Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Benin City, Nigeria Temple
In Benin City, Nigeria, on May 24, 2025, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on a Saturday for the Benin City, Nigeria Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, marking a historic moment for members in the region.
Elder Adeyinka A. Ojediran, First Counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency, presided over the ceremony and offered the dedicatory prayer. He was joined by his wife, Olufunmilayo, and Elder Isaac K. Morrison, Second Counselor, and his wife, Hannah.
In April 2020, Church President Russell M. Nelson announced that the temple would be Nigeria’s third, following Aba and Lagos. The temple, which includes an arrival center and patron housing, will be constructed on a 2.17-acre site at 16 Commercial Avenue.
In his remarks, Elder Ojediran emphasized the sacred role of temples in drawing closer to God and receiving eternal blessings. “Temples are houses of the Lord… places of peace and learning, where we can seek spiritual guidance and receive revelations,”he said.
Local Church leaders, youth, and longtime members participated in the event, including Elder Charles O. Oide, Area Seventy; youth representatives Opeyemi Folorunsho Sunday and Eunice Ebevuhe; and Church pioneer Frank O. Erahabor.
Once completed, the Benin City, Nigeria Temple will serve thousands of Latter-day Saints in southern Nigeria and contribute to the Church’s expanding presence in West Africa.
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