ABOUT UCCN

THE BEGINNING OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NIGERIA

The United Church of Christ in Nigeria, popularly known in Hausa as Hadaddiyar Ekklisiyar Kristi A Nigeria (HEKAN) originated in the year 1954 when the Nigerian contingents of Sudan United Mission (S.U.M) came to Kaduna from different parts of the country during the Second World War. Most of them were soldiers, Pastors personnel and Policemen. They usually had their worship services in various Churches because of the absence of a common worship place. At that time, Late Rev. Habila Aleyideino and missionary sent by the Sudan interior Mission (S.I.M) Rev. W. V. Smith had a conversation with some of the Christian Soldiers, Prison personnel and Policemen in respect of having a common joint worship center.

These discussions led to having a united worship center at the 4 Battalion Barracks, which was also common known as “Mogadishu Barracks”. The Military allocated to them a place of worship where church service and other Christian activities were conducted in 1856. As the journey progressed, they took another decision to build an auditorium for worship. A Church was successfully built at Gwari Road, Kaduna; where joint worship under the name “Sudan United Mission/ Sudan Interior Mission continued successfully for some time until “when a misunderstanding arose between Late Rev. Habila Aleyideino and Rev. Etzen (aka – Mallam Yakubu) of the S.I.M concerning the issue of infant baptism…”

The SUM/SIM applied for a plot to build the present church of Gwari road. At the process of registering the name of holders of the plot, S.I.M. used the name of S.I.M only omitting the name of S.U.M. The case was reported to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Land and Survey by Rev. Etzen of the S.I.M. We (Rev. Habila Aleyideino, Mr. Rufus Morgan and Mr. John A.T. Orume of S.U.M and Rev. Etzen of S.I.M who reported the case) were summoned to the office of the Permanent Secretary to resolve the issue of the holder or owner of the Gwari Road Church building. When the certificate of occupancy was produced, the name of the holder on the C of O was that of S.I.M and SUM/SIM as was earlier agreed at the time of application.

ACCEPTANCE OF UCCN INTO TEKAN

The Fellowship of the Churches of Christ in Nigeria (TEKAN) accepted UCCN to be her member in 1965.

CHRONOLOGY OF UCCN LEADERS

The United Church of Christ in Nigeria has witnessed several styles of leadership by various men of God who had the opportunity to take the Church to greater heights. Since its inception in the early sixties, the following have led the church either as “Chairman” (as it was then called) or as “President” as it is called today.

1.	Rev. Habila Aleyideino	1961 – 1988
2.	Wilberforce Myahwagi (Seconded from LCCN)	6 Months
3.	Musa Ciroma (Seconded from CRCN)	1962-1964
4.	Rev. John Wesley	1988 – 1991
5.	Rev. Yakubu H. Pam	1992 – 1994
6.	Rev. Jesse M. Adamu	1995 – 1996
7.	Rev. Lipana Bappa	1997 – 1997
8.	Rev. Yakubu H. Pam	1998 – 2000
9.	Rev. Jesse M. Adamu	2001 – 2006
10.	Rev. Emmanuel N. Dziggau	2007 – 2016
11.	Rev. (Dr.) Amos G. Kiri	2017 to date

UCCN Leaders till date

DOCTRINE OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN NIGERIA

Like any other Christ-centered Church, The United Church of Christ in Nigeria operates on a well-defined Doctrine that guides its day to day operations. The doctrine also known as “Beliefs and Practices of UCCN” has been the key document in use today by the Church. Highlights of the beliefs and practices are as follows: –

Believes in the repentance of sin through public confession of a sinner who has been convicted by the Holy Spirit and that all will be saved through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:38, 1 John 5:11,12).
Believes and practices infant Baptism, dedication as well as baptism by immersion and sprinkle
Believes that the Holy Scripture is infallible (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Peter 1:32)
Believes in the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment into either condemnation or eternal life in the second coming of Jesus Christ (Matthew 25:45, 13:49, Deut. 11:23-37)

Download