AFRICA/CAMEROON - The Pope appoints Bishop of Kumbo

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 8 July 2006, appointed Bishop of Kumbo (Cameroon) Rev. George Nkuo of the clergy of Buéa, until now diocesan secretary for Catholic Education.
The Bishop elect George Nkuo was born on 27 February 1953 at Njiniikom, district of Boyo in the archdiocese of Bamenda. He studied for the priesthood at Saint Thomas Aquinas major Inter-diocesan seminary at Bamenda. He was ordained a priest on 26 April 1981 for the diocese of Buea. Since then he has ministered as follows: 1981-1983: assistant priest at St. Joseph’s parish Mamfe; 1983-1985: scholastic director St. Jean’s parish, Kumba; 1985-1989: bishop’s secretary; 1989-1991: Studies at St. Patrick's College Maynooth, Dublin, Ireland for a Licentiate in Education Science; 1991-1994: director of St. Francis College at Fiango-Kumba. Since 1994 diocesan secretary for Catholic Education.
The diocese of Kumbo created in 1982 is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Bamenda. It has an area of 8,000 sq km, a population of 734,052 including 141,970 Catholics gathered in 23 parishes, assisted by 64 priests (53 diocesan and13 religious), 115 women religious, 47 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/7/2006; Righe 16; Parole 184)