The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Peter Nworie Chukwu as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki. Fr. Chukwu will fill the vacuum created by the resignation of Most Rev. Michael Nnachi Okoro. Archbishop Anthonio Filipazzi, Apostle Nuncio to Nigeria, confirmed the appointment in a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, by Rev. Fr. Zacharia Samjumi, Secretary General, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria. Prior to the appointment, Fr. Chukwu was the Parish Priest of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Nduruku-Amagu, and a lecturer at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki. He was born on November 5th, 1965, in Ededeagu Umuezekohohu, in the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki. After attending the Seat of Wisdom Seminary School, Owerri, Imo state, where he completed his philosophical studies between 1985 and1989, he proceeded to Bigard Memorial Major Seminary in Enugu, where he studied theology between 1990 and 1993. Subsequently, he traveled to