AFRICA/NIGERIA - The Pope appoints new Bishop of Ogoja

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, on 14 October 2006, appointed Rev. John Ebebe Ayah of the diocesan clergy of Ogoja (Nigeria, Bishop of Ogoja (Nigeria).
The Bishop elect was born on 10 December 1959 at Buja, in Ogoja diocese. He studied for the priesthood in Nigeria. On 24 July 1993 he was ordained a priest to serve the diocese of Ogoja. Since his ordination he has been bursar at the minor seminary and parish priest in several different parishes. Since 2000 he has been in Belgium completing his studies in Moral Theology.
The diocese of Ogoja, created in 1995, is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Calabar. It has an area of 12,557sq km, a population of about 1,500,000 including 332.373 Catholics, gathered in 38 parishes, assisted by 67 priests (64 diocesan and 3 religious), 103 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 16/10/2006; Righe 11; Parole 139)