AFRICA/NIGERIA - Bishop of Lokoja appointed

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 11 November 2005 appointed Bishop of Lokoja (Nigeria) Rev. Martin Dada Abejide Olorunmolu, until now Professor of Sacred Scripture at the Catholic Institute West Africa in Port Harcourt.
The new bishop was born on 30 August 1948 at Ogiri-Kabba, Kogi State. He studied at Ibadan University for a degree in Religious Science. He was ordained a priest on 23 December 1978 for the diocese of Lokoja. Ha studied in Cameroon for a diploma in Integrated Rural Development, concentrating on Training/Communication. In Yaounde he worked with a local Radio as special news programmes co-ordinator. He has a licentiate in Biblical Theology from the Catholic Institute of West Africa in Port-Harcourt. He has been: assistant priest (1979-1980); Co-ordinator of the Lokoja Diocesan Accounts and Co-ordinator of Social Welfare and Military Chaplain for a year (1980-1983); parish priest at Kabba and chaplain for various lay associations (1982-1986); cathedral administrator, assistant and then parish priest in various parishes (1988-2000). Since 2000 parish priest and Professor at the Catholic Institute West Africa.
The Diocese of Lokoja, created in 1964, is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Abuja. It has an area of 24,750 sq. km, a population of 1,465,000 including 36,500 Catholics gathered in 16 parishes, assisted by 38 priests, 4 permanent deacons, 43 women religious, 2 Brothers, 21 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2005; Righe 18; Parole 224)