David W. Eka

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David William Eka (born 1945-05-20) was the first stake president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in West Africa. He was president of the Aba, Nigeria Stake and is often regarded as one of the founding pioneer members of the church in Nigeria.[1] Eka has also served as an area seventy and as a mission president in the LDS Church.

Eka was born in Etinan, Nigeria. During the Biafran War, he committed to God that if he survived the war he would devote his life to serving others. He was first introduced to the LDS Church by his uncle in the early 1970s. He did not join the church then or when he went to England just after marrying Ekaete David in 1974. He often met LDS missionaries in England but did not then join the church.[2] Eka got his bachelor's degree in electronics engineering from Teesside Polytechnic.[3]

After returning to Nigeria, Eka joined the LDS Church in September 1979, less than a year after the first LDS baptisms in Nigeria.[4][2] Shortly after his baptism, he helped translate the Book of Mormon into Efik.[2]

Eka worked for AGIP Oil Company which he retired from as head of production support.[5]

Eka served as a branch president, conselor to a mission president, district president, and in 1988 became president of the newly organized Aba Nigeria Stake.[2]

In 1990, Eka became a Regional Representative of the Twelve Apostles. From 1997 to 2001 he served as an Area Authority Seventy. From 2001 to 2004 he served as president of the Nigeria Lagos Mission of the church. After the dedication of the Aba Nigeria Temple, Eka became a sealer in that temple. In April 2007, Eka was again called as an area seventy in the church.[5]

Eka and his wife Ekaete are the parents of seven children.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ LDS Church News, January 28, 2006.
  2. ^ a b c d LeBaron, E. Dale, "David W. Eka" in Garr, Arnold K., Donald Q. Cannon and Ricahrd O. Cowan, ed., Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint Church History p. 325–327.
  3. ^ LDS Church News, March 17, 2001.
  4. ^ LDS Church News, 13 August 2005.
  5. ^ a b LDS Church News, June 9, 2007.

[edit] References

  • David William Eka, "Growing with the Church", in E. Dale LeBaron (ed.) (1990). "All are Alike unto God": Fascinating conversion stories of African Saints (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft) pp. 55-64.
  • Alexander B. Morrison (1990). The Dawning of a Brighter Day: The Church in Black Africa (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book) pp. 90–91.