The EYN Church of the Brethren in Nigeria retired Rev. Ephraim Ibrahim Kadala from active Service as a minister in the Church.
The retirement service was held today 24, November, 2024 at Kulp Theological Seminary Chapel.
The Occasion was graced by several well wishers from within the EYN Territory.
Rev. Ephraim Ibrahim Kadala’s Biography: A Man of Faith, Service and Peacebuilding.
Born on September 23, 1960, to Ibrahim Kadala and Mrs. Martha Ibrahim Kadala in Uvu, Askira/Uba LGA, Borno State, Nigeria, Rev. Ephraim Ibrahim Kadala is a distinguished clergyman, educator, and peace advocate. His life’s work has been marked by dedication to humanitarian service, conflict resolution, and interfaith dialogue.
Education and Career
Rev. Kadala’s academic journey began at Uvu Primary School (1967-1974) and continued at Government Secondary Uba (1974-1979). He worked with the Borno Ministry of Education (1980-1982) before attending the Borno College of Basic Studies (1982-1984). He furthered to the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN) in 1997-2001 where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree. Upon completion, he was posted to the then Kulp Bible College where he taught from 2001-2003. He was later transferred to John Guli Bible School to serve as the Principal in 2003. Same year, he got into the Graduate School Bossey in Geneva, Switzerland and studied there for a year, then came back in 2004 after completion. From Bossey, Geniva, he proceeded back to TCNN and earned a Master’s Degree in Islamic Studies from 2006-2008. He was retained in TCNN upon graduation and stayed there until he was transfered to EYN LCC Mararaba in 2011. He became the Resident Pastor of EYN LCC Mararaba Mubi from 2011-2015.
From LCC Mararaba, he was transferred to EYN Headquarters to serve as an administrator of the Trauma Healing Project designed by the Mennonite Central Committee and the EYN Headquarters. Shortly after, he was assigned a new responsibility which was the Peace coordinator of the Disaster Relief Ministry, now Disaster Relief Management, which made him the head of EYN Peace program.
In 2018, he was re – assigned to Kulp Theological Seminary were he served for three years. In 2020, he was transferred back to the Headquarters to serve as the Coordinator of the EYN Peace Program, a position he held until his retirement.
Humanitarian Work and Recognition/ International Engagements
Rev. Kadala’s commitment to humanitarian work has taken him to various National and International training sessions. Some of the training sessions he attended and facilitated include: Master Facilitator in Trauma Healing and Resilience Training in Rwanda, Kigali (2015), Master Facilitator for Alternative Violence Project in Rwanda (2016), Master Facilitator in Turning the Tides of Violence in Rwanda (2017), Facilitator in Inter-Faith Training in Berlin, Germany (2017).
Due to his dedication, he was invited to Germany to receive an International Peace Prize The Michael Satler on behalf of EYN and CAMPI in 2016. He was also invited to an International Peace Conference organized by the Deputy Chancellor of Germany in 2017 where religious leaders from all faiths were invited from over 50 countries. He also attended a conference organized for Restless Leaders by the Mennonite Central Committee in Kampala, Uganda in 2017. He was also invited to the International Conference of the Alternatives to Violence in Katmandu, Nepal in 2017. He also went on an Inter-Faith study tour to Indonesia organized by Mission 21 and EYN. He was also invited to the Berlin German International Church Day (Kerchentag) as a Keynote Speaker in 2017, among many others too numerous to mention.
Rev. Kadala’s line of work led him to visit several countries outside Nigeria which include: Switzerland, Germany, Italy (Rome), Dubai, New Delhi (India), Indonesia, Turkey, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Literary Contributions
Rev. Kadala is an accomplished author, penning:
– “Turn the Other Cheek: A Christian Dilemma”
– “Two Hundred Years of Islamic Fundamentalism in Northern Nigeria from Dan Fodio to Boko Haram”
– Co-author, EYN Centenary Book and several others.
