12YEARS OF HIS EPISCOPACY, HOW BISHOP AKIN ATERE BUILD, BEAUTIFY, DEVELOP AWORI DIOCESE

The second place of call immediately the Church Missionary Society(CMS) left Badagry was Ota around 1842. History says, initially, the people of Ota refused to welcome the CMS but because of what the Oracle had already told their progenitors that some visitors will visit the town and their visit will user in good tidings, reluctantly they allowed them to stay, Hence, they gave them a thick forest meant for rituals and other occultic activities to settled.


Not long after, the community rechristened the CMS settlement as "Ipate Oyinbo" literarily meaning, "An Abode of the White men", till date, St. James Cathedral is situated at Ipate Oyinbo. The white men was clever enough to quickly gained the heart of one of the indigenes who later served as their interpreter.

The missionaries established school, St. James CMS school as a means of educating the people.

The Church, St. James now Cathedral Church of St. James was established in 1842. The second storey building in Nigeria was built in that place, hence, the building became the emolument and a tourism place in the country.

Revd Thomas Birch Freeman of the Weslayan Mission and Revd Henry Townsend accompanied by Andrew Williams met in Badagry and celebrated Christmas together in December, 1842.

While Revd Hinderal came to Ota. After him, Revd. Morgan took over in 1852, Revd James White in 1855, and Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther in 1864. Revd Bukko Edward in 1880, and other African Catechists. Headmasters, and clergy, many great and hard working men of God had pastored St. James church till today.

The church, St. James was part of the Diocese of Lagos created in 1919, later part of the Diocese of Lagos West created in 1999. Awori Archdeaconry was created on 1st January 1987, consisting of three districts of Agege, Ikeja and Ota with it's seat at Bola Memorial Anglican Church, Abule Onigbagbo, Ikeja.

Under the Awori Archdeaconry, All Saints Church, Igbesa, and St. James Church, Ota along with other churches were grouped into the Ota District Church Council. Later, the Archdeaconries in Lagos Diocese were reorganized. The residual of the Awori Archdeaconry was renamed Agege Archdeaconry.

In November 2000, the new Awori Archdeaconry was created by the Rt. Revd. Dr. P. A Adebiyi, the retired bishop of Lagos West Diocese.

For the course of evangelism, the then retired primate of the Church of Nigeria, Most Revd. Dr. Peter Jasper Akinola wanted to created more dioceses and his plans was to make the early places of settlement of the missionaries the proposed diocese, thus, the need for the creation of Awori Missionary Diocese was borned.

The Awori Missionary Diocese was inaugurated on 29th of May 2008 by the Most Revd Dr. Peter Jasper Akinola with the enthronement of the Rt. Revd Dr Johnson Akin Atere as its first Bishop.

Bishop Akin Atere was consecrated as a bishop on 14th of May, 2008 at St. James (The Great) Cathedral, Oke-bola, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Today, May 14th 2020, marks the 12th Consecration anniversary of his Lordship, the Rt. Revd Dr J Akin Atere.

On his enthronement as the first bishop of Awori Missionary Diocese, Bishop Atere kicked the ball rolling. The thought of many was that Awori Missionary Diocese cannot survive based on her financial performance when the new diocese was among the Archdeaconries in Lagos West Diocese. That not enough, many are of the opinion that no new Anglican churches can be planted in the area.

Many priests that find themselves in the new Awori Missionary Diocese after inauguration quickly seek for greener pasture in some old dioceses. Many Bishops, as always quoted by Bishop Atere also believe that the diocese will soon died.

But alas, Bishop Akin Atere, a builder, transformer, reformer, Church planter, proof those critics wrong because he has facelifts the diocese.

The diocese that began with 7 priests few churches now have over 40 priests and 14 church workers. To the glory of God, Awori Diocese have over 50churches. A group of schools (Nursery, Basic and Secondary), a befitting Bishop's Court and office complex.

Awori Diocese to the glory of God has become one of enviable dioceses in the Church of Nigeria.

One of the founding fathers of the Diocese, Oba Samuel Ojugbele, the Onilogbo of Ilogbo was once said that "Bishop Atere has beat his thinking because the Oba think the Bishop will still be living in a rented apartment but Bishop Atere's doggedness, steadfastness and sincere commitment to God's work proof him wrong as the Diocese has a befitting House before the diocese clocks 10years".

