New Principal Announcement for Nazarene Bible College of East Africa
The Regional Director for the Africa Region Church of the Nazarene, Dr Daniel Gomis, is pleased to announce that the Board of Nazarene Bible College of East Africa has elected Rev Richard Awanda as the new principal. Rev Awanda succeeds Dr Elijah King’Ori.
Regional Education Coordinator, Dr Gabriel Benjiman, expressed gratitude for the thorough and diligent work of the search committee, the board chair, Cresencia Kisoi, and the team who worked closely with the Field Strategy Coordinator, Rev Stanley Ushe. Dr Benjiman remarked, “We deeply appreciate the thorough process and the dedication of everyone involved. Rev Awanda is a capable and passionate leader, and with the support of his family and the academic team, we are confident he will exceed the expectations for developing both clergy and Christian leaders.”
Rev Richard Awanda Ligare, born in 1972 in western Kenya, is married to Alice Awanda. The couple is blessed with four children: Lilian, Vincent, Tonny, and Johnmark.
A committed Christian, Rev Awanda accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour in 1991 while still in high school. He became a member of the Church of the Nazarene in October 1994, renewing his covenant relationship with God.
Throughout his ministry, Rev Awanda has served in various capacities within the Church of the Nazarene. His roles have included church custodian and acting librarian at Nazarene Bible College of East Africa (NBCEA). Between 2013 and 2018, he was an adjunct lecturer at Africa Nazarene University in the School of Religion and Christian Ministry.
Currently, Rev Awanda serves as registrar and academic dean at Nazarene Bible College of East Africa where he has dedicated over 22 years of his life to education and ministry. For the past three years, he has also served as lead pastor of the University Church of the Nazarene.
Rev Awanda holds a Master of Arts in Religion and is currently pursuing a PhD at Africa Nazarene University where he has completed his coursework and is now focusing on his dissertation. He is also an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene.
The Africa Region and the wider Church of the Nazarene are confident that Rev Awanda’s leadership will continue to advance the mission of Nazarene Bible College of East Africa and support the growth of the church in East Africa.
