CAN confirms death of its General Secretary, Musa Asake
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has confirmed the demise of its General Secretary, Dr. Musa Asake.
CAN President, Rev Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, in a statement by his spokesman, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, described the passing as a great loss.
The official announcement reads: “The General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev Dr Musa Asake, 66, has passed away today, 11 May, 2018, after a brief illness. Asake was born on 15 September, 1952, Ung/Rimi Bajju- Kafanchan in Zango Kataf Local Government Council.
“His last official assignment was the Press Conference he addressed few days ago on the incessant killings in the country where CAN called on Christians to embark on a peaceful protest with a view to waking up the Federal Government with the security agencies to its constitutional responsibilities.
“Rev. Asake was between 1999 and May 2005, the General Secretary of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), with its headquarters in Jos, Nigeria. He was a pastor and teacher, conference speaker and counselor, rose to the office with a wealth of family, educational, academic, pastoral, teaching, education and church administration, cross-cultural, national and international, government and political experiences.
“He started his pastoral career as an assistant and senior pastor at the ECWA Church, Unguwar Rimi, Bajju, his hometown in Zangon Kataf Local Government of Kaduna State in 1976.
“In 1996, he became the pastor-in-charge of ECWA Headquarters Church in Jos on completion of his doctorate degree in philosophy, PhD at the Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas, USA with specialization in Bible Exposition. Between 1976 and 2012, the new CAN General Secretary pastored at three different churches and lectured part-time at Jos Theological Seminary (JETS).
“He was a member of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) between 1999 and 2005, Dr. Asake served as chairman and member of several Christian boards and governing councils, like the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board where he was chairman between 2003 and 2005.
“He served as a member of the Board of Trustee, ECWA Bingham University and became chairman, Ministers Development Initiative (MDI), Jos, Nigeria.
“Dr. Asake who lived in North America for 10 years had travelled to countries like the UK, Germany, India, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa, Ethiopia and Zambia for various ministries, conferences and seminars, including church-based leadership development seminar, Ames, Iowa, USA; United Nations Aid Summit 2002; SIM ECWA Related Churches Consultation in London, Ethiopia and South Africa and Haggai Institute on Leadership in Singapore in 2007.
“He is survived by wife, children, (biological and spiritual), brothers and sisters among others.
“May God console and comfort his immediate family, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), friends, and other well wishers.”
The funeral rites of the late cleric will be announced later.