The Bible Society of Nigeria ( BSN)has restated its commitment to continue to play a leading role in the translation of the Written Word of God and to publish the Scriptures without doctrinal notes or comments.
The Chairman of the Rivers/Bayelsa Area of the Society, Omoni Ayo-Tamuno, BSN-SPM disclosed this during the Founders Day Celebration at the First African Church Mission Saint Paul’s Cathedral, Okrika in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State yesterday..
Ayo-Tamuno said: ” the need to publish the Scriptures without doctrinal notes and comments is for the Society to remain as neutral body so as to serve the various sects in the Christian Community more effective”.
He said since the inauguration of the BSN on February 8, 1966 the Society had translated and published complete Bibles in 27 Nigerian Languages.
The Area Chairman further stated that 60 New Testaments, 98 portions of the Scriptures in Nigerian Languages have been translated and published, adding that 10 translation projects are currently going on various Nigerian languages for the Church of Christ.
Ayo-Tamuno said out of the 27 language complete Bibles published, four Bibles namely Khana, Kalabari, Nembe and Okrika are from the Rivers/Bayelsa Area.
The Chairman further revealed the ongoing translation work in the Area for Eleme, Epie and Ogbia languages which saying that the Kolokuma Language Bible was awaiting the consent of the people to start the project.
He, therefore, solicited the cooperation of the Okrika Diocese and the South South Archdiocese of the First African Church Mission to double their support to the Society to record more successes.
Elder Ayo-Tamuno called on the Mission to make annual budget allocation to the Society and appealed to the leadership to encourage its members to registerr as members of the Society.
Later in his speech, the Dean of the Cathedral, Venerable Gift Monday Ogolo JP who stood in for the Archbishop, the Most Revd Dr Solomon G. Abinbola JP assured that the Mission would support the Society to achieve its aims and objectives and thanked the Society for choosing the Cathedral to host the Founders Day Celebration.
Highlight of the occasion was the presentation of Special Member Certificate to Princess Tubo-Oyi Doris Oputibeya who is also the Second Vice Chairman of the Area and new Testament Bibles to the Church.
