Ikpeazu Mourns Bishop Iwuagwu, Recollect Role Anglican Cleric Played In Translating Bible To Igbo Language

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has expressed sadness over the death of the second Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Aba – Rt Rev ( Prof) Augustine Onyeyirichukwu Iwuagwu, describing it as a collosal loss to Christendom.

Governor Ikpeazu who stated this while speaking at the Commendation Service and Colloquium held in honour of the late Bishop at St Michael’s Cathedral Aba, explained that the sacrificial role the late Bishop Iwuagwu played in translating the Bible to Igbo Language was impactful and a relief to the Igbo Christians.

The governor expressed regretted that the vacuum created by the passage of Rev. Iwuagwu, praying God to give the entire Christendom a worthy replacement.

In a release on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, the Governor noted with gratitude the fact that the Late Bishop Iwuagwu was in charge of the old Aba Diocese which covered the entire Abia State and which is now the Aba Ecclesiastical Province with 9 Dioceses.

According to Governor Ikpeazu, the late Bishop Iwuagwu throughout his episcopal sojourn kept his faith, fought the good fight and now awaits for his crown, urged the bereaved family, the Anglican Church and Christians at large to be consoled by the legacies he left behind, the release added.

Preaching on the topic “I am what I am by the Grace of God”, the Anglican Bishop Anglican of Aba – Rt Rev Chiodoadighi Ugwuzor highlighted the Spiritual, Human and Infrastructural development the late Bishop Iwuagwu bequeathed to the church and attributed them to the Grace of God upon his life.

Bishop Ugwuzor described the deceased as an Evangelist, healer and one that believes in the efficacy of prayers whose encounter with God recreated him and enabled him to serve God and humanity in total humility.

Presenting a Colloquium on the late Bishop, the Venerable Dr. Cardinal Ihejirika said as a University Don, Revivalist, Healer, Missioner, Manpower Developer and Astute Theologian, the coming of Late Bishop Iwuagwu to Old Aba Diocese as their second Bishop gave birth to Ukwa and Umuahia Dioceses, empowered many priests into getting higher education alongside building of physical infrastructure and encouraged Christians to emulate his selfless services.

The Commendation service which attracted Archbishop Emeritus of Aba Province and successor to Bishop Iwuagwu as Bishop of Aba, Most Rev Dr Ugochukwu Ezuoke, Anglican Bishops of Aba Ngwa North, Isialangwa and Mbaise Dioceses, representative of Bishop Augustine Echema of the Aba Catholic Church other clergy in their rank and file, Knights of the Church among other personalities featured special prayers for the repose of the soul of rg4 deceased Bishop, the family, the Anglican Church and the entire Christian community.

The late Professor Iwuagwu will be buried on Friday, 27th January, 2022 after a funeral service at St Philip’s Anglican Church, Umunkwo, Isi Mbano Diocese in Imo State.