By CrossRiverWatch Admin
His Holiness, Pope Francis has on Sunday April 9, appointed as Bishop of Ogoja Diocese, Rev. Fr. Donatus Edet Akpan.
Father Akpan, is presently the parish priest of Holy Rosary Church, Wuse Abuja Archdiocese.
A statement from the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Rev. Father Ralph Madu say, the new Bishop of Ogoja diocese was born on 7th August 1952 at Ikot Ada Utor, Essien Udim Local Govt Area of Akwa Ibom State. He studied Philosophy and Theology at Bigard Memorial Seminary in 1975.
He was ordained priest on 12th October 1985 at St Anne’s Cathedral Ifuho, Ikot Ekpene by Most Rev Fitzgibon of Port Harcourt Diocese at the instance of His Eminence, Dominic Cardinal Ekandem.
He did his higher studies at the University of Nigeria Nsukka where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Theology and a postgraduate Diploma in Education (PDGE).
In 1989 he was directed by his Bishop, late Dominic Cardinal Ekandem, who was the Administrator of the Independent Mission of Abuja, to come over to Abuja and work.
Besides having been Parish Priest in several parishes in the Archdiocese of Abuja, he was also Rector of the SS Simon and Jude Seminary, Kuje, Abuja.
The date for the ordination of the Bishop-elect is yet to be announced.