Africa’s ‘largest’ statue of Jesus is set to be unveiled in Nigeria.
A Nigerian businessman will unveil the statue that he says is the biggest one of its kind, describing it as a symbol of peace in the West African country that has been riddled by Islamists insurgency.
Obinna Onuoha commissioned the 8.53m tall “Jesus de Greatest” statue in 2013, hiring a Chinese company to carve it out of white marble.
The 40 ton statue of Jesus standing barefoot with arms outstretched will tower over St. Aloysius Catholic Church in the mainly Christian village of Abajah in Nigeria’s south eastern state of Imo.
“It’s going to be the biggest statue of Jesus on the continent,” said Onuoha, the 43-year-old chief executive officer of an oil and gas distribution company.
Around 1000 pilgrims are expected to attend the statue’s unveiling on New Year’s Day.
Onuoha said that he has contracted the police to ensure that the statue is not attacked or vandalized.
