Lagos — Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, and former Chief of General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya, are some of the dignitories that will attend the first synod of Anglican Diocese of Ijebu South-West at Odogbolu, headquarters of the new diocese.

The event will take place on Saturday.

Bishop of the new diocese, Rt. Rev. Babatunde F. R. Ogunbanwo, who was recently inaugurated by the Most Rev. Peter Jasper Akinola, out-going Primate of the Church of Nigeria at Odogbolu, stated this at the weekend.

The theme of this first synod is "The Solid Foundation for Growth". It taken from Psalm 11 v 3. The venue of the synod, which will begin at 9. a.m., will be the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Odogbolu.

Diya, a former military administrator of Ogun State, who was recently unanimously elected chairman of the Ijebu South-West Diocese Development Council, will address the synod on the development strategy of his council.

Bishops and other senior clergy from the dioceses of Ijebu, Ijebu North, Remo, Kwara and Ife are among dignitaries to grace the occasion. Traditional rulers, high chiefs, priests and other church leaders and parishioners from all the eight archdeaconries in the new diocese are expected to attend the meeting, which is taking place 117 years after the introduction of Christianity and western education to the portals of Odogbolu.

Beginning with a service of the holy Eucharist to be celebrated by Bishop Ogunbanwo, the worship will feature a sermon by the Venerable D. I. Fadugba, Vicar of St. James's Anglican Church, Iperu-Remo, to be followed by a presidential address.

During the address, the host bishop is expected to announce the appointment of the Chancellor and other law officers of the diocese and outline his proposals for the rapid growth of the church in the new diocese.

The presidential address will be followed by a report on the activities of the Diocesan Inauguration Committee by Sam A. Ogundogba.