The Men’s Christian Fellowship formerly Men’s Christian Association existed in some Churches in the Diocese while in other Churches the umbrella organization for men was the Elder’s Prayer Meeting (Nzuko Ekpere ndi Okenye or Nzuko Ekpere Umu Nwoke). It was in the Episcopacy of the Rt. Rev Ken S.E. Okeke that all men organizations were unified into what is today known and called Men’s Christian Fellowship.
The very first effort to hold Archdeaconry Men’s Conference was birthed, nurtured and organized by the then Ven. Owen Chiedozie Nwokolo who was the Archdeacon of Oyi in the year 2001 and thereafter in the Oyi Archdeaconry Synod Report of 2002, he desired that such programme should be made to have a Diocesan outlook by which men could be organized and prepared for Admission by the Bishop during the annual Parish Confirmation and Admission Services.
In the same year 2002, Ven. Obi Ubaka then Archdeacon of Nnobi Archdeaconry together with Mazi Obiakonwa Ikeogu and Sir Nnamdi Nwigwe discussed on need to mobilize men of the Nnobi Archdeaconry for the set objectives that will be of benefit to the Archdeaconry, Parishes and Churches and men in general. This discussion as articulated was presented to the 2003 Nnobi Archdeacory Board and Finance and was adopted. Consequently an eight man implementation committee headed by Mazi Obiakonwa Ikeogu was appointed by the Board. The Committee was taxed with the responsibility of organizing Nnobi Archdeaconry Men’s Conference and as well as having into being Archdeaconry Men’s Association. In 2004 the first Nnobi Archdeaconry Men Conference was held at St. Simon Church Nnobi presided over by Ven. Obi Ubaka, the Archdeacon with not less than 398 men. The Bishop on the Niger, the Rt. Rev Ken S.E. Okeke and his wife Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Okeke (Nneobioma) graced the occasion, with this Conference Nnobi Archdeaconry Men’s Association (NAMA) was born. It is also to be noted that the first Diocesan MCF uniform which is currently in use was designed and presented by Nnobi Archdeaconry Men’s Association in 2006 Conference. In 2008 it was formally adopted with some modifications by the Bishop.
Onitsha Central Archdeaconry held her first Men’s Conference in 2007 through the instrumentality of Ven. Obi Ubaka who was transferred to the Archdeaconry that year. This was in line with the burning desire to spread the reformed Men’s activities/programmes gradually across the Diocese. The success of this and those of Oyi and Nnobi Archdeaconries as reported in their previous Archdeaconries’ Synod Reports, as well, as the Reports of the mentioned Archdeaconries at the Third Session of the 27th Synod of 2009 held at St Philip’s Church Ogidi made that Synod presided over by Bishop on the Niger, the Rt. Rev. Ken S.E. Okeke passed a Resolution for the immediate and mandatory establishment of the Men’s Christian Fellowship in all the Archdeaconries of the Diocese.
The following year 2010, efforts were made by Ven. Obi Ubaka then at Onitsha Central Archdeaconry with representatives from Archdeaconries especially those who have already established the MCF in their Archdeaconries to organize Diocesan Men’s Convention using the platform of 2010 Laity Congress.
On the day set aside for all the men, men were mobilized from all the Archdeaconries to the Cathedral. It was a great gathering of Men as was intended. The occasion offered opportunity and gave birth to the first Diocesan Men’s Convention and subsequently gave rise to the establishment of Diocesan Men’s Christian Fellowship. It is on record that about 500 delegates from across the Archdeaconries attended the Convention, with the Rt. Rev. Ken S.E. Okeke Bishop on the Niger physically present to address the Convention. All this was made possible because of the position of Ven. Obi Ubaka as the Diocesan Laity Council Chaplain as well as his drive to see that MCF was established at the Diocesan level.
At the inception of the Episcopacy of the Rt. Rev Owen Chiedozie Nwokolo as the Bishop on the Niger in 2011, the Executive of the Men’s Christian Fellowship visited the Bishop on a courtesy call to welcome him as the new Bishop. On that courtesy call they among other things requested for the appointment of a Diocesan Chaplain for MCF. They requested that Ven. Obi Ubaka who hitherto had been the Chaplain of Diocesan Laity Council be appointed the Diocesan Chaplain for the Men’s Christian Fellowship in the Diocese because of the part he played in the formation and birth of Men’s Christian Fellowship. Being a programme of his dream for Men way back in 2001, the Bishop graciously approved and confirmed the request.
The first Executive Officers of the Diocesan Men’s Christian Fellowship were the following:
- Ven Obi Ubaka – Chaplain
- Dr. Sir Caleb Nwudo Odenigbo – President
- Evang. Daniel Nwokike – Vice President
- Mazi Obiakonwa Ikeogu – Secretary
- Mr. Okoye Nathaniel (JP) – Asst. Secretary
- Mr. Okonkwo Timothy – Treasurer
- Mr. Agha Dele – Fin Secretary
- Mr. Obioha Ireamoke – PRO
- Mr. Obi Mba – Protocol Officer
- Mr. Orji Uzowulu – Welfare Officer
For more effective thrust in the operation of Diocesan MCF, the Bishop on the Niger the Rt. Rev. Dr Owen C. Nwokolo in 2016 Synod at Obosi appointed Hon Sir Emeka Anyaenetu the Diocesan President of MCF and Hon Sir Fred Akaolisa as the first Vice President to lead the current Diocesan Executive as follows:
- Chaplain – Ven. Obi Ubaka
- President – Rt. Hon. Barr. Emeka Anyaenetu
- 1st Vice President – Hon. Sir Fred Akaolisa
- 2nd Vice President – Mazi Obiakonwa Ikeogu (GON)
- Secretary – Comr. Ozioma Okezie
- Asst. Secretary – Uzoegbo Cyprian Ejike
- Fin. Secretary – Hon Chris Uche Okoye (JP)(GON)
- Treasurer – Sir Christian Ezeofor JP
- P.R.O – Mr.Dandy Chidi Adirije
- Provost – Mr. Emma Nwokike
- Asst. Provost – Mr. Jacob Ugochukwu
- Director of Social – Sir. Edwin Umealor
- Asst. Director Social – Hon Sir Ezeoka Frank
- Legal Adviser – Barr. Sunday Udemezue.
Activities of the MCF both at the Diocesan, Archdeaconry, Parish and Church levels include Annual Diocesan Convention, Archdeaconry Conferences, Bible Quiz Competitions, Organizing Fathers Week Activities, joining other Church Organizations in participating in the Diocesan, Archdeaconry and Church events and programmes, etc. They embark on projects at all levels, notably they contributed in the take-off of the Diocesan Printing Press Project, etc.
It is heartwarming that the essence of floating the Men’s Christian Fellowship, namely: providing a similar Body as Women’s Ministry – in the Church, Archdeaconry and Diocesan levels; providing a platform where men can meet and discuss issues of importance as appertained to the men and having an avenue for tutoring and nurturing the men to take their pride of place in the family, church and society’s scheme of things, is being achieved very tremendously. For more organized, mobilization of men’s general performance, MCF Archdeaconries Annual Conferences have been streamlined and arranged such that Rural Archdeaconries hold their Conferences in their chosen venues on one day while Urban Archdeaconries hold theirs on a different day.
To further strengthen the MCF as an Organization and to engender increased and effective, result oriented fellowship among the men and Church Workers, the Bishop on the Niger Rt. Rev. Dr. Owen Chiedozie Nwokolo, on Maundy Thursday 1st April, 2021 officially admitted all the Clergy and Church Teachers into Men’s Christian Fellowship (MCF) at the All Saints Cathedral, Onitsha. The event was colourful, the Church Workers (Clergy and Church Teachers) all appeared in MCF Uniform for the Admission.
The Admission exercise was to remind all Church Workers that they are part of MCF and are positioned for leadership role among men, in collaboration with its lay leadership to achieve the purpose for the creation of the MCF in the Diocese. At the 2023 Diocesan Location Board, the Ven. Dr. Dan Uche was made the new MCF Chaplain.