“The ordination signals a new level of commitment to this gospel of my Lord Jesus Christ” – Pastor Inyangeyen
By Substance Udo-Nature
On Sunday, 20th July, 2025, Mr. Ephraim Akparawa Inyangeyen, was ordained a Pastor in the Insight Bible Church, Abuja. He is the former Commissioner for Works and pioneer officially recognized Chief of Staff to the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel. It is interesting that all the necessary distractions along the course of time have not disconnected his focus from this grand desire.
Although it was nothing so extraordinary to celebrate with fanfare or boast about, just imagine how busy and sensational front pages of newspapers especially in Akwa Ibom State would have been was Inyangeyen involved in something negative. Just imagine. But there was mischievous quiet in the media over his ecclesiastical call!
Not that he craved such publicity or is bothered about the indifference, but it speaks to the syndromatic prejudice of the media towards positive developments, especially if we remember that everything and anything Inyangeyen has always made banner headlines in newspapers. We will continue to forgive the media for tomfoolery!
It is the reason I must be quick to state that this essay is not a eulogy or paean. I do not have the gifts of sycophancy. So this essay is an unsolicited attempt at examining Inyangeyen’s passionate progression in this regards and the significance of his ordination in relation to public expectations in a country where socioeconomic dynamics have birthed all manner of persons wearing the collar and the cassock merely for the spectacle and make-belief.
This writer shares flourishing stubborn and foster filial relationship with Pastor Inyangeyen. Those who know know. So, the comments I have heard and calls I’ve received from close friends for confirmation at the break of the news of the ordination clearly showed how much people could remember. The reactions have been a cocktail of sentiments and compliments for the ordained Pastor.
One unassuming but excited fellow whom I felt never really knew Inyangeyen caught my special attention when he called on phone just a day after the ordination to ask, “Is it true?” His curious and innocent inquiry reminded me of 1 Samuel 10:11, “Is Saul also amongst the prophets?” More than that, his question added fuel to my settled intention for this article. I have realized that many only knew Inyangeyen from a distance or what the media used to feed them on while he was in government.
The inquiries were also an indication of peoples’ longstanding attachment to Pastor Inyangeyen as a celebrated brand in private enterprise and public service delivery counting from his days in the Nigeria Customs. It also showed that God can choose whomever he wants. Remember: All but the last born son of Jesse had lined up for anointing by Samuel the Priest, yet none was chosen in the expectation of humans. Not only the father but also the prophet were astounded.
But 1 Samuel 16: 7 reports: “But the Lord said onto Samuel, look not at his countenance, or the height of his stature…for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart”. KJV.
Inyangeyen is still remembered as the spectacular former Commissioner for Works within which time most of the roads in the administration of Udom Emmanuel were built with rapidity and éclat. He also contested on the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the 2023 Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District election which he was condemned to lose to the shenanigans of heartless political contractors who make Nigerian politics what it is today.
Perhaps largely because he made no noise about it or flaunted it as a tag of righteousness even while he was still serving in government, not many knew that pastoring has always been Inyangeyen’s unquenchable desire. I do not want to reveal that in about the past 15 years, Inyangeyen has kept a private sanctuary at his Ikot Ebiere country home, Onna Local Government Area, where he dedicatedly assembles family members and others every last Friday of the month for thanksgiving where he or invited pastors minister.
The building is a 500-capacity auditorium right in his compound. Besides, in and out of seasons, he also has a tradition of periodically inviting people from nearby communities and beyond to treat them to charity in expression of God’s faithfulness and blessing upon his life. It is not also my intention to mention that, as a Commissioner, Inyangeyen introduced a brief prayer session every first Monday of the month at the Ministry of Works. That initiative promptly died with his departure.
His recent ordination therefore is not a gate-crashing experience. To reach that point, he deliberately had subjected himself to divine tutorship in the Latter Rain Assembly back in days leading up to 2013 in Lagos. Over the years, he has been refined by further studies and life’s challenges. It means that the Pastor has a good grasp of theology, theosophy, and epistemology, to effectively deploy his endowed eloquence in boldly and persuasively passing the message of life.
“I have been preaching the gospel for many years but the ordination signals a new level of commitment to this gospel of my Lord Jesus Christ”, he told me in a phone chat.
There is more to this. Even so well equipped with the Word and blessed with modest means of life, Inyangeyen has shown humility. He refused to join the bandwagon of self-anointed and self-serving seminarians who were always in a hurry to litter every space of their choice with churches. Does Nigeria really need more churches or spiritually religious persons? Are we morally and religiously better now in the proliferation of churches than we were at a time there were just about one or none in a community of communities?
It is in this light we commend and celebrate the newly ordained Pastor for his patience and modesty in not seeking self-glory and gratifications. He simply would have put up a building to have his face on a glossy poster or big flex banner just to be counted amongst Church Founders. I asked him why he chose the Insight Bible Church. Hear him:
“I left Lagos for Uyo in 2013 and couldn’t travel regularly back to Lagos to be part of the Latter Rain Assembly as it then was, and I began to ask God where I could worship and hear His undiluted Word. Afterwards, my spirit directed me to the Insight Bible Church and I met Pastor Sylvanus Ukafia and offered to start teaching in the Sunday School, which I was doing in Latter Rain Assembly in Lagos. I see my ordination in the Vineyard of the Lord as my ultimate goal in life”.
Established in April 1997, Insight Bible Church prides and introduces itself as a “Bible-believing church where God’s word is taught with accuracy and people receive insight to enable them succeed in everything they do”. It is presided over by Dr. Sylvanus Ukafia.
It could have been no coincidence that Inyangeyen’s ordination took place in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. Apart from giving it national appeal, it offers him a vantage and counterpoise for deeper cross-examination of attitudes in multi-religious diversities that make up Nigeria. But if he will station in Abuja, he must know that this is Minister Wike’s artificial territory. He must be wary of big invitation cards. Good enough, Pastor Inyangeyen is brave by nature and richly contented, someone who will not fear faces to gratify sentiments and trivialities in his service in the Lord's Vineyard!
We wish you a successful ministry, Man of God. Congratulations, Sir!
