Nnewi is predominantly a Christian Community, dominated by the Roman Catholic and Anglican Communion. Both denomination shares a great number of adherents, leaving the Pentecostal churches with the remaining few.
Although there is no statistics to back up this claim, many believe that Nnewi is slightly dominated by the Anglican Church, followed very closely by the Catholic Church. This is because the history of the advent of Christianity in Nnewi began with the arrival of a group of Christians from Obosi through Oraifite in 1893, under the auspices of Church Missionary Society (CMS).
Their first mission contact was in Obi of Uruagu, but could not stay because of a raging inter-community clashes between Uruagu on one hand and Otolo and Nnewichi on the other. They later returned in October, 1902, back to Obi Uruagu, and became the spreading point of Christianity to all parts of Nnewi. Two land donations were made to the CMS for the establishment of churches in 1907; the first parcel of land was at Uzo-Udo, where the mother church of all the churches in Nnewi, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Uruagu Nnewi, was built.
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Today, Christianity has spread across communities in Nnewi, there is no corner where you won’t see a worship center. In no particular order, based on research and data available, the following are arguably the top ten (10) most Powerful and Influential Men of God in Nnewi, they are;
1. Bishop Ndubuisi Obi –
His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Chukwuka Obi is the Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Nnewi. He was elected as the New Anglican Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, on 21st August, 2019. He was consecrated as Bishop on 24th September, 2019.
Bishop Ndubisi Obi hails from Okpuno, Nnewichi Nnewi, and is the 2nd son of a retired Anglican Priest, Rev. Canon Abel Okwuchukwu Obi.
He is a great teacher of the word (Bible Expositor), and a regular crusade speaker. As the head of Anglican Church in Nnewi, he has great influence on Nnewi Community, due to the powerful seat he occupies.
To explain how Influential the Bishop is in Nnewi, he was instrumental to the recent resolution of the conflict that almost divided Nnewi. He led the mediation efforts to find a solution to the crisis between Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi. Most powerful stakeholders in Nnewi, listen to him.
2. Most. Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye –
His Grace, Most. Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye is the Roman Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese. He replaced Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Paul Odilinyechukwu, on February 10th, 2021.
Bishop Jonas Benson hails from Adazi-Nnukwu. He was born in the city of Kaduna, and is the second son and the fifth child in a family of eight children.
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As the head of the Catholic Church in Nnewi, he wields a lot of influence and is widely respected in the town. Before he emerged as the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, he was the Auxiliary Bishop of Awka Diocese.
He is widely respected in Anambra State. Although many don’t know this, he is very influential in Anambra State.
3. Venerable Dr. Stanley Nzubechukwu Awuzie –
Ven. Dr. Stanley Awuzie is arguably the most popular powerful man of God in Nnewi. He has maintained this spot in the last twenty-five (25) years. He is the oldest serving priest of the Anglican Diocese of Nnewi.
He came to limelight when he became the Archdeacon of Diocesan Church Center (DCC), St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Nkwo Nnewi. His Tuesday prayer session was massive, as spectacular testimonies were always recorded in each meeting. He is into healing, land liberation, and deliverance ministry.
Through the grace of God in him, the lame have walked, the blind have seen, the deaf have heard and all manners of extraordinary miracles witnessed. He commands a large population of worshippers who admire his emphasis on righteousness. He hosts one of the biggest crusade in Nnewi tagged ‘Enthronement’
Although his popularity has dwindled, due to his age, inability to invest in media and publicity, and also the twelve (12) years he spent on transfer to Ozubulu, the Grace of God in his life remains inextinguishable.
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He is currently the Vicar and Archdeacon of the oldest Christian Church in Nnewi, Cathedral Church of St. Mary’s, Uruagu Nnewi, and he is expected to retire soon. Despite his age, he still holds prayer sessions daily at the Cathedral. Currently, he is known for his deep and uncompromising teachings on holiness.
4. Venerable Dr. Chiadikaobi Levi Emmanuel –
Ven. Emmanuel Chiadikaobi is a Priest of Anglican Diocese of Nnewi and Spiritual Director of Jesus Healing School Ministry.
He hails from Enugu State, and is married to Mrs Ifeyinwa Chiadikaobi. He is the current Vicar and Archdeacon of the popular Nnewi Diocesan Church Center (DCC), St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Nkwo Nnewi.
He came to limelight in 2010, when he was at Cathedral Church of St. Mary’s Uruagu, Nnewi, when he started televising his ministerial exploits in local and cable TV networks. Then, Jesus Healing School, was the biggest Christian Programme in Nnewi, due to the number of people who attend from different parts of Nigeria.
Ven. Chiadikaobi is into healing, teaching, and deliverance ministry. His Wednesday Programmes have recorded great testimonies of spectacular miracles.
His transfer to St. Andrews Anglican Church, Ukpor, in 2014, stunted the growth of his ministry in numerical strength, however, his transfer back to Nnewi in 2021, has helped him regain his status.
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Ven. Chiadikaobi is also the host of many programmes like, Open Cheque, Hi Honey, Apple Day, Celebration of Twins, Open Heaven, Bethesda Experience, From Chaff To Chief, and many more.
5. Rev. Fr. Don. Chidolue –
Rev. Fr. Don. Chidolue is a Catholic Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi. He is the current Parish Priest of St. John The Cross Catholic Church, Egbo, Uruagu Nnewi. He is the Spiritual Director of Gethsemane Nazareth Camp Adoration.
He is currently the most popular Roman Catholic priest in Nnewi. He is known for land liberation and family deliverance. A lot of testimonies have been recorded in his ministry.
Just like Venerable Awuzie, his inability to invest in media, especially social media has not helped his popularity, especially among Generation Z.
6. Venerable Arinze John Anene –
He is one of the popular priests of Anglican Diocese of Nnewi. He is the son of Rev. Daniel Anene. Currently, he is the Vicar of St. Mark’s Anglican Church, Nnewichi, and Archdeacon of Nnewichi Archdeaconry.
He hails from Umuokpu-Awka and married to Dr. Precious Anene. He host a popular programme in Nnewi tagged “Hour of Freedom” every Monday, which has lots of attendance and is filled with lots of miracles and testimonies.
He is known as a good bible teacher and has also leveraged the power of social media, radio, and television. He is also the host of the popular SINGLES MINGLE Youth outreach.
As it stands, he is the one of the men of God in Nnewi that pulls large crowd weekly and this is evident in the number of attendance in his Hour of Freedom Programme and Sunday Services. He also host a popular programme called Honeymoon Reloaded.
7. Pastor JP Ndukwe
Pastor JP Ndukwe is the Senior Pastor of House On The Rock, Nnewi. He hails from Udi in Enugu State.
He built House On The Rock in Nnewi from scratch. Today, the church attracts seasoned and intellectually mobile youths in Nnewi. To be specific, if you want to meet young people in Nnewi, who are very seasoned in what they do, House On The Rock is a place to be.
He is a man who fought through life and laboured over the years without quitting. His Sunday Services is always well attended with a large percentage of youths. The church has concluded plans to move to the permanent site, due to the huge population in membership.
8. Prophet Barr. Ejike Nwachukwu –
Prophet Barr. Ejike Arthur Nwachukwu, is the Senior Pastor of Rhema Deliverance Mission Nnewi. He hails from Umunya.
He is the son of Late Bishop Dr. Arthur Nwachukwu. During the administration of the Former Governor of Anambra State, Chief Dr. Willie Obiano, he was his Special Adviser on Religious Matters.
In 2017 Anambra State Governorship election, he coordinated all Pentecostal members in the state and ensured that they all voted for Governor Obiano.
Although, it appears he has interest in politics, Prophet Barr. Ejike Arthur Nwachukwu remains one the prominent Pentecostal ministers in Nnewi, specifically known for prophecy. He is one of the few Pentecostal pastors in Nnewi that is succeeding.
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To his credit, he has built a gigantic church building, which many Pentecostal pastors in Nnewi are finding difficult to build.
9. Rev. Fr. Ilechukwu Thaddeus C.
Rev. Fr. Ilechukwu Thaddeus C. (JP) popularly known as Fr. Egwu Umummuo is a Priest of Roman Catholic Church of Diocese of Nnewi. He is the Spiritual Director of Jesus and Mary Adoration Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Nnewi.
He hails from Ihiala and currently the Parish Priest of St. Monica Parish Umudim Nnewi. His Ministry which holds every Thursday attracts large number of people who come to seek solutions to their problems. It has recorded great miracles.
He became popular when he trended on social media when he disguised himself as a mad person and a beggar in his parish and the overwhelming majority of the parishioners rejected and ridiculed him. Not knowing who he was, some pushed him away while others flogged him. He said that among the prayer warriors, only one of them placed his hand on his head and prayed for him while others walked away without showing any interest. He berated his parishioners for their hypocrisy.
10. Apostle Edu Jedidiah Udechukwu –
Apostle Edu Udechukwu is the youngest on the list. He is a native of Nnewi in Anambra State and currently the General overseer and lead pastor of the Revival Hub International, which has its headquarters in Nnewi.
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His ministry holds her weekly programme every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. He was mentored by the popular Apostle Arome Osayi who has also mentored people like Apostle Mike Orokpo and Minister Theophilus Sunday.
Apostle Edu is one of the men of God that is making waves in Nnewi, especially among the young people. He has a strong social media presence, better than any man of God in Nnewi. He is happily married to Pastor Mrs Vera Udechukwu (Nee Obi).
He is one man of God to watch in the next few years with the current waves he is making in Nnewi.
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