Abuja —President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on Sunday formally inaugurated the newly completed National Assembly Chapel, bringing to life a project first envisioned nearly two decades ago by Christian lawmakers.
Details of the ceremony were contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Senate President’s media office.
The dedication of the chapel concludes a 19-year journey that began during the Sixth National Assembly when members of the Christian Legislators Fellowship first proposed establishing a permanent worship centre within the National Assembly complex. For years, according to Akpabio, Christian lawmakers held prayer meetings in temporary locations, often making use of borrowed offices and improvised spaces.
Addressing attendees at the commissioning, the Senate President described the chapel as the product of persistence and shared faith among successive assemblies. He recalled that when he assumed leadership of the 10th Senate and inspected the designated site, the structure had been left unattended and overgrown.
He said the decision to complete the project reflected a determination that the vision would not be abandoned. The chapel, he noted, stands as a testament to perseverance and collective commitment rather than individual effort.
Akpabio, who currently represents Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District and previously served as governor of Akwa Ibom State, spoke about his personal journey in public service and attributed his political successes to divine grace. He said the chapel would serve as a place where lawmakers can seek guidance as they carry out their constitutional responsibilities.
The First Lady, a former senator who represented Lagos Central in the Seventh Assembly, was commended for her support toward the completion and formal opening of the project. Akpabio described her presence at the ceremony as symbolic and expressed appreciation to individuals and groups who contributed financially and otherwise to the construction.
He emphasised that the chapel is intended to function as a spiritual centre within Nigeria’s highest legislative institution, providing lawmakers a dedicated space for reflection and prayer.
The Senate President also acknowledged the broader religious context of the event, noting that the dedication coincided with a period of spiritual observance for Muslim faithful. He called for unity and urged Nigerians across religious divides to continue praying for peace, stability, and progress in the country.
With the commissioning, Christian members of the National Assembly now have a permanent worship facility within the complex a development supporters describe as a milestone for the fellowship that began nearly two decades ago with meetings held in temporary quarters.
