Koni Dokong 1945-2013

Husband, father, pastor, theologian, lecturer, politician and committed Grace & Light trustee

With heavy hearts we announce the call to glory of Nigerian trustee Rev Dr Koni Dokong who died on 10 November 2013 after a brief illness.

Koni was a faithful trustee from the inception of Grace & Light ten years ago and was instrumental in securing a partnership with the Evangelical Reformed Church of Christ (ERCC) for volunteers to visit ERCC churches to share our vision and test members.

As well as being an ordained ERCC minister, Koni spent most of his career as an education lecturer at the University of Jos. He had a spell as Commissioner for Education in Plateau State (the equivalent of Minister of State) and was seconded as Principal to the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN) for four years.

Thus he and Mark Hopkins knew each other well. “Koni was our next-door neighbour for a long time. One day some twenty years ago he and I were talking in our back garden while a student was working hard nearby, digging out a burgu (an extremely large species of rat) from its underground burrow.

“Suddenly the burgu made a dash for freedom, catching the student off his guard. But not Koni! As it scuttled past Koni stooped, grabbed its tail, swung it to bash its head against the rim of the nearby swimming pool and gave it to the grateful student. All without interrupting his usual animated conversation.”

Koni is mourned by his wife Henrietta, children Rhibano, Yashim, Mbari, Rhinake and Rhishie, and by all who knew him.