ACU to Host International Conference on Legacy of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther

Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, is set to host an International Conference from Tuesday, November 3, to Friday, November 6, 2026, in honour of the enduring legacy of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African Anglican Bishop and a renowned linguist and educator.

The conference, themed “Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther and Contemporary Africa: Reimagining Faith, Scholarship, Leadership and Nation Building,” is expected to bring together scholars, clergy and policymakers to examine how Crowther’s historical contributions can provide insights into contemporary challenges, including governance, social inequality and identity conflicts.

Born in Osogun, in present-day Oyo State, Samuel Ajayi Crowther was captured by slave raiders as a teenager and sold to Portuguese traders. He was later rescued by the British Royal Navy in 1822 and taken to Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Crowther was baptised and educated under the Church Missionary Society, where he developed his scholarly and missionary career. He later produced the first Yoruba dictionary and translated the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer into Yoruba.

He was consecrated Bishop of the Niger Territories in 1864 at Canterbury Cathedral, becoming the first African Anglican Bishop.

As a missionary, educator and linguist, Crowther pioneered Christian missions across the Niger region and advocated education as a pathway to African self-determination.

The conference will provide a platform for participants to reflect on his contributions to faith, scholarship, leadership and nation building and consider their relevance to contemporary Africa.

Further details about the conference are contained in the conference flyer.