Presentation 2 - Anglican Diocese of Enugu

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The Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Obiajulu Ike
(MBBS; MD; FMCP; FNCS; CLS; Dip.Th.; B.Th.)
3rd Bishop of Enugu (2024 – date)

Early Education

The Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel Obiajulu Ike was born in Funtua (in present day Katsina State), on 16th September, 1963, to the family of Late Pa Hezekiah and Late Ma Mercy Ike, of Enugwuabo-Ufuma, in Orumba North L.G.A. of Anambra State of Nigeria. He is the first son of his parents, with two younger brothers.

He started his primary school education at …………………..Ufuma…………….. and finished in 1976 at St. Paul’s Primary School Ngwo, in Udi L.G.A., of Enugu State of Nigeria. In January 1977, He surrendered his life to Christ at Federal Government College (FGC), Enugu, as a form 1 student. In 1978 he became the Overall Best Form 1 student in FGC Enugu, and was awarded a Federal Government Scholarship.

While in FGC Enugu, he was the:
• Treasurer/Bible Study Secretary – Students’ Christian Movement (SCM) (1978/79)
• School President – Science Club (1979/80)
• School Prefect/House Captain (1980/81
• Student Coordinator – Protestant Chapel Worship (1980/81)
He finished secondary school in June 1981 as the Best Graduating Student, having obtained the Overall Best WASC (West African School Certificate) Result with Aggregate 6 Distinction.

In September 1981 he gained admission into the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to study Medicine and Surgery. True to form, in 1982, he became the Best First Year Medical Student and received a National Merit Award and a Federal Government University Scholarship.

As a student in the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), he held several posts and some of them are:
• Editor – The Balm/Cardioscope Magazines (1982/83)
• Bible Study Secretary – Christian Union (1984/85)
• Vice-Chairman – Chapel Council, Chapel of Redemption (1984/85)
• Licensed a lay-reader, as a medical student (Oct. 1985) by late Bishop Gideon Nweke Otubelu
• President – Christian Union (1985/86)
• Zonal President – Nigeria Fellowship of Evangelical Students (NIFES), Nsukka Zone (1986/87)
He graduated in November 1987 with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree.

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)

After his housemanship in General Hospital Abakaliki (Dec. 1987 – Nov. 1988) he left for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

During his NYSC days, he was the:
• Medical Officer in-charge – Anglican Clinic and Maternity, Aiyedun, Kwara State (Dec. 1988 – Aug 1989).
• Clinic Coordinator – NYSC Clinic Ilorin Kwara State (Aug. 1989 – Nov 1989)
And at the end of the NYSC programme in 1989, he won the NYSC Kwara State Award for Best Youth Corper.

Medical Training

After his NYSC programme, he worked as a Medical Officer at several hospitals such as Ankuri Hospital Ilorin Kwara State, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, Anambra State, and The Tabitha Infirmary, Enugu, before embarking on his residency specialist training at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH) Enugu, where he later became the Chief Resident, Department of Medicine, (UNTH) Enugu (Oct. 1999 – Sept. 2001). He also became a Fellow of the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College in Internal Medicine (FMCP) in June 2001, and has been a Consultant Physician and Cardiologist from February 2002 till date.

He rose through the ranks in academic circles in the Unversity of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, as Lecturer 1 (2002), Senior Lecturer (2005), and became a Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine in October 2010. He delivered his Professoral Inaugural Lecture on 30th October, 2014 and while serving as Head, Department of Medicine (Aug. 2014 – July 2016).

He was the second Inaugural lecturer ever, from the Department of Medicine of the University of Nigeria, and aptly as a Cardiologist, the theme of his Inaugural Lecture was, “THE MATTER OF THE HEART.” In an audience of over 1,600 people (the highest to any similar event in the history of the University till date), and led by the Holy Spirit, he did what nobody had ever done before in any Inaugural Lecture, before his or after – he presented the Scriptures and led people to Christ.