Bishop Atere is a true son and servant of God who does not allow the things of the world to take him away from God's work. There are cases of many bishops that always siphoned the fund of the Diocese. Bishop Atere was not part of such Bishops rather he will go out to source for funds in order for the works of God to move forward in the diocese.

The interesting part of him is that, while many bishops travels out of the country for their vacation or leave at the expense of their dioceses, this oracle of God will rather go to his village or somewhere in the state many a times he will only stayed indoor in his court for his vacation.

As his Media Adviser, I was once forced to ask why his lordship has not been following the footsteps of his other bishops, his response was astonished, Bishop Atere said, that such money could be used to plant churches or develop the existing churches, what a true servant of God.

Bishop Atere has never for once show any sign of "Bossy" to his workers. He is so down to earth to the extent of attending the naming ceremony of any of his workers that gave birth.

He is an embodiment of humility, a fearless preacher, an Old Testament Scholar, Teacher of many teachers.

The development of Awori Diocese is together with the support of his amiable, a humble woman to a fault who also gives her all to the works of God. Mrs. Foluso Atere, with the meager resources available at her disposal, Mrs Atere built a gigantic women Centre on acres of land. The Centre comprises, a Clinic, School, Chapel, a big hall, Playing Field etc.

She is a shoulder that my father, benefactor, visioner and missioner rest on.

One of his priests, Revd Wale Ogunleye has this to say about him, "TO A REAR GEM IN THE EPISCOPACY"

I was not there then but I have heard and seen and I can say boldly that The Rt.  Revd  Dr. Johnson Akinwamide Atere is indeed a gift to the Diocese of Awori and to the Episcopacy In the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. You raised the Diocese of Awori from almost nothing to this enviable height. May God continue to refresh you and continue to add substance to your ministry. Am old enough in the Diocese to know  and say you are good,  a father and Bishop per excellence. Happy Anniversary my lord.

Another priest, Revd Oluwafunmi James also write this about this erudite and great man of God, "Bishop J.Akin Atere is my teacher and father, is an encourager, a focus man of God with prudence. A team player, a builder, an evangelist. Congratulations on your 12th year anniversary to the Episcopacy"

The Rt. Revd. Johnson Akinwamide Atere, Bishop of the Diocese of Awori (Anglican Communion) was born on February 15, 1956 at Ikese-Oka in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State to Mr. Zaacheus Omoteso Atere, an astitute businessman and Mrs. Florence Olufunke Atere, a petty trader.

Akin Atere’s destiny as a worker in God’s vineyard manifested early inwrong  while at St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Oka Akoko, which he attended from 1962 to 1968. While there, he was always one of the students to lead morning devotion, a training he got from his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Rachael Awawu Aiyewunmi, a devout Christian, whose care the young Atere was from age three. Also at home, he had started leading the family devotion either in the morning or evening from when he was eight years old. This priviledge was also enjoyed by the young Akin at age twelve in 1968 when, for the first time, the Vicar of St. John’s Anglican Church, Oka, Akoko , Ven. C. O. Aiyejoto allowed him to conduct and preach during the early morning devotion of the Church, a rare opportunity which today remains the first memorable day in his life while the second was Sunday, October 21, 1969 when he was opportuned to preach, also for the first time, to the whole congregation of St. John’s Church, Oka-Akoko, Ondo State.

Having finished his primary education in 1968 in flying colours, Akin proceeded to the then Local Government Modern School, Oka Akoko, Ondo State between 1971 and 1973 for his modern school education, courtesy of his uncle, Chief Titus Kayode Aiyewunmi, an undergraduate at the University of Ibadan who later secured Government Scholarship.

After his modern school education Akin proceeded to St. John/Mary’s Teachers’ Training College, Owo, Ondo State between 1975 and 1978 and obtained his Grade II Leaving Certificate, courtesy of the 1974 Federal Government Free Teachers’ Training programme. Prior to his enrolment for the teachers’ training proramme, Akin had ventured into sales of patient medicine for about four years.

For his exemplary performance in the modern school final year examination, Akin decided to enroll for both WAEC and GCE in 1980 as an external candidate and passed all his papers in flying colours, having studied hard for two years before writing the examinations. For his possession of Grade II teaching certificate, he was later offered a teaching appointment at St. Peter’s Anglican Primary School, Ifira- Akoko, Ondo State. Interestingly, his teaching career, which spanned six years, took him to Ebenezer African primary School, Oka, St. John’s Anglican Primary School Oka, and Aiyegunle High School, Aiyeguinle Oka in Ondo State.

In 1985, destiny’s itchy fingers took him out of the teaching profession and miraculously got his now admitted into Immanuel College of Theology, an opportunity he had on several occasions denied as he was in no way interested in becoming a Priest. Each time there was to be selection conference into the seminary, Akin had the pachent for running away or travelling to far places to avoid his Vicar, then Ven. C. O. Aiyejoto, and his grandmother who wanted one of her sons or grandsons to be a priest. Meanwhile, history had it that when he was born, he had a sign similar to a Deacon having a diagonal stole and this made his grandmother to conclude then that he would certainly become a priest.

Akin Atere’s call into the ministry was similar to that of Paul the Apostle because inspite of his thought to be rejected an offer of admission into Immanuel College of Theology when he intentionally got his admission form submitted late, he was allowed to write all the examinations and eventually offered an admission into the college. He thereafter graduated from the College in 1987

After his graduation from Immanuel College of Theology, Akin Atere was posted to Lagos Diocese and made Deacon on June 24, 1987. Today, the Almighty has made him to rise to become a Bishop in the Anglican Communion where he once held sway as Vicar, Archdeaconry Secretary, lecturer in the Seminary, Chapel Chaplain, Canon, Archdeacon, among others.

He had served in various sections of the Anglican Communion, including being a Vicar at St. John’s Anglican Church, Ikoga-Zebbe (his first station), where he spent about six years, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Isaga, Lagos (1990-1994), Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Ilasamaja, Mushin (1994-1997), St. Timothy’s Anglican Church, Sango Ota, Ogun State (1997-1998), St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Ipaja (1998-1999), Bishop Adelakun Howels Memorial Church (BAHM), Surulere (1999-2002) and as a Senior lecturer, Archbishop Vining College of Theology (2002-2008).

He also had additional responsibilities as Secretary to Agege Archdeaconry, Secretary to Ebute-Metta Archdeaconry, Lecturer at Lagos Diocesan Seminary, Director of Youth Directorate in the Diocese of Lagos, Assistant Registrar, Lagos Diocesan Annual Clergy School, among others. An academic of note, apart from being the Academic Secretary at Lagos Diocesan Seminary, he was also an Old testament lecturer. He was also at a time a senior lecturer at Archbishop Vining College of Theology.

For his love for media evangelism, between 1999 and 2002, Very Revd. Yinka Omololu (the retired Provost of Christ Cathedral, Lagos) and then Ven. Akin Atere ran a Christian religious programme on Radio Nigeria FM, Ikoyi, and was also one of the leading speakers at the Lenten and Advent talk on Positive FM 102.5 Akure for three years.

Atere, who holds a Diploma in Theology from Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan (1984), B. A. (Hons) in Christian Religions Studies from Lagos State University (1991), M. A. in Religious Studies from the University of Ibadan (1994) and Ph.D. in Christian Studies (Old Testament) from Lagos State University (2010) got Deaconed on June 24, 1987, priested on June 26, 1988, preferred Canon in 1999, Archdeacon in 2002 and was elected Bishop of Awori, Diocese and consecrated on May 14, 2008 at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Great, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State. He was enthroned the Bishop of the Diocese of Awori on May 29, 2008.



He got married to former Miss Foluso Olukemi Oyunyemi on October 1, 1988 at the Cathedral Church of St. Stephen, Ikare Akoko, Ondo State and the marriage had been blessed with wonderful and God fearing children.

For Bishop Atere, he has cause to thank God for what He is doing through him in the Diocese of Awori as many achievements have been recorded in the area of Church planting, evangelism, establishment of a Bible School, the take-off of a secondary school, acquisition of a magnificent building as the Bishop’s court, purchase of parcel of land in different towns and villages for church building projects, among others.

THE RT. REVD. JOHNSON AKINWAMIDE ATERE, Ph.D (Old Testament)

Date of Consecration: May 14, 2008

Date of Enthronement: May 29, 2008.

My Lord, my father, my benefactor, on behalf of all the laity and clergy of Awori Diocese, we celebrate you on your 12th Consecration Anniversary. We salute your resolute, doggedness, selfless service towards the growth of God's work in Awori land and its environment. Great man like you my Lord is rare to come by, you have give all to God and humanity.

It is our prayers that my Lord and mama will finish well and strong. More oil to your lamp, more strength and power to forge ahead.

Congratulations to a Reformer, Church Planter, Great Evangelist, Church Father and Administrator on your 12Consecration Anniversary.

Oladele Damilola Moses
Diocesan Assistant Communicator