AFRICA/NIGERIA - Appointment of the Coadjutor Bishop of Makurdi

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On July 8, 2014 the Holy Father appointed Rev. Fr. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, C.M.F., Provincial Bursar and military Chaplain, as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Makurdi (Nigeria).
Fr. Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe, C.M.F., was born on April 2, 1965, in AondonaVillage, Raav-UdemDistrict, Gwer-West Local Government Area, Benue State, diocese of Makurdi. After primary school, he attended the St. James minor Seminary in Makurdi (1980-1985). In 1985 he began his Postulancy with the Missionary Children of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians) and the following year his Novitiate at the Heart of Mary Novitiate, Utonkon. On 8 September 1987 he began his studies in Philosophy at the Claretian Institute of Philisophy, Owerri (1987-1990). He holds a masters degree in theology from the Spiritan International School of Theology, Enugu State, Nigeria (1990-1994). He was ordained a priest on August 6, 1994, in the Cathedral of Makurdi.
Since his ordination, he has held a number of pastoral roles: 1994 - 1998: Director of Vocations of the PP. Claretians in Nigeria; 1996 - 1998: School manager, Claretian School Board; 1998 - 2000: Priest of the St. Peter's Parish, Gariki, Diocese of Enugu; 2000 - 2004: Farm Manager, Claretian Farm Project, Utonkon; 2003 - 2004: Priest of St. Fidelis Parish, Allan, and Dean of Utonkon in the Diocese of Otukpo; 2004 - 2005: Theology course at the University of Salamanca (interrupted when he was elected Provincial Bursar); since 2005: Provincial Bursar of the Claretians in Nigeria; 2008 - 2013: Member of the Economic Council of the General Claretiana House in Rome; 2009 - 2012: Military Chaplain of the 34th Artilery Brigade, Obinze; since 2013: military chaplain of the 3rd Battalion, Warri. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 09/07/2014)