Around 1958, a group of Anglican boys started gathering by the street corner in Onitsha. These boys were serving apprenticeship as traders. The action of the group was misunderstood by their masters who made sure the boys were suppressed. The group then fizzled out. By special grace of God in 1962 another group emerged, this time strengthened and determined to make it. They started with three (3) boys and later increased to seven (7) boys. They were led by Mr. Andrew Izuagba, a youth member from St. Andrew’s Anglican Church Odoakpu, now Basilica of St. Andrew’s Onitsha.
The pioneer members were Messrs Andrew Izuagba, Meshach Onyeaharam, Abel Udo, Edwin Amigo, Jonathan Aniefuna, Geoffrey Okafor, Edwin Eruchalu, Japheth Chiesilim, Samuel Okpala-Olisa, Vincent Obichili and others. They were gathering at No. 2 Ogaluonye street, Onitsha.
In those days servants slept in their master’s stores /warehouses to guard against possible breaking of their stores. This gave them the name ‘’Oke store’’ meaning ‘’store rats’’ After taking their supper, they would return to their master’s stores and from there the idea of coming together to pray in the night came up. The efforts of these boys led to establishing other centers at Williams, Moore, Bida, Okwei, Francis, Nottidge and Kano streets in Onitsha.
As it is natural that where two or three are gathered there is always the search for identity. Consequent upon that, the group came up in 1963 with the name Anglican Store Boy’s Association (ASBA). Subsequently, elections were held, Mr. Andrew Izuagba became the pioneer leader while Mr. Edwin Eruchalu was elected secretary.
The organization as the name implied was all boys’ association; however a girl by name Miss Martina Ifeanacho was courageous enough to join the boys. She therefore became the first female member of the group. As the group was growing over a period of time, people started joining them. Masters and parents started allowing their children and wards to join the association and in the process, Messrs C.C. Akpacha and G. E. Chukwudum were appointed patrons, Madam Elizabeth Anwadike, Madam Adigwe were made patronesses. The much needed spiritual guidance was coming from Revd. Canon Samuel Agulefo. They continued to grow from strength to strength until Nigeria – Biafra civil war between 1967 – 1970.
The group in addition to conducting full Anglican System of Worship, singing melodies with local instruments, they also mapped out every 1st Thursday of the Month when they would gather from different branches and marched to the church with songs and music for night prayer. It was this movement or social disposition that endeared the group to the Church and the other young people to joining them. That was how what is popularly known today in the ACM Diocese on the Niger as “First Thursday” otherwise Joint fellowship began.
When the war ended, those who survived returned to Onitsha in 1970 to start life again. Some of the ASBA members who were opportune to have survived the war started regrouping themselves. Through the instrumentality of Mr. George Nlebedum a branch was opened at Emodi Street, Odoakpu, from there it extended to Fegge and other areas in Onitsha. The Election that followed in 1971 brought Messrs Gozie Okeke and Ohammuo Uwabunkeonye as leader and secretary respectively.
Due to the growing need for all to join the organization, the leaders felt the need for a suitable, acceptable and all embracing name for the group. Since the name Anglican Store Boy’s Association remained an impediment to people wishing to join the association. The group was then renamed Anglican Praying Association (APA). This time, boys, girls, men, women have joined. Even some masters who were once skeptical of the group identified with them.
The APA Mothers contributed immensely to the growth of the Association. They helped in organizing and executing ACM projects and programmes. They were always available in times of need, encouragement and service despite their Motherhood demands. Mrs. Christiana Onyekwu nicknamed MAMA APA and Mrs. Lilian Asiegbu popularly called SMALL MADAM played prominent roles in the organization as leader and secretary for the Mothers’ group from early 1970s to 2000. The acronym attached to their names is a testimony of their commitment to the ministry. It would be recalled that the name “Small Madam” came from a security man who encountered the APA Diocesan delegates on their return from Aba Missionary Trip where they went to sell the vision of APA, due to the fact she joined APA a very young woman.
Rev .T.I Umeh (Now retired Venerable) became the first APA Chaplain in 1983 and was succeeded by Ven. Angus Umeh in 2001. Rev. Ikechukwu Agrima became ACM Chaplain in 2017 and Rev. Friday Ossi took over from Rev. Ikechukwu Agrima as Chaplain/Leader in 2018 till date.
Diocesan Leaders
Andrew Izuagba 1962-1967
Nigeria –Biafra war 1967-1970
Fred Gozie Okeke 1967-1971
George Nlebdum 1972-1977
David Ezike 1978-1984
Kenneth O. Nwadukwue 1985-1992
Ifeanyi Mbakwe 1993-1999
Evang. Peter Azombe 2000-2009
Solomon Agu 2010-2016
Chukwuma Onwura 2016-2017
Rev. Friday Ossi 2017-date
Diocesan Chaplains
Ven. T.I. Umeh 1983-2001
Ven. Angus I. Umeh 2001-2016
Rev. Ikechukwu Agrima 2017-
Rev. Friday Ossi 2018-Date
The ACM under the Women’s Ministry have the following women as coordinator appointed by Dr. Mrs. Elise N. Nwokolo (Mama Niger)
Mrs. Uche Okwuosa 2015
Dr. Mrs. Amala Odita 2016 – 2018
Mrs. Ezinne Anieto 2018 – 2021
Mrs. Chika Ohaeri 2022 – date
The first APA Conference of Diocese on the Niger was held on 9th -11th December 1983 at diocesan church center (DCC) Nnewi. It was during the Executive meeting of the association under the chaplaincy of Rev. T.I. Umeh that the idea of having National Conference (Provincial conference as it was then called) was discussed and affirmed. Mr. David Ezike who was then the Diocesan Leader of APA on the Niger served as Transitional Leader in 1983. Actually, all the officers of the APA on the Niger served as Transitional Officers of the proposed national body until the election in 1984. By this time our members who left Onitsha for other cities in Nigeria succeeded in establishing APA branches in Jos, Kano, Sokoto, Lagos, Ibadan and other cities. They were invited to the Provincial Conference in 1984.
The first National conference of APA was held on 13th– 15th July, 1984 at Diocesan church centre (DCC) Nnewi. In 1989, through the instrumentality of His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. J.A. Onyemelukwe and the initiative of Ven. T.I. Umeh the president, the Anglican Praying Association (APA) was changed to Anglican Children Ministry (ACM) in the National Conference held at Enugu. The Motto ‘Watch and pray’ of APA was dropped for “Catch them Young for Christ” as the new motto for ACM.
As the Ministry continued to evolve within the years, her dynamism becomes obvious and in response Departments, Units and Zones were created from Church through Parish to Archdeaconry and Diocesan levels. This has over the years advanced the work of ACM and the Bishop Rt. Rev Dr. Owen Nwokolo put the icing on the cake with the policy of a priest being the Diocesan Leader/Chaplain.