AFRICA/NIGERIA - Resignation of the Bishop of Nsukka and appointment of successor

Saturday, 13 April 2013

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Holy Father Francis accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Nsukka (Nigeria), by His Exc. Mgr. Francis Emmanuel Ogbonna Okobo, in accordance with can. 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law.
The Holy Father appointed Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, Vice-Rector of the Pontifical Urban University and Consultant of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops as Bishop of Nsukka (Nigeria). Rev. Godfrey Igwebuike Onah was born on August 18, 1956, in Imilike Ani, inUdenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. After attending local schools, in 1977, he entered Bigard Memorial Major Seminary (now St. Joseph's Seminary) in Ikot-Ekpene for courses in Philosophy and at the Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Enugu, where he held courses in Theology (1977 -1984).
He was ordained a priest on July 28, 1984 for the Diocese of Enugu, and then incardinated in Nsukka.
After ordination he held the following positions: 1984-1987: Assistant priest of St. Mary, Opanda/Nimbo; 1987-1988: Professor at the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri; 1988-1992: License and Doctorate in Philosophy at the Urban University, Rome; since 1992: Professor of Philosophy at the Pontifical Urban University and other Universities in Italy; 1993-1994: Pastoral collaborator at San Pius X church, Rome; 1994-1997: Parish Administrator at S. Anthony of Padua and Santa Palomba in the diocese of Albano (Rome); 1997-2000: Center for Missionary Apostolate, Diocese of Albano; 2000-2005 Chaplain of the Ecclesial Movement of Cultural Commitment, in the diocese of Albano; 2001-2007: Director of the Institute for Research on Non-Faith and Culture, Faculty of Philosophy, Urban University; 2003-2009: Prefect of Studies, Pontifical Urban University, Rome; 2003 Peritus at the XI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist; 2004 Peritus at the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God.
Since 2008 he has been Vice Rector of the Pontifical Urban University, Rome.


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