Fape Elected Anglican Archbishop Of Lagos Province To Replace Late Olumakaiye

Most Reverend Michael Fape

The Most Reverend Michael Fape has been elected by the House of Bishops of the Anglican Communion as the Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of  Lagos.

According to churchtimenigeria.net, his election is coming seven months after the former Archbishop of the Province, The Most Rev Humphrey Olumakaiye passed on.

Fape’s election was done on Tuesday, June 6 after an Episcopal Synod of the church held at the Basilica of Grace Anglican Church, Abuja

It would be recalled that Archbishop Fape had served one term (2016-2021)  as Archbishop before Olumakaiye was elected in 2021.

Other people elected

Also elected are a new Dean for the church, one other archbishop, and four Bishops.

The Dean-Elect is The Most Revd Blessing Enyindah. Venerable Collins Babalola was elected Bishop for Ajayi Crowther Diocese, Venerable Festus Nwafili for Ndokwa Diocese, and Venerable Ebenezer Saika for Akoko Edo Diocese.

For the Diocese of Lagos where the late Olumakaiye was also Bishop, The Ven Venerable Ifedola Okupevi was elected to replace him while the Rt. Rev’d Timothy Yahaya was elected as Archbishop for Kaduna Province.

Primate’s charge

The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Rev. Dr. Henry Ndukuba announced the newly elected persons in a statement signed by the Church’s communication officer, Korede Akintunde

He called on members of the church to support the newly elected Bishops and Archbishops with their prayers, as they go into their new places of assignment.

Archbishop Ndukuba said the processes of confirmation, training, enthronements of the newly elected Bishops, and presentation of the Dean and Archbishops would follow in due time.

The training of the new Bishops according to him will take place in July and they would be consecrated in August.

Diocese of Lagos

Before now, those who occupied the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Lagos were serving bishops translated from other dioceses of the church.

But the death of Olumakaiye and undue interest in the diocese by Bishops from other dioceses in the communion made the primate place a three-year ban on the translation of Bishops from one diocese to the other

That paved way for the appointment of  The Ven Venerable Ifedola Okupevi, a Lagos indigene as the new Bishop for the diocese

Before his election, Okupevi was the Vicar of Our Saviour Church, Tafawa Balewa Square