It was a dream come true and the sustenance of the legacy of their fathers and founders of the St. Andrew's Anglican Church for the Fiyewei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, High Chief Dr. Godspower T.D.A. Gbenekama, JP, and the Chairman of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), Chief (Barr.) Bosin Ebikeme, as the duo, who were the major financiers of the church project, witnessed in excitement the dedication of the completed church building in Azama Federated Community, on Sunday, May 3, 2026.

The church building dedication was also marked with a Confirmation ceremony, both officiated by the Bishop of the Diocese of Western Ijaw, Rt. Rev. Victor Ebipade Okporu, JP.

According to Rev. Canon Zion Ukeje, the presiding minister of the St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Azama, many congregants were confirmed during the ceremony with the Bishop laying of hands on them for spiritual gift and spiritual empowerment.

"About nine persons were confirmed. Then, four girls were admitted into the Girls' Guild, while four young boys were admitted into the Gideon's Army," he stated in a chat with PENGlobal.

Speaking on the significance of the Confirmation ceremony, he said, "In the Anglican church, when you are confirmed, you become a matured Christian in the sense that you can now take Communion.

"Also, there are several offices within the church, that if not confirmed, you will not be assigned to handle. When confirmed, yiu are seen as a matured congregant of the Anglican faith," he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Ebikeme, who read the Deed of Dedication, along with High Chief Gbenekama, performed a Thanksgiving to God for the grace given to them to see to the completion of the church building project, as they expressed their joy at its dedication.

High Chief Gbenekama, whose passion has always been to build a House for God, stated that it was one of the happiest days in his life.

"It has been their desire to see the House of God stand in Azama because their fathers were the pioneer people that started the church," said Rev. Ukeje.

"Azama is the place Christianity started in the entire Gbaramatu Kingdom. Every church in Gbaramatu Kingdom came out from here. So the family of Gbenekama and Chief Bosin are the pioneer members, they are the founding fathers of that church," the minister confirmed.

Ministers that attended the church building dedication and Confirmation ceremony include Rev. Canon Michael Uwakwe, Rev. Peter Agbogidi, Rev. Bernard Oritsejolo, Bishop-Elect Rev. Francis Diawei, among ministers from other denominations who came to grace the fellowship.

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