AFRICA/NIGERIA - New Bishop of Ogoja appointed

Città del Vaticano (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Francis, on 9 April 2017, appointed
Bishop of the diocese of Ogoja, in Nigeria, Rev. Donatus Edet Akpan of the clergy of Ikot Ekpene, presently parish priest in the Archdiocese of Abuja.
Rev. Donatus Edet Akpan was born 7 August 1952, in Ikot Ada Utor, Urua Akpan Parish, Diocese of Ikot Ekpene. He attended primary school at St. Mary’s School Nto Okpo (1962-1970), and then entered the Queen of Apostles Minor Seminary (1971-1975). He commenced his studies in Philosophy at the Bigard Memorial Seminary in Enugu (1975), completing them at St. Joseph Major Seminary Ikot Ekpene (1979). Whereas he completed his Theology studies at Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Enugu (1981-1985). He was ordained a priest on 12 October 1985 for the diocese of Ikot Ekpene.
Since his ordination he has served as follows: 1985-1987: Teacher at Afaha Obong Minor Seminary and Vice parish priest at Immaculate Conception Parish, Afaha Obong; 1987-1989: Diploma in Education and Masters in Biblical Theology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; 1989: he was sent on pastoral service as a fidei donum priest to the Archdiocese of Abuja; 1989-1991: teacher at Sts. Simon and Jude Seminary, Kuje; Vice Parish priest of St. Kizito’s Parish, Kuje and St. Paul’s Parish, Gwagwalada; 1991-1994: Rector of the Sts. Simon and Jude Minor Seminary, Kule; 1994-2001: parish priest at Christ the King Parish, Kubwa; 2001-2006: parish priest at All Saints Parish, Dutse Alhaji; 2006-2011: administrator at Our Lady of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Garki; 2011-2016: parish priest at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Nyanya, Abuja. Since 2016: Parish priest at Holy Rosary Parish, Wuse, Abuja; President of the Abuja Archdiocesan Liturgy Commission and Master of Ceremonies for Abuja Archdiocese.
The diocese Ogoja, created in 1955, is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Calabar. It has an area of 12,557 sq.km and a population of 2,886,417, of whom 910,584 are Catholics gathered in 68 parishes, served by 100 priests (97 diocesan and 3 religious), 3 religious Brothers, non priests and 46 women religious and it has 126 seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 10/4/2017)

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