About

PROFILE OF THE MOST. REV’D MICHAEL ICHA TESTIMONY SIMEON JP, ARCHBISHOP METHODIST CHURCH NIGERIA, ARCHDIOCESE OF IGEDE, BENUE STATE

Most Rev’d Michael Icha Testimony Simeon was born on the 28th February, 1970 in Otunche, Anchim, Oju LGA, Benue State to the late Mr. Simeon Iganga Agira and Mrs. Salome Eneyi Iganga. He is the first child and first Christian in the family. He holds the following academic and professional qualifications; HND in Accounting, National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Diploma in Theology (Dip. Th.), Chartered Accountant (CNA), Chartered Manager (MNIM), Certified Management Consultants (CMC), Fellow of Corporate Governance and Management (FCGM) and Fellow Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC) He holds Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA), Masters in Public Administration (MPA in Personnel Management), Masters of Divinity (M. Div Practical theology) and Advance Management Certificate. He is a Doctorate degree Candidate in Transformational Leadership (D.Min). Though his secondary education came under threat but his love for education challenged him to further his secondary education.

Most Rev’d Michael Icha Testimony Simeon attended the following institutions of learning; Local School Board/Local Government Education Department Primary School, Anchim Centre(1975/1981), Methodist High School, Ainu Igede (1982/1987), Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo (1989/1992-1995/1997), Methodist Theological Institute(MTI), Sagamu (2012/2014), Nigerian College of Accountancy, Jos (2005/2006), Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto (2006/2007), Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) (2012), National Open University (2007/2010). He also attended the following institutions for professional and management courses; Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Nigerian Institute of Management for Professional/Chartered Manager’ training, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria for Advance Management Course, and Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) for Presbyters’ and Senior Church Management Course, respectively.

Most Rev’d Michael Icha Testimony Simeon’s history of Ministerial progressions; Ordination, Preferment and Election as a Bishop are as follows; he was commissioned a Deacon in 2004, ordained a Priest in 2007, preferred a Presbyter in 2014 and elected a Bishop in 2018. Prior to his election, he has served as a Local Church Steward, Church Council Secretary, Trust Secretary, Youth President and Harvest Committee Secretary as well as Circuit Coordinator of Youth, Men’s Fellowships and Minister of Evangelism/Lay Preachers. His ministerial postings and work experience began as an Evangelist, Minister, and Priest in charge and as Associate Presbyter respectively, in MCN Kado, Abuja from 2001/2005, Methodist Cathedral of Unity, Wuse, Abuja from 2005/2008, MCN Mpape, Abuja, 2008/2009, Wesley Church, Ikoyi, Lagos from 2009/2010, City Mission Methodist Circuit/Church, Surulere, Lagos from 2010/2016, Methodist Cathedral of Peace and Excellence, Opebi Circuit Ikeja, Lagos from 2016/2018.The Bishop was elected the pioneer Archbishop of Igede Archdiocese at the 48^th/13^th Biennial Conference hosted by the Benue Archdiocese in Abuja on 14^th August, 2022.

Most Rev’d Michael Icha Testimony Simeon’s business and professional working experience includes as a Salesman/Manager, Ije-Awele and Easy Life Enterprises, Funtua, Katsina State (1988/89 and 1992/1994), Funtua Textiles Limited (1994/1995), Finance Office II (NYSC), Obingwa Local Government Council (1998/1999), Accounts Officer/Hospital Cashier, Abuja Clinics Limited, (1999/2000), Vice Principal Administration and Principal respectively, Starlight Education Centre, Abuja (2000/2001) and Accountant, MCN Diocese of Abuja and Wesley Schools, Wuse, Abuja (2001/2008). In MCN Conference Headquarters, Lagos (2009/2018), he had served as the Income Monitoring Officer, Funds/Financial Accountant and Administrative Officer. He was the Director/Managing Director, MCN Bookshops Limited and a Member of the Board of Directors. He was the Secretary of the MCN Technical Committee. He had successfully managed the Administrative and Record Office, Conference Merit/Honorific Award, Housing Scheme, Finance and Strategic Planning Committee and Ministers’ Bio-data, etc. In that capacity, he also served as the Project Officer /Secretary for Welfare Policy Committee, and Diocesan Merit Committee as well as the Acting Secretary, 170th/50th Anniversary Committee. He is an experience financial Analyst, Reporter, Seminarian and a versatile Public Speaker. He founded Otume Consult Nigeria Limited and Salome-Simeon Foundation for Rural Development (a Non-Government Organization). He’s the Chairman, Board of Governor, Edawu Centre for Mental Health and Co-Proprietor, Methodist High School, Ainu, Oju LGA, Benue State.

Most Rev’d Michael Icha Testimony Simeon had held several other positions of responsibilities within the Church and outside the Church. He played a noble part in the planting of the first Methodist Church in Funtua, Katsina State in 1989. He was the Senior Prefect/Head boy and acting President, Fellowship of Christian Students, Methodist High School, Ainu-Igede (1986/87), President of the National Union of Igede Students, Benue State Polytechnic, Ugbokolo (1996/97), Class Governor, ANAN Professional Training, Abuja (2005), Class Governor, MPA (2010 Class) and the President of Masters Students’ Council, West Africa Theological Seminary (2014/2015), General Secretary of the West Africa Theological Seminary Alumni(2016/2017), and President, West Africa Theological Seminary, Ipaja, Lagos (2017/2021) and member, Governing Council of West Africa Theological Seminary, Lagos Nigeria. He is a Member of the Board for Theological Education, Methodist Church Nigeria and Governing Council Chairman, Hassan Odukale Methodist Theological College (HOMTC) Zonkwa, Kaduna State (2019 to date).

Most Rev’d Michael Icha Testimony Simeon is a member of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International. He has received the award of the Grand Ambassador of Peace (GAP) in 2018. In 2021, the Bishop was appointed an International Peace Advocate and awarded Justice for Peace (JP) from the United Nations Organization (UN-POLAC). He has also received various Meritorious/Peace awards from Churches, Institutions and the world of Academics. He participated regularly in Peace House Apex Ministry Leadership Retreat in Gboko and several leadership and Management Seminars and Workshops.

Most Rev’d Michael Icha Testimony Simeon is married to Queen Esther Ichiko Simeon and blessed with four children (Salome, Grace, Simeon Junior and Miracle) to the glory of God. He love reading and endowed with special skills in Interpersonal Relationship, Management, and transformative Leadership, Discipleship, Innovation and Visionary. He believes in integrity, diligence, excellence, loyalty, contribution and service.