Our Bishop

The Rt. Rev Isaac Chijioke Nwaobia PhD, JP, FCBA is a child of covenant. Born to the family of Late Elder Silas Erondu and Mrs. Eunice Nwanyinma Nwaobia of Umuama Amaku Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria, on November 10, 1962, he is the third son and the fourth child in a family of six surviving children. He attended Amaku Nvosi Community School and obtained First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC), in 1977. Furthered to Anglican Grammar School, Mbawsi and obtained his Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE ‘O’ LEVEL) in 1982. Furthermore, Isaac gained admission into the famous Trinity Union Theological College, Umuahia, in 1985 and obtained his Diploma in Religious Studies (Dip. RS) of University of Calabar, in 1988.He went further to obtain his Bachelor of Arts(BA)Degree in Religious Studies, at the University of Ibadan, from 1991- 1994. He also attended Times Journalism Institute for a post Graduate Diploma (Journalism), in 1994.Again,in his unending quest for knowledge, Isaac went ahead for a Master of Social Work Degree, (MSW),at the University of Ibadan and passed above average, in 1997. It is noteworthy that he did not stop at that level as he further enrolled into Asland University, Ohio, U.S.A., and obtained the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in social Communication, as external student from Nigeria, in 2004. For certain reasons, Isaac got baptized three year after his birth, in 1965, and consequently, got confirmed on 24 December, 1978 by Late Rt. Rev. H.A.I. Afonya, the then Bishop of the Diocese of Aba, who happened to be his spiritual father and mentor. In that service, the officiating bishop, in the person of Rt. Rev. H.A.I. Afonya ( of blessed memory) took time to expand Acts 1:8 during the sermon. As this exercise unfolded, Isaac was crying on his pew because the word of God had pricked him. When his turn came for confirmation, he could not move; He was asked what the problem was and he could not respond, but was persuaded and consequently received confirmation. When he returned to school in January of the following year, his life changed as he joined Scripture Union (SU). By divine arrangement, a senior student and a member of Scripture Union, by name, Bro. David of Amaoji, Abia State, who had always preached the gospel to him, discovered the change in him and followed him up. Since then, the grace of God has not failed to abound for him. However, there have been ups and downs, but Isaac has always recognized his weakness and appreciated the importance of not quenching the presence of the Holy Spirit in his Life. Obviously, Isaac’s salvation drew him closer to God, which made his school mates to see the difference in his behavior. It is interesting to observe here that in the course of preparing another set of confirmation candidates, the church came to look for Isaac in order that he will join the church work. This development made it possible that even though Isaac was under-aged and was waiting for his ‘O’ level result, he was employed as a church teacher. He was appointed as a church teacher on 9 September 1982 by the then Bishop of Aba, Rt. Rev. H. A. I. Afonya (of blessed memory), and posted to St. Mark’s Church, Oyigbo. Because of his dedication and doggedness as a church teacher, he was enlisted among those for ordination training at the famous Trinity Union Theological College Umuahia, 1985, where he obtained the Diploma in Theology (Dip. Th). His ordination into the Holy Order in 1988 by his Lordship, Rt. Rev. Prof. Augustine O. Iwuagwu, the then Bishop of Aba, is the reality of the fulfillment of God’s mark on him. No doubt, Isaac has since after his ordination proved to the world that he did not answer the call for selfish interest, neither did he accept ordination as a way of representing his kindred and/or seeing it as a means to an end. In fulfillment of the above affirmation in the life of Isaac Chijioke Nwaobia who served God faithfully as a deacon, he was successfully ordained a priest in 1989, installed Canon of St. Michael’s Cathedral, Aba, in 1998 and preferred Archdeacon in 2005, to the glory of God. He was Consecrated bishop in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) on 4 March, 2007 and enthroned on 19 March, 2007, Rt. Rev. Isaac Chijioke Nwaobia. He is married to Mrs. Hope N. Nwaobia M ED, JP, who today is his prayer partner, Sister, accountant, counselor and friend, within these few years of their Episcopal enterprise, they have made very remarkable impact in the lives and ministries of many.