66 years after the conception of the idea for the translation of the Holy Bible from English language into Jukun, Gen Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), on Friday inaugurated the Jukun Bible institute designed by ATO Architects which [was commissioned by Development Africa] to ease the understanding of the Bible by the Jukun people.

Danjuma explained that the idea of the Jukun Bible institute was started in 1956 by an American lady, Margrete Dykestra, who was assisted by a Nigerian, Mallam Jeol Omiri, to translate the Bible into the Jukun language.

Our design leaned a great deal on “a convergence of African traditional materials and a European church building typology, resulting in a harmonious design language representative of the vision for cultural Bible education behind the creation of the Jukun Bible Institute”. The Jukun tribe are a people living on the upper Benue River in Nigeria. They are commonly believed to be descendants of the people of Kororofa, one of the most powerful Sudanic kingdoms during the late European Middle Ages.

The inauguration event was attended by the Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Anthony Jelason.