Aba Nigeria Temple

Dedication of the Aba Nigeria Temple

Many local Latter-day Saints who attended the open house of the Aba Nigeria Temple from June 18 to July 2, 2005, were seen with tears of joy in their eyes.

Clement Nwafor, the deputy governor of Abia State, said, “This is the Restoration. This temple will be one of the greatest blessings in Nigeria. It is going to lift our spiritual life in Aba. I am grateful for President Gordon B. Hinckley. I believe the Church is true and that Gordon B. Hinckley is a Prophet.”

A local Latter-day Saint expressed their joy for the new temple: “I am so glad God led me to this Church. I thank Him for letting me see this kind of building in my lifetime. I felt such Spirit that I am overwhelmed.”

Emeka Ubani, part of the Nigeria Civil Service, said, “I came [to the open house] to honor an invitation extended to me by a friend, who is a member of your Church. This place was completely beyond my imagination. I was almost tensed up with emotion. I have never felt this way before. If human beings can erect this type of place, what will heaven look like?”

Church President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the Aba Nigeria Temple on Aug. 7, 2005. A total of 7,415 Saints attended one of the event’s four dedicatory sessions.

“I have confidence that the presence of this temple will become a great blessing to the people of Nigeria,” the Prophet said in a news conference the day before the dedication. He said the temple “speaks of goodness and virtue and truth and lifts the eyes of people toward God. I think that they cannot have that kind of experience without becoming better. A whole nation will be strengthened.”

Dedicatory prayer excerpt: “Almighty Father, to whom we bow with reverence and love, hear our prayer of dedication on this historic day. We are gathered together in a solemn assembly. Our hearts are filled with thanksgiving for this day when Thy holy house is completed.”

Read the dedicatory prayer of the Aba Nigeria Temple here.

On April 2, 2000, President Gordon B. Hinckley announced Nigeria’s first temple. Two years later, Elder H. Bruce Stucki presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Aba Nigeria Temple on Feb. 23, 2002. An open house was held from June 18 to July 2, 2005. President Hinckley dedicated the temple Aug. 7, 2005.

Architecture and Design of the Aba Nigeria Temple

The Aba temple was built at approximately 11,500 square feet. The exterior features Namibian granite from South Africa. The 6.3-acre temple grounds are designed with indigenous trees, shrubs and flowers.

The interior features a type of African hardwood called Makore — a wood similar to mahogany. Furniture placed in the temple is made of Akala, a type of light-colored wood decorated with gold leafing.

“Colors used in this temple are more vivid because African fabrics are more colorful,” said designer Bengt Erlandsson. “Much thought and planning went into these designs.” Erlandsson spent several months in Africa studying African fabrics in order to receive inspiration for the temple’s interior.

The carpet features custom designs and was sculpted by hand. The floor tile and windows throughout the temple also include African-inspired images.