Immanuel Anglican Church
Ikobirima Polo

The year 2005 marked a great milestone in the Anglican Church history in Azuabie Town. Bishop Tubokosemie R. Abere JP, in one of his Episcopal visits to St. Thomas Anglican Church, Azuabie, took to heart the vastness of the community and charged the then Priest, Revd. Oribi Kalio, to establish other Anglican Churches in the area.

Revd. Kalio took the bull by the horns. After establishing the Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit at Amoni Polo, the Community Elders generously released another parcel of land at Ikobirima Polo. It is worthy to note that the land donated for this church building was initially earmarked for a community Health Centre, but courtesy of Chief A.S.B.C Okujagu and the Elders, it was given to the Church!

On Sunday 18th to Tuesday 20th December 2005, a major gospel crusade with the theme: “JESUS THE WAY THE TRUTH & THE LIFE” was initiated by Revd. Oribi Kalio in conjunction with the Archdeaconry and the Diocesan Mission team. By the end of the crusade, the Lord Bishop officially opened the church.

The first official church service was incredibly unique. It was held on Christmas Day (Sunday, 25th December 2005) under a canopy. A beautiful, repeating testimony from that period was that it always rained either just before or right after the Church services, sparing the open-air congregation. Elder Franklin Okujagu notably donated 100 plastic chairs to make their worship more comfortable.

On Christmas Eve of 2006, the Lord Bishop christened the church. Several names were suggested by members that evening, but Sis. Celine Ojimba and Sis. Pleasant Wariboko proposed "Immanuel," which deeply resonated with the season, finalizing its name as Immanuel Anglican Church, Ikobirima Polo.

To finally do away with the open canopy, brethren zealously raised funds for a permanent structure. Chief A.S.B.C Okujagu generously donated ₦100,000 to kick-start block molding, and Late Mr. Clifford Amoni supplied most of the sand at his personal expense. The resulting blocks were blessed by Bishop T.R. Abere as the foundation was laid.

In 2007, Catechist Iritamunonye Hart was posted to the church, leading a tremendous spiritual revival and numerical increase, preparing the church for an even greater leap.

Continuous evangelism and faithful administration caused the church to grow into a spiritual powerhouse. Following positive infrastructural evaluations, the Diocesan Board formally granted Immanuel Anglican Church an autonomous Parish Status, effective January 1, 2019. It was fully inaugurated on January 18, 2020.

The church stands today as the "Centre of God's Presence"—a divine beacon of light, healing, and salvation directly impacting its neighborhood.