The following is excerpted from the Church Newsroom. To read the full article, CLICK HERE. 

At the general conference leadership session on Thursday, April 3, 2025, 78 new Area Seventies were announced and presented for a sustaining vote. Another 57 Area Seventies will be released on or before August 1, 2025.

Area Seventies are leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called by the First Presidency to be “especial witnesses” and to assist the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in “building up the church and regulating all the affairs” and “preaching and administering the gospel” in their assigned areas (Doctrine and Covenants 107:25, 34, 38). They act under the keys and direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Area Seventies are called and set apart to serve in specific geographical areas but may also be assigned to serve in other areas as needed. They are not called to full-time service and typically serve for five years.

Though all Seventies have equal authority, some are designated as General Authorities and others are designated as Area Seventies.

New Area Seventies (78 Total)

Third Quorum of the Seventy (Africa Central, Africa South, and Africa West Areas)

  • Jonah Akekere, 59, Yenagoa, Nigeria; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor of Development Economics, Niger Delta University; currently serving as president of the Yenagoa Nigeria Stake; former branch president, and district president; wife: Biriyai; five children.
  • Ignatius K. Baidoo, 56, Accra, Ghana; currently serving as president of the Nigeria Benin City Mission; former high councilor, stake presidency counselor, and stake president; wife: Adelaide; three children.
  • William G. Coleman, 53, Cape Coast, Ghana; Registered Mortgage Engineer, ECG Ltd; currently serving as Sunday School president; former bishop, bishopric counselor, high councilor, mission president, and stake president; wife: Philomina; one child.
  • Freeman Dickie, 42, Beira, Mozambique; Family Search Field Relation Manager, Family Search International; currently serving as missionary recruiting committee member of the Mozambique Coordinating Council; former bishopric counselor, district presidency, and stake president; wife: Sukoluhle; four children.
  • Mathias N. Niambe, 43, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire; Welfare and Self-Reliance Manager, Abidjan Service Center; currently serving as president of the Nigeria Lagos Mission; former bishop, and stake presidency counselor; wife: Clemence; three children.
  • Prince S. Nyanforh, 57, Monrovia, Liberia; School Proprietor, Self-Employed; currently serving as president of the Virginia Liberia Stake; former bishop, branch president, district president, mission presidency counselor, and stake president; wife: Celia; five children.

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.