Archbishop Ali Lamido Bows Out AT 65

The former Dean, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, and Bishop, Diocese of Wusasa, Zaria, Kaduna State, Most Rev’d Buba Ali Lamido, has retired.

At 65 he served the church for 27 years and coming from the Hausa Fulani tribe his choice of faith among his Muslim family could only be explained as God’s chosen vessel.

And indeed the Lord used him mightily to win many souls into God’s Kingdom and even in his voluntary retirement he would still continue to actively spread the gospel to the four corners of the world.

The Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, in his message at St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral, Wusasa, Kaduna State on 18 May, 2024, acknowledged the spiritual exploits of Most Revd Lamido as God’s divine..

He described him as an icon of note in the Church of God “whose election was divine and uncommon as he remained the only bishop from the Fulani tribe in the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.”

The Primate reminded him and his wife to know that their lives were in God’s hands, and “He is completely sovereign over them.”.

He told them to keep focusing on God’s loving kindness no matter what happened according to Psalm 107: 43 .

He reminded them to always remember the loving kindness of God despite every situation in which they found themselves.

He said Bishop Lamido “is a bridge builder, mentor to many I enjoyed working with him while he was the dean of the Church..He is a man full of rich knowledge”

Archbishop Ndukuka told him to remain a steward in God’s vineyard in his new phase of life saying under God, there is time for everything, and that Archbishop Lamido’s retirement “is coming at God’s time even though by the statutory of the Church, you still have few more years to reach the 70 years age of retirement.”

The Primate thanked him for his labour of love in the household of God and prayed that the loving kindness of the Lord wiould continue to keep him in his new endeavors.

He reminded the congregation that the town of Wusasa “is the only Christian town in the North founded on the word of God as a Christian community” and encouraged them to keep trusting God for His goodness despite the tough situation they are in.

He urged the Wusasa community to remain steadfast in God with total commitment to His faith “not withstanding the high level of persecution, banditry and kidnapping around them.”

Wusasa Diocese was created on 2nd December 1997 and Archbishop Ali Buba Lamido was the first Bishop for the Diocese, which is under the Anglican Province of Kaduna in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion.

In his valedictory speech, the Most Rev’d Prof. Baba Lamido appreciated God Almighty for all He has done in his life for 65 years and 27 years of pastoral duties.

He paid tributes to all those who influenced his life through through his journey in the ministry.

He recounted several threats to his life and that of his family, making it difficult most of the times for him to carry out his ministerial duties and bond with members of the community as expected of him .

He encouraged the priests of the Diocese to remain focused and resilient and to keep striving the more to become a good priest rather than striving to become a Bishop.

He committed all the members of the Diocese and the Wusasa community into the hands of God praying that God should keep them all in good faith and bless them with a good pastor as well as the new bishop after him.

Archbishop Lamido said he forgave anyone who had done anything ungodly against him, and his wife . ” I hold no grudges against anyone “.

“I thank God that I am retiring with sound health and wellness”, he added.

After his speech, Archbishop Lamido handed over the documents of the Diocese and his handover notes to the legal officers of the diocese as a sign of his signing out as the Diocesan for Wusasa Diocese.

Archbishop Ali Buba Lamido was born on the 29th August, 1959 and hails from Shelleng Local Government of Adamawa State in Nigeria. He bacmae a parish priest in the year 1993, was elected the first bishop of Wusasa Diocese in 1997, became the first elected Dean of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in February 2018, a position he served its full 5 years term till February 2023.

Mrs Mary Lamido, the wife of the Archbishop Lamido in her vote of thanks appreciated all who created the time to attend the voluntary exit service, members of the diocese especially women groups for their works and dedication during the time she led them.

The retirement service was attended by the Archbishops of Kaduna Province, The Most Rev’d Dr. Timothy Yahaya and his counterpart from Lokoja Province, The Most Rev’d Dr. Daniel Yisa, and over 100 clergymen.