyang, and in the evening there will be a prelate party, which will be hosted by the new bishop myself, the Rt. Rev. Barr. Otuekong Ukut Ph.D will host the prelate and his entourage at the cathedral ground.
“That outlook is to formalise what the Methodist conference did on August 14 and 15, 2022 where I was selected the pioneer Bishop of Diocese of Atamunu and the Diocese was created out of the Calabar Diocese. By the grace of God, Cross River State now has three Dioceses, the Diocese of Calabar, the Diocese of Atamunu, and the Diocese of Ikom,” he added.
Expected at the ceremony is the Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Dr. Oliver Ali Aba, JP including his entourage and secretary of Conference, Rt. Rev. Babatunde Taiwo, Rev. Inyang Effiong and entourage.
Others include immediate-past Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu and wife, among others.
