[ACNS, by staff writer] The Bishop of Gombe, Archbishop Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, has been elected as the next Primate of the Anglican Church in Nigeria. The Primate-elect is currently Archbishop of the internal province of Jos. When he is installed in March 2020, to succeed Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, he will become the fifth Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

Archbishop Henry was elected this week by the Episcopal Synod during the province’s Standing Committee at its meeting in St Peter’s Cathedral in Asaba.

The House of Bishops elected the Bishop of Isiala Ngwa South, Isaac Chijioke Nwaobia, to serve also as Archbishop of the Aba internal province; and the Bishop of Ekiti, Christopher Omotunde, to serve as Archbishop of the Ondo internal province.

Archbishop Henry was born in September 1959 in Anambra state. He was ordained in 1989. Ten years later he was consecrated to serve as a pioneer bishop in what was to become the new Diocese of Gombe – then the 71^st diocese of the Church of Nigeria. Today the Church has 159 dioceses in 14 internal provinces.

In addition to his role as Bishop of Gombe and Archbishop of Jos, the Primate-elect chairs the Church of Church of Nigeria’s Liturgy and Spirituality Committee.

Anglican Cable Network Nigeria (ACNNTV), the television station of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, described Archbishop Henry as “a sound biblical scholar, teacher, master liturgist, pastor and an accomplished evangelist.” They added: “He loves the Lord Jesus Christ and has a great heart for the Word of God and also a prolific writer.”