AFRICA/NIGERIA - Coadjutor Bishop of Ekiti appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on April 16, 2008, appointed Fr. Felix Femi Ajakaye of the clergy of Ekiti, Nigeria, pastor of St. Michael Catholic church in Opopogboro (Ado-Ekiti), as coadjutor bishop of Ekiti.
Fr. Felix Femi Ajakaye was born May 25, 1962 in Ibadan. He attended grammar school in Oluyoro-Titun (Ibadan), entered the Minor Seminary of Oke-Are (Ibadan) in 1974, where he remained until 1980, when he entered the Major Seminary of Saint Peter and Paul in Bodija (Ibadan). He was ordained July 4, 1987. Since then, he has ministered as follows: 1987-1988: Pastoral Assistant in St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Ado-Ekiti); 1988-1990: Pastor of Christ the King Parish (Ado-Ekiti); 1990-1992: Pastor of St. Anne’s Parish (Aramako-Ekiti); 1992-1995: Pastor of St. John Pro’s Cathedral (Ilawe-Ekiti); 1995-1996: Studies for a Masters in Journalism and Pastoral Assistant at Nazareth House (Cardiff, Wales); 1996-2001: Pastor of St. Fidelis Parish (Ado-Ekiti); 2001: degree in Pastoral Communication from the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome); 2002-2003: Pastor of Holy Family Parish (Ado-Ekiti); 2003-2006: Pastoral Assistant in the Archdiocese of Lagos.
Since 2006, he has served as Pastor of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Opopogboro (Ado-Ekiti).
The Diocese of Ekiti, suffragan of the Archdiocese of Ibadan, was established in 1972. It has an area of 5,700 km. sq. and a population of 2,384,000: 331,275 Catholics, 61 parishes, 54 diocesan priests and 6 religious priests, 62 religious women, and 55 major seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 16/4/2008; righe 21, parole 236)