Bayelsa State Government has promised to provide land for the proposed Anglican university.
Governor Douye Diri made the pledge in response to a request by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, who led other bishops of the Diocese of Niger Delta West on a visit to the Government House in Yenagoa.
Describing Anglican schools as strong institutions that contributed in produc ing responsible members of the society, Diri said hosting an Anglican university would positively impact the state and the Niger Delta.
He said the state was eager to have its first private university and that the government would support such initiatives, as it would accord the people more access to education.
He urged the clergy to speak up against injustice in the country, saying Nigeria was in need of such voices due to the ills in the society.
Diri attributed the successes recorded under his administration to God and thanked the Anglican Primate for the visit.
He hailed the Bishop of the Diocese of the Niger Delta West for promoting the gospel.
According to him: “Your request for land for the proposed Anglican university is a good request. The government will provide the land. We will acquire it for you.
“I am doing this with the conscience that Bayelsa is a state that does not have one private university. So, we are very happy and prepared to host the Anglican university.
“The Anglican Church has over the years produced leaders of worth. It is a good thing that we have an Anglican institution domiciled in Bayelsa and we believe that it is going to impact the state and add value to the Niger Delta.
“Some of us are where we are today because of the upbringing we received in the Anglican schools we attended.
“Our country is going through difficult times. The Anglican Church in Nigeria needs a voice like South Africa’s late Desmond Tutu, who stood against injustice, against inequity in his country and the world. We have Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Church. The Anglican Church can equally stand up against inequity and inequality.”
Ndukuba said he was in the state to dedicate a Bishop’s Court Chapel and Diocesan Secretariat of the Diocese of Niger Delta West.
He said that the Anglican Church in Nigeria was self-governing and self-sustaining, and would continue to stand against heresies.
Ndukuba appreciated the governor for creating an enabling environment for the promotion of the Gospel of Christ in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Friday Konbowei Benson, has rallied support for the execution of the developmental projects of the Diri administration in Southern Ijaw Local Government.
Benson, who hosted stakeholders from the four wards in Southern Ijaw, including traditional rulers, to a dinner at his home in Yenagoa, sued for unity among the people.
He said the Diri administration had listened to the demands and cries of the people and was ready to bring development to their doorsteps, especially with the ongoing Yenagoa- Oporoma road.