Pope Francis Appoints Bishop for Nigeria’s Abakaliki Diocese

He holds a doctorate in philosophy from Marquette University in Milwaukee in the U.S. 

The Bishop-elect has served in different positions including Parish vicar of Saint John the Evangelist, Okpaugwu in the Diocese of Abakaliki, Vice Rector of the Saint Augustine Minor Seminary, Adjunct Lecturer at Aquinas College, U.S. and President of the Association of Nigerian Priests of the Diocese of Abakaliki.

Nigerians have taken to social media to express joy and to congratulate the Bishop-elect following his episcopal appointment. 

“Congratulations Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki. To God be the glory,” officials of the Nigerian Diocese say in a Facebook post.

On his part,  Ichie Nworie Tochukwu says, “Congratulations to Very Rev. Fr. Peter Chukwu, the new Bishop of Abakaliki Diocese. May God give you the wisdom and strength to handle such a vintage position. Congratulations.”

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Once ordained, Bishop Chukwu will be the third Bishop of the Nigerian Episcopal See that was erected in March 1973 having been curved from Ogoja Diocese. 

Located within the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha, Abakaliki has a population of 599,820 Catholics.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.