The Executive Committee of the Nigerian Baptist Convention said it has accepted the recommendation and nomination of Rev Dr Israel Akanji as the next President of the Convention.
This was sequel to the report submitted to the Executive Committee of the Convention by the Search Committee for the President charged with the responsibility of getting a new President through the guidance of the Holy Spirit for the Baptist Family.
Rev Akanji will be presented to the Convention-in-Session in April 2021 for the final ratification as the President of the Nigerian Baptist Convention.
In a release signed by the PRO of the Convention, Pastor Eben Durodola, a copy of which was made available to Insideoyo, he said the Convention-In-Session is the highest decision-making body of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and if the Executive Committee’s recommendation is adopted and ratified by the Convention-In-Session in April, Rev Dr.Akanji will assume office on 1st June 2021.
By the rules guiding the appointment of the President of our great Convention, a Search Committee for the President was set up on 3rd December 2019 by the Executive Committee of the Convention and inaugurated by the current President, Rev Dr. Samson Ayokunle on 3rd January 2020 with the mandate to search for and recommend a new President for the Convention through the Executive Committee.
Their report was presented on 2nd January 2021 after a thorough exercise to the Executive Committee of the Convention which was unanimously accepted.
The report recommended Rev. Dr. Israel Adelani Akanji as the next President of the Convention. This recommendation will be presented to the Convention family in April during the Annual Convention in Session for approval and ratification.
“The Convention family is admonished that the process is still ongoing and have not been concluded yet.
It should be noted also that nobody has anointed Rev Akanji nor any anointing service was conducted for him as being reported in the social media.
Our tradition as to the appointment of the President of the Convention remains Sacrosanct and no deviation from the process has been recorded so far.
The President of our great Convention, Rev. Dr. Ayokunle and the Executive Committee of the Nigerian Baptist Convention, therefore, commended the diligence and commitment of the Search Committee members through prayers in arriving at their recommendation without any hitch or rancour. The peaceful process of the selection shows the unity and great love of God that exist among the Baptist Family.
The Baptist Family is, therefore, urged to remain steadfast in prayers as we look forward to the Convention-In-Session this April when the exercise shall be concluded seamlessly by the grace of God.
God bless the Nigerian Baptist Convention!”
