Apart from preaching at many churches throughout the Coventry diocese, promotion of the Jacaranda project and the need for water holes and bore-holes featured highly on Abiodun's visit.

In October 2005 Abiodun Ogumyemi was made Bishop of Damaturu, we wish him well, his contact details have been changed.

Mrs Agnes Awogbami (Head Teacher from St. Michael's Primary School) and
Mrs. Rahila Malam
(Teacher from Our Saviours Primary School)

After several years of trying we have eventually obtained visas for the two teachers from Kaduna and they arrived in the Coventry diocese on 23rd September 2009 for a three week visit. The teachers are Mrs. Agnes Lonpe Awogbami who is the Head Teacher of St. Michael's Primary school (Nearly 500 students) next to the Cathedral and Mrs. Rahila Joshua-Mallam who is Head of Nursery and Primary 1&2 at Our Saviours Primary school, They have had a very busy programme visiting primary schools to shadow and assist the teachers, their objective is establish best practice and see what can be taken back the the church schools in Kaduna.

During their visit they have been in Shipston-on-Stour, Kineton and Brailes primary schools, and also Finhan Pre-School on Coventry.

They were also asked to meet Bishop John during their visit and they can seen below:

o
Left to right: Jim Saxton, Rahila Mallam, Bishop John, Agnes Awogbami, Ann Saxton.

Ann Saxton who has led this programme has agreed with the then Head of Primary Education Venerable Praises Omole that the teachers on return will ensure their schools introduce and also through workshops communicate this to the linked schools in Kaduna established during her visit to Kaduna in January/February 2009.

Also whilst they have been here, Jim Saxton has trained them in computer skills, and it is now hoped with their email capability we will be able to continue to communicate with them on their return.

The Links coordinator is Ann Saxton and can be contacted 01295 680613 or ann.saxton@tiscali.co.uk

Christians and Muslims, supported by the International Centre for Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral. The Bishop of Coventry was able to make a presentation to an Inter-faith group who have done some excellent work of reconciliation in the city.

John Burrell was able to attend a meeting at Jacaranda Farm of all the clergy and Parochial Church Councils in the Diocese. It was a very colourful gathering and it was a privilege for me to understand some of the issues that they are facing.

Abiodun was moving to the Parish of St Christopher in Kaduna . John attended his service of Institution and Induction taken by Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon. It was wonderful to be there and to meet his wife and children and his new parishioners. john hopes that we will be able to strengthen this link as we have so much to learn from each other.

This trip had three objectives:
Ann to review the state in Primary Schools and follow-up of books.
Jim to build and train staff in maintenance of a website for the Kaduna Diocese.
Christine - to review the state of the clinic at Yelwa-Danwata and follow up Mother's Union contacts.

This successful visit achieved the following:

• Training of 12 priests in how to use internet.
• Training of 3 priests in how to maintain the diocesan website
• Training of Bishop Josiah in how to maintain the "Bishop's word" part of the Diocesan website.
• Training of 4 teachers in the maintenance of the new St. Michael's College website.
• Review of water wells including two meeting with Well Committee and conclusion of future costs of wells and way forward.
• Visit and review of many Primary Schools.
• Workshop for Primary School teachers on Language Learning in early years, well attended and very productive.
• Discussion and agreement with Bishop Josiah on which teachers should visit Coventry in September 2009.
• Review with Health Committee, which aided thinking on support to health in Kaduna.
• Meeting with newly formed Companionship Links Committee, to exchange ideas and agree a way forward.