AFRICA/NIGERIA - Bishop of Kano resigns, successor appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on March 20, 2008, accepted the resignation of the pastoral government of the diocese of Kano (Nigeria), presented by Bishop Patrick Francis Sheehan, O.S.A., in conformity with the Code of Canon Law, canon 401 § 1. The Holy Father has appointed Father John Niyiring, O.S.A., Provincial Superior of the Augustinians in Nigeria, to be bishop of Kano (Nigeria).
The bishop-elect was born June 4, 1960 in Zonkwa (Kaduna State), in the Diocese of Kafanchan. After having received a Bachelor of Arts in Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, he entered the Major Seminary in Jos, and later, the Order of Augustinian Fathers. He was ordained a priest July 12, 1992.
He has since ministered as follows: 1992-1994: Master of Augustinian Postulants in Jos; 1994-1999: studies for a doctorate in Spiritual Theology in Rome, at the Gregorian Pontifical University; 1999-2002: Member of the Formation Team at the Augustinian Monastery in Jos; 2002-2003: pastoral ministry in Benin City; 2003-2005: Master of Students at the Augustinian House of Philosophy and professor at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Makurdi. Since 2005, he has been Provincial Superior of the Augustinians in Nigeria.
The Diocese of Kano, suffragate of the Archdiocese of Kaduna, was established in 1999. It has an area of 43,178 sq. km., a population of 13,732,331, of which 139,353 are Catholics, with 29 parishes, 29 diocesan priests, 5 religious priests, and 17 women religious. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 26/3/2008; righe 21, parole 242)