Anglicans produce Nigeria’s first Bishop, Vice Chancellor

A bishop in the Anglican Communion of Nigeria, an erstwhile radical lecturer at the Lagos State University  (LASU) and one time acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Dapo Asaju has been appointed the Vice Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, by the Governing Council of the University. Professor Asaju thus becomes Nigeria’s first Bishop to become a Vice Chancellor of a University.

Asaju’s story was not a typical Saul-to Paul story. He said he had consistently seen the hand of God in all he has done, the hand that drove him to study Theology in place of a long standing desire to study law.  Professor Asaju, a quintessential Theologian shifted his radical posturing to the church. He had always loved God but it was not until 23 years ago that the ‘pull’ to work in God’s house hold became strong. He was consecrated a Bishop of the Anglican Communion January 10.

Asaju was born into the royal family of Asaju in Ijumu land in Kogi State. He hails from a town called Iyara Ijumu and his grand father was Oba of the kingdom. His father, Chief Michael Asaju who also became the king of Iyara town worked as a journalist for more than 40 years. He was a President of Nigerian Union of journalists. but he died as Oba Michael Asaju. My mother, also late, was Mrs. Alice Asaju.

Asaju went to primary school at St. Andrew’s Primary School in Kabba and later Holy Trinity School, Lokoja. At Ilorin, he attended a Muslim Primary School. His parents were not discriminatory as that was the school nearest to them then after the civil war, located near the Emir’s palace in Ilorin. For secondary school, he attended Abdul Azeez Memorial College, formerly Government Secondary School Okene, one of the reputable institutions of the Northern region in those days. He gained admission into the University of Ilorin in 1980 where he did Christian Religious studies. When he graduated in 1983, he delivered the first university alumni lecture, which was meant to showcase the quality of students produced by the university. He then secured employment in Lagos State University where he worked since 1984, rising from lecturer to Professor in 2004. The document on which pedestal lecturers stood to get on going improvement in welfare was drafted at LASU under Asaju’s watch in the heady days of the military when Atahiru Jega led national ASUU.

He taught Hebrew and Greek languages as well as Biblical studies. He also taught Christian Theology and Missious. He has supervised several PhD thesis. At the same time, he studied at Birmingham Christian College for a Masters degree in Missions in the U.K and also picked a diploma in Anglican Communion studies from the Crowder hall, Selly Oak in Birmingham, U.K. He was a visiting professor and external examiner for PhD Students to Birmingham University in the U.K. He also has the license of the Archbishop of Canterbury as well as the license of the Bishop of Birmingham who is today the Archbishop of York, Most Rev. Johnson Tamor. But he is primarily a priest of the Lagos West Diocese. He was initially ordained by the retired Primate of Church of Nigeria, Archbishop Adetiloye.

He was made a deacon in 1998 and later made a full priest. He has served in various parishes including Church of Epiphany, Iba Estate, St. Michael’s Anglican Church Ojo, Church of Transfiguration, Ketu, Ijanikin, He was also curate at our Savours Anglican Church Ijanikin and the Vicar of Bishop James Johnson Memorial Anglican Church in Okokomaiko Lagos before he was moved to the Chaplaincy of Lagos State University. He was chaplain of Lagos State University, preferred Canon by Rt. Rev Peter Adebiyi of Lagos West in 2006 and made venerable Archdeacon Missioner, Diocese of Lagos West and chairman Board of Evangelism in November 2008. His election to the position of Bishop was taken on October 29, 2009. Her is very versed in the Anglican Communion after series of experience and exposure in the Pentecostal churches.

Married to Barrister Mrs. Harriet Asaju who has her first degree in theology, second degree in Library studies and she also read law. She had been called to the Nigerian bar. We have three children.