AFRICA/NIGERIA - Bishop of Maiduguri appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on June 6, 2008, appointed Fr. Oliver Dashe Doeme, of the clergy of Shendam, Pastor of St. Michael Church in Anguldi, as Bishop of Maiduguri (Nigeria).
Fr. Oliver Dashe Doeme was born on December 13, 1960 in the village of Kwanoeng, in the Diocese of Jos. After attending school in the local Catholic Mission, for his primary and secondary school studies, he entered the Major Seminary of Makurdi to study preparative studies and Philosophy. He finished his Theology studies at Saint Augustine Major Seminary in Jos. He was ordained a priest on October 18, 1997 for the Diocese of Shendam at the moment of its erection (2007). Since his priestly ordination, he has ministered as follows: 1997-1999: Rector of the Minor Seminary of St. John Vianney in Barkin Ladi; 1999-2006: Principal of Mary Immaculate School in Zawan; since 2000, Pastor of Anguldi.
The Diocese of Maiduguri, erected in 1966, is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Kaduna. It covers an area of 132,000 km, with 5,890,000 inhabitants (201,622 Catholics), 32 parishes, 43 priests (40 diocesan and 3 religious), 63 seminarians, and 37 religious. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 8/6/2009)