He has been a member of the Senate of the University of Nigeria, since 2010. The Nigerian Cardiac Society awarded him a Foundation Fellowship (FNCS), in 2018, and he holds the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (2021).

Some Consultancy Services

• Honorary Physician and Consultant Cardiologist, Eastern Nigeria Medical Centre, Enugu (1995 – 2011)
• Visiting Physician, Peenok Medical Centre, Enugu (1998 – 1999)
• Attending Physician, Bethsaida Medical Centre, Enugu (1999 – 2003)
• Visiting Consultant Physician and Cardiologist, Good Shepherd Specialist Hospital, Enugu (2005 – date.)
• Pro bono Consulting Physician and Cardiologist, Enugu Diocesan Mission (Good Shepherd Specialist) Hospital (2005 – date.)
• Honorary Attending Consultant Physician and Cardiologist, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu (2006 – date.)

Publications and Conference Papers

• He has published over 85 articles in various peer-reviewed national and international journals, with numerous other general interest and religious publications.
• He has presented over 91 papers in conferences.
• He is a recipient of Emeritus Professor Nwokolo Prize for Academic Excellence – Highest Academic Honour in the College of Medicine UNEC.
• He was the Academic Staff Winner (2008)
• He won the Vice Chancellor’s Prize for best 10-published lecturers of the University of Nigeria (2016).

Some University Roles

• Member – Committee on Grants and Research Development (2003)
• Member – Staff Medical Board (2003 – 2005)
• Deputy Coordinator – Foreign Medical Graduates Remedial and Assessment Programme, of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (2004 – 2012)
• Member – Health Research Ethics Committee (2010 – date)
• Member – Senate of the University of Nigeria (2010 – date)
• Chairman – Faculty Counselling Committee (2018 – date)

The Anglican Church Journey

• Made a Deacon (2004) by Archbishop (then Rt. Rev.) Dr. E.O. Chukwuma.
• Attended Trinity Theological College, Umuahia (affiliated to University of Nigeria) and did a Sandwich programme, where he emerged the Best Graduating Student, with a Distinction Diploma of Theology (Dip.Th. Distinction) (Aug. 2004 – June 2006).
• Ordained a Priest (2006) by Archbishop (then Rt. Rev.) E.O. Chukwuma.
• Preferred a Statutory Canon of the Cathedral (2008) by Archbishop (then Rt. Rev.) E. O. Chukwuma.
• Collated an Archdeacon (2011) by the Most Rev. Prof. E.O. Chukwuma (OON).
• Attended Institute of Theology and Missions Enugu where he graduated with a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree in 2022.

As he started stepping into leadership roles in the Anglican Church, the desire to acquire more knowledge for better equiping kept burning in his heart. Therefore, from March – April 2013, he attended the Session 1304 of Haggai International Advanced Leadership Series in Maui, Hawaii (USA), and obtained a Certificate in Leadership Studies. He was the Best Graduating Participant and the Session Valedictorian. On his return, he with other Haggai Alumni played significant roles in the inauguration and recognition of Haggai Enugu Chapter (under Haggai Alumni Association of Nigeria), and he became the Pioneer Chapter Chairman from 2013 – 2016. He is currently, Board Member, Haggai Alumni Association of Nigeria.

As a deacon in 2004, he was posted to be in charge of the pastoral office of the newly inaugurated Chapel of His Resurrection, Parklane G.R.A., Enugu, which started at the basement of the School of Nursing auditorium, ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane (then Parklane Specialist Hospital), G.R.A., Enugu. Attendance at the inauguration service was from members of the existing chapels in the Hospital Chaplaincy as at then – the Chapel of Restoration, UNTH (old site) and St. Luke’s Chapel, National Orthopedic Hospital; the Parklane Specialist Hospital Community, other health workers as well as interested members of the public in the then larger Enugu Diocese (Anglican Communion). Rev. Canon Dr. Ernest Onwasigwe (then Diocesan Hospital Chaplain) conducted the service with ordinand Dr. Sam Ike, the designated resident pastor preaching the sermon. He was chaplain in-charge of Chapel of His Resurrection, ESUT Teaching Hospital, Parklane G.R.A., Enugu for 18 years (2004 – 2022).

Some roles in the Anglican Diocese of Enugu

• Secretary – Management Board, Good Shepherd Specialist Hospital, Enugu (2005-2011)
• Secretary – Diocesan Medical Board, Anglican Diocese of Enugu (2005-2011)
He assumed leadership of the Hospital Chaplaincy Archdeaconry (3 chapels in different hospitals in the diocese) as the Archdeacon in 2014.

While serving as Chaplain in-charge of the Chapel of His Resurrection, God used him and the congregation to embark on regular sustained weekend outreaches to Gospel-starved rural communities within Enugu state. These outreaches usually have incorporated in them evening crusades, salvation-focused film shows and/or playlets, daytime one-on-one witnessing and counselling sessions, prayer times and vigils, free medical consultations – laboratory tests, eye checks with free glasses, as well as social welfare – sharing donated clothing, shoes, handbags, books and sometimes, food items. These would culminate in the planting of new churches in these communities and nurturing and discipling the new converts – by posting a missionary/church teacher to them, and holding periodic consolidation weekend outreaches to them, as well as monthly visits by the Outreach unit of the Chapel at Enugu.

To the glory of God eight of these rural churches were planted, while seven of them were under his supervision as the Supervising Priest for between 1 to 2 years, respectively, from 2010. These are:
• Mount Olives Anglican Church, Amagu Ugbawka, (Feb. 2010 – Mar 24, 2012)
• Anglican Church Of Resurrection (ANCOR) Isiogbo Nara (Feb. 2011- Dec. 19, 2013)
• ANCOR, Imeama Nomeh (Nov. 17, 2013 – April 29, 2015)
• ANCOR, Ndiagu, Umuokwuo, Akegbe-Ugwu (May 17, 2015 – Oct 26, 2016)
• ANCOR, Amafor-Ihuokpara (Nov. 20, 2016 – May 9, 2018)
• ANCOR, Amechi Obuoffia (May 2018 – April 28, 2021)
• ANCOR, Ukwa, Agbani (Nov. 21, 2021 – Oct. 11, 2022)

Under his leadership church buildings were constructed in each of these communities, and vicarages built in 6 of them, to enhance their worship of God, with priests eventually posted to them, by the Diocesan authorities.

He also saw to the construction of 4 other church buildings, both at the Chapel of His Resurrection, Parklane (chapel building, children’s church buliding, and teens’ church building) and Chapel of Restoration, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (Old Site) Enugu, where he was transferred to in October 2022.

On Monday the 12th day of August 2024, he was elected the 3rd bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu, at the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion’s Episcopal Synod, at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church Maitama, in Abuja Diocese. He was consecrated on Wednesday, 18th day of September, 2024, during the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Standing Committee Meeting, held at St. Andrew’s Basilica Trans-Ekulu, Enugu (Nike Diocese), and enthroned same day at the Cathedral Church of the Good Shepherd, Enugu (Enugu Diocese).

Rt. Rev. Prof. Samuel O. Ike ascended the throne of the cathedral with a diocesan theme that resonated with and adopted by every church in the diocese for the year 2025 – WE ARE ON THE THRESHOLD OF REVIVAL (Psalm 85:6).

Since 1987, he has been a Retreat/Conference/Synod speaker and bible expositor across various denominations and fellowship groups, throughout the country, as well as at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) – organized DIVCCON. At various times he served as Sub-zonal President – NIFES Enugu Subzone; Council Member – EFAC Enugu Zone; Foundational Secretary – Scripture Union Supporters’ Forum (SUSF); and Regional Chairman – Scripture Union Enugu Region.

He is married to Dr. (Mrs) Ruby Nneka Ike, and their marriage is blessed with 3 children. His hobbies include ……………………………………………………..