HISTORY OF THE ANGLICAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIP NIGERIA
What is known today as the ANGLICAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIP began from the West as a mustard seed planted in the mid 1940’s. As a result of the Visit of the Bishop of Lagos, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Leslie Gordon Vining to England, accompanied by the Canon Residentiary of the Cathedral Church of Lagos, the Rev. A.W. Howells. Being highly impressed by the activities of some Youth movements, on his return to Nigeria, he initiated action on the formation of the Anglican Youth Fellowship.
Thereafter, he inaugurated the first branch of the Anglican Youth Fellowship at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina Lagos, with about twenty (20) young people, mostly young boys playing football within the Church premises on the 7th of May, 1947, on the pattern of the Anglican Young People’s Association of England.
Notwithstanding that Rev. Canon A.W Howells initiated action in the formation of the Anglican Youth Fellowship, the leadership and the running of the organization at the initial stage was taken up personally by the Bishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. L.G Vining, who regarded the Youth Fellowship as his Baby because of his special love for young people. He decided to do so as a means of preventing the Exodus of young people from the Anglican Church.
The fellowship was initially known as the Cathedral Youth Fellowship (CYF), as it was restricted to the Cathedral Church of Christ (CCC) Marina, the Mother Church of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. His Grace, haven established the Fellowship directed by Rev’d Canon Adelakun W. Howells who was the Canon Residentiary of the Cathedral, to organize a series of Programmes that can encourage the youth in the Church. Among other programmes organized by Rev. Canon Howells were Bible Study Sessions, Quiz Competitions, Picnics and Excursions for the Youths, hence, the strategies of the fellowship ~ Worship, Thought, Service and Recreation.
By September 1946, Bishop Vining summoned a meeting of the Church of Christ. Other Priests in attendance were Canon Adelakun Williamson Howells, who later became the first provost of the Cathedral, and Rev. Timothy Omotayo O. Olufosoye, who was the Cathedral Youth Chaplain and later became the first Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of all Nigeria. During the meeting, Samuel Akpabot of Kings College entertained the meeting with musical instrument while Bala Miller of Church Missionary Society Grammar School was on hand to entertain them with a trumpet.
It was after returning from Lambeth Conference that His Grace, Most Rev’d L.G Vining called for unity among the various Youth Groups in the Church and established one group known as Cathedral Youth Fellowship (CYF) which was meeting every Wednesday at the Bishops' Court. The group later changed its name to Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF).
With the transfer of Rev. Timothy Olufosoye to Holy Trinity Church, Ebute Ero in August, 1947, he inducted another branch of the fellowship in the church as the second branch which was inaugurated on 4th December, 1949.
Whereas on the 26th June, 1950, Rev. H.N Hunter was Canon Williamson Howells' assistant at the Cathedral inaugurated another branch at All Saints Anglican Church, Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos where he was transferred to as the Vicar. And when he became the Bishop of Lagos in 1955 (1955 – 1963), he helped the fellowship to spread more as he encouraged the fellowship to organize and host internal Programmes and Conferences.
However, in 1952, the Rev. A.W Howells laid down the Organizational structure of the fellowship. The Central Working Committee was formed in 1952 with Bro. Albert Odipodo Rogers (Later Rev. Rogers) was the first and only chairman, and he held office for one year (1952-1953) with Bro. Olutendu Odejimi (both of the blessed memory) as the secretary.
In 1953, Bro. Felix Remi Soyeye of blessed memory was appointed as the First National President and held Office for thirty-three (33) years, 1953 – 1986, while Bro. Lawson O. Igele Akhibe was appointed the First National Secretary and held Office from 1953 – 1976. Note that the Seven (7) man Central Working Committee that was inaugurated on 7th May, 1952, under the chairmanship of Bro. Rogers drafted the Aims and Objectives that the fellowship is still using today. When the Committee completed its assignment, the Aims and objectives became the fellowship’s Constitution. The Bishop of Lagos, the Rt. Rev. Saith Ivan Sewen Kale requested the then Chancellor of Lagos, Hon. Justice J. A. Adefarasin, to vet the Constitution, and having found it worthy, the Constitution was approved in July 1960. It has been undergoing several reviews, and it is currently undergoing another review.
It should be noted that the Central Working Committee was formed from the four Diocesan Councils that were in existence then, which included: Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, and Ondo. The CWC held a series of meetings during which Bro. Remi Soyoye and Bro. L. O. Akhibe held sway as National President and Protem National Secretary until 17th September, 1967, when the first set of officers were elected, twelve persons among whom were:
1. Bro. Remi Soyoye – National President
2. Bro. L.O.I Akiubi – National Secretary
3. Bro. G.O Agala – National Vice President 1
4. Rev. J. O Olugasa – National Vice President 2
5. Mr. I.O Olaomi – Assistant Secretary
6. Mr. Bola Ogundpe – Treasurer/Fin. Secretary
7. Mr. A.O Rogers (late Rev) – Publicity/Editor, among others.
It should be noted that between 1947-1968, the Lagos branch of the fellowship was performing the duty of the National Council of AYF by working hand in hand with other existing branches of the AYF in the Country until 1967 when the NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE ANGLICAN YOUTH FELLOWSHIP WAS INAUGURATED in Benin City on 16th February, 1970 with the Dioceses of Lagos, Ibadan, Ondo and Benin as members and later on other Diocesan Council’s began to join, like the Dioceses in the Eastern Region (Enugu and on the Niger) in 1972 after the Civil war through the instrumentality of A. O. Rogers at the National Conference held at the University of Lagos. The National Council of the AYF (Nigeria) is a body comprising all the branches of the AYF in Nigeria.
NATIONAL BIBLE STUDY CONFERENCE
The National Conference started in 1954, and the very first National Bible Study Conference took place in 1954 at Methodist Boys High School Okesuna, Lagos. The Conference became rotational in 1972 among the first six Dioceses in Nigeria.
Note that in 1983, for the first time, the conference was not held due to scarcity of fuel occasioned by the political instability, the same thing also happened in 1993 due to political crises in the country, and again in 2020 as a result of the outbreak of Corona virus known as COVID -19. It should also be noted that conventionally, Lagos hosts the conference every 10years to celebrate the founding of the fellowship.
AYF MOTTO
The motto of the fellowship is TOWARDS THE PERFECT MAN Eph. 4:13a.
This implies that the fellowship must always emulate the life of Christ and be a model to others. This is achievable through prayers and the study of the Bible.
AYF EMBLEM
The emblem is an open Bible, standing between a handshake and twigs joined together to form a letter “V” and all enclosed in a circle with a blue background.
a. The TWIGS: stands for YOUNG PEOPLE
b. The HANDSHAKE: stands for fellowship and Unity among Young People.
c. The BIBLE: stands for the WORD OF GOD and the Teachings of Jesus Christ.
d. The BLUE BACKGROUND: stands for and indicates Perfect LOVE towards one another as Christian Brethren.
e. The emblem in itself means that young people should live together in perfect love for one another according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
It is worthy to note that AYF has provided a progressive forum for the young people in the Church to be trained and equipped to assume positions of Eminence and Responsibility not only in the Church but also in the Community and indeed the political life of the country.
Many members are now by the Grace of God in positions of authority throughout the country, both in the Church and the State. Some are Bishops, Provosts, Archdeacons, Canons, Priests, while in the secular society, some are Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Chairmen of LGA, Councilors, Director-Generals, General Managers in banks and other financial institutions, Lawyers, Doctors, Engineers, and other professionals in other fields of life.
PAST NATIONAL AYF PRESIDENTS
1. His Grace, Most Rev. Leslie Gordon Vining - AYF Founder
2. His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Adelakan W. Howells - AYF Co-founder
3. His Grace, Most Rev. T. O. Olufosoye - First AYF Chaplain
4. Late Rt. Rev. Jolly Oyekpen - First AYF National Coordinator (2012 – 2021)
5. Rt. Rev. Prosper Amah - Second AYF National Coordinator (2021 to date
6. Bro. Remi Soyoye - First AYF President (1953-1986).
7. Chief S. O. Adekunle - 2nd AYF President (1986-1993)
8. Engr. Olu Sokoya - 3rd AYF President (1993-2000)
9. Barr. Timothy B. Akinyeye - 4th AYF President (2000-2004)
10. Evang. Ogugua Nathaniel - 5th AYF President (2004-2009)
11. Bro. Henshaw Adetoye - 6th AYF President (2009-2012)
12. Bro. Chukwuebuka Eze (now Rev’d) - 7th AYF President (2012-2018)
13. Bro. Lloyd Brown - 8th AYF President (2018-2021)
14. Bro Alex Akpata Ankpita - 9th AYF President (2021 to 2025)
15. Bro. Kelechi Nzeakor – 10th AYF President (2025 till date)
PAST AYF PRESIDENTS IN THE DIOCESE OF EVO
1. Bro. Friday Nwanwa
2. Bro. Chika Amadi
3. Sis. Chile Ariolu
4. Bro. Arinze Ibekwe
5. Bro. Richies Secondus (Incumbent)
Evo Diocesan AYF Election held on Saturday 18th January 2025 at St. Philips Anglican Church, Oroigwe-Eligbolo Archdeaconry and the following persons emerged as the Diocesan Executives:
1. President: Bro. Riches Secondus (Oroigwe-Eligbolo Archdeaconry)
2. Vice- President: Bro. Amos Benedict (Woji Archdeaconry)
3. General Secretary – Bro. Praise Nwogu (Okporo-Rumuogba Archdeaconry)
4. Assistant Secretary – Bro. Hachi Chinda (Oginigba Deanery)
5. Sister’s Forum Cordinator – Sis. Uche Ngoka (Woji Archdeaconry)
6. Assistant Sister’s Forum Cordinator – Sis. Ogechi Asiegbu (Rumuomasi Deanery)
7. Public Relations Officer – Bro. Samuel Nyesom (Trinity Archdeaconry)
8. Treasurer- Bro. Chris Amadi (Rumuobiakani Deanery)
9. Financial Secretary – Bro. Pious Chibunna Pious (Iriebe Archdeaconry)
10. Prayer Cordinator 1 – Bro. John .N. James (Cathedral)
11. Prayer Cordinator 2- Sis Destiny Amadi (Trinity Archdeaconry)
12. Evangelism – Bro. Okafor Chinoso (Paracelete Deanery)
13. Youth Star Male – Bro. Igbamerum Oladepo (Cathedral)
14. Youth Star Female – Sis. Chinenye Weli (Okporo/Rumuogba Archdeaconry)
15. Sports Cordinator 1 – Bro. Samchuks Collins (Rumuobiakani Deanery)
16. Sports Cordinator 2- Bro. Elton Pepple (Woji Archdeaconry)
17. Welfare Male – Bro. Francis .C. Anyadiegwu (Rumuobiakani Deanery)
18. Welfare Female – Sis. Inyie Epelle (Iriebe Archdeaconry)
19. Provost – Sis. Merit Chinda (Elelenwo Archdeaconry)