Nelson Ifeanyichukwu Josiah Iluno

Rev. Nelson Iluno is an Anglican priest. He had lived and worked in three Provinces and Dioceses of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). He is also an author of two books, an editor and a tutor. His opinions on religious matters have earned him national recognition in Nigeria. Presently, he is a freelance writer, a weekly online columnist in the Nigeriaworld.com.
Life and career
Early years
Rev. Nelson Iluno was born in Oba town in Anambra State of Nigeria. He attended Community Primary School, Umuogali, Oba (1986-1987), Umuezegbogu Primary School, Okuzu, Oba (1987-1989), and United Primary School, Okuzu, Oba (1989-1992) formerly known as St. Thomas’ CMS Church School, Okuzu, Oba, which was the same school his cousin and mentor, Prof. Alexander Animalu attended. For secondary education, he attended Merchants of Light School, Oba, from 1992 to 1998, which was the same secondary school, the former Secretary General of Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku attended. He held office in secondary school as the Chapel Prefect. After his secondary education, he taught for one year (1998-1999) at Elshadai Comprehensive Secondary School, Oba, a private school.
He obtained Diploma in Theology Certificate at Bishop Crowther College of Theology, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria, from 1999 to 2002. He was ordained as an Anglican Clergy in July 28, 2002, by Late Rt. Rev. Laudamus Ereaku, the second Bishop of the Diocese of Bauchi, Bauchi State. Also, he was a student of Lagos Anglican Seminary.
He received Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Christian Education from West Africa Theological Seminary, Lagos, Nigeria, from 2004 to 2006, where he was taught by Prof. Herbert Eze, Dr. Gary Marxy and Dr. Peter Ozodo. In his first degree Thesis, he worked on “Re-examination of the Union of the Two Natures of Christ and its Implication for the Understanding of the Christian Faith and Theology”.
Also, he obtained his Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) at College of Education, Azare, Bauchi, from 2006 to 2007. With the assistance of his PGDE research supervisor, Malam C. Umar Tata, who stood firmly by him, he was able to complete his research on “The Influence of Family Background on the Academic Performance of Students in Secondary Schools in Shira Local Government Areas, Bauchi State”. After his teaching practice, he was retained as Christian Religious Knowledge teacher at Government Girl’s Science Secondary School, Yana, Shira LGA, Bauchi State, Nigeria. He served in the same school as student chaplain and CRK teacher from 2006 to 2008.
In January 24, 2012, he was offered admission with student identification number G10196603, to do MA in Intercultural Studies program in the School of Intercultural Studies of Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, United States of America. He earned a Master of Arts in Theology and Christian Studies degree from Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, from 2012 to 2014. Rt. Rev. Prof. Dapo Asaju and Ven. Prof. Udobata Onunwa mentored and supervised his Master’s degree dissertation entitled, “The Life and Times of Saint John Chrysostom and the Relevance to Christians in the Twenty-First Century”. His M.Th. and PhD are from the same institution. The field of his PhD is History of Christianity with concentration on Ecumenism. The Rt. Rev. Professor Dapo F. Asaju, Bishop Theologian and former Rector of Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary, and present Vice Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria, supervised his PhD research entitled, “An Examination of the ‘Unitatis Redinteratio’ Document of Vatican II in Relations to the Gains of the Modern Ecumenical Movement”.
Career
In January, 2008, Rev. Iluno was appointed the Editor-in-Chief of Rise and Shine Magazine, Diocese of Nnewi (Anglican Communion), by Mrs. Eugenia Okpala, Nnewi Diocesan President of Mothers’ Union. In the same vein, the Rt. Rev. G. I. N. Okpala, Bishop of Nnewi appointed him to be in the Editorial Team of Nnewi Diocesan Bible Study Outlines Series, in June, 2008. Remarkably, from 2004 to 2006, he served as a contributor and member of the Bible Study Team, Bible Study Outline Series of St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos.
Since his appointment in January, 2008, he has been the Editor of Rise and Shine Magazine, a publication of Mothers’ Union of the Diocese of Nnewi, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). He is the author of several nonfiction and devotional books, and has written for church titles including The Daily Fountain. He was a contributor and co-editor of the maiden edition of The Daily Fountain: The Daily Devotional Guide of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). He collaborated with Rt. Rev. Henry Ndukuba and Rt. Rev. Dr. James Oladunjoye on the maiden edition of this Daily Fountain. He is presently a consultant to the Daily Fountain devotional Team under the Liturgy and Spirituality Committee of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). He has also worked as a clergy Corresponding Assistant and reporter during clergy retreat at Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, Nigeria.
Since 2008, when the retired Ven. Nwokike Ekeyi handed over the membership of the Editorial Team of Daily Life Under God, Paul University, Awka, Anambra State, to him, he has been a very active member of the Team. Graciously, the Most Rev. Maxwell Anikwenwa, Emeritus Dean of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese, appointed him to served in the Editorial Team of the Daily Fountain: The Daily Devotional Guide of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) from 2010 to 2012. He has remained a consultant to the Daily Fountain Devotional Team till date.
In 2012, Rev. Nelson received letter of appointment from Rt. Rev. G. I. N. Okpala, Bishop of Nnewi, as the Assistant Secretary, Directorate of Social Communication, Diocese of Nnewi (Anglican Communion). He serves as the Secretary and member of the Planning and Implementation Committee (PIC) of the Proposed Pentecost University, Ozubulu, Anambra State, since 2012. In the same year, he became the Secretary of the Academic Brief Committee of Proposed Pentecost University, Ozubulu.
He works as a staff writer, writing feature articles for the DONAC Pilot Newspaper belonging to the Diocese of Nnewi. “Problem with Nigerian Education Curriculum”, is one of his articles on education in Thisday, a national newspaper in Nigeria. He has contributed several articles in the Guardian, a national Newspaper in Nigeria, since his ordination in July, 2002 at the age of 23. He participated in ‘The Big Test To Select 144, 000 Candidates For Heaven’, an interview conducted by Chris Irekamba of the Guardian Newspaper. He featured in a debate in the IbruCentre, The Guardian Newspaper, entitled: ‘Affluence: Where Clerics Must Draw The Line’. Also, ‘Christmas: A Unique Christian Festival’, is one of the opinion articles written by Rev. Nelson Iluno in the Authority Newspaper. Recently, he wrote the biography of the Late Dr. Felix Ugwunze, the Medical Director of FAH Hospital and Maternity, Oba.
Rev. Nelson Iluno is the Coordinator of Anaka Clifford Emelobe Scholarship Foundation (ACESF). This Foundation is an Oba town-based and individual funded not-for-profit institution. The Foundation was named after the Late father of Engr. A. C. Emelobe. As a non-governmental organization (NGO), it was founded and being funded by Engr. Augustine Chinedum Emelobe, a very reliable and well-known Chemical Engineer. He is a devout Christian, a philanthropist and the first son of Late Mr. Anaka Clifford Emelobe of Okuzumbana, Okuzu village, Oba town in Anambra State, Nigeria. Engr. Emelobe is a very hardworking man who motivates others to succeed by rewarding good performance. His neighbour’s welfare is always his priority and has been his major key role in educational development and human capacity building, particularly in his country home. It has been the passion of Rev. Iluno to serve humanity and contribute to the community development and empowerment. This Foundation has given him a very good platform to reach the indigent people in his community.
He studied Church History at Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. For his outstanding service he was awarded a certificate of Special Membership of Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) on August 15, 2013. He belongs to the Nigerian Association for Biblical Studies (NABIS), and Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN). He is a member of National Association for Educational Administration and Planning (NAEAP). Nelson is in covenant as a vision partner with Creflo Dollar Ministries, United States America. He is also one of the Nigeria nationwide distributors of The Word for Today, a devotional book written by Bob and Dabby Gass with Ruth Gass Halliday.
In the first Sharing of Ministries Abroad (SOMA) International Conference of Bishops and Archbishops, which was held in 2010, at St. Pirans Church, Diocese of Jos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), formal letter of invitation was extended to him, which gave him ample opportunity to participate actively in the conference. He presented a paper entitled ‘National Youth Service Corps (NYSC): A Mission Opportunity for the Anglican Communion’, at the Church of Nigeria National Youth Leadership Summit at Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Apo, Abuja, held from Wednesday 27th to Sunday 31 October 2010.
He remains committed to the breadth of Anglicanism, in its diversity of culture, spirituality and thought. Rev. Iluno is a donor and award prize giver. He donates award for the best student in Anglicanism annually during graduation and Convocation for Languages and Ministerial School of Crowther Graduate Theological Seminary, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
Rev. Nelson Iluno had served as the Vicar of St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Soro, Ganjuwa LGA, Bauchi, St. Luke’s Church, Murie, Tafawa Balewa LGA., and Ebenezer Church, Yana, Shira LGA, Bauchi. He was the Chaplain of Trinity Chapel, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria and of the Chapel of the Resurrection, College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
He is happily married to Mrs. Amala Chidiogo Iluno, a graduate of Computer Science from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria and former staff of Jubaili Company, Lagos, Nigeria. Rev. Iluno has more than 40 religious articles to his credit. His online articles can be found at www.nigeriaworld.com and www.assistnews.net also in www.authorityngr.com .
His published books include ‘Give to the Winds Your Fears’ (2015) and ‘A Glossary of Ecclesiastical and Liturgical Terms’ (2015), among others. Both books were published by Rehoboth Publishing, Lagos, Nigeria. In fact, A Glossary of Ecclesiastical and Liturgical Terms, is a testimony of Nelson’s avid interest in the study of liturgy and ecclesiastical history. He is a Lecturer in Liturgy and Sacramental Theology at the Post Ordination Training Centre, St. Andrew’s Diocesan Church Centre, Diocese of Nnewi, since April, 2008.
Published Books
* A Glossary of Ecclesiastical and Liturgical Terms, (Lagos: Rehoboth Publishing, 2015). (450 Pages) ISBN 978 978 49448 -8-5.
* Give To The Winds Your Fears, (Lagos: Rehoboth Publishing, 2015). (136 Pages) ISBN 978 978 49448 -0-9.

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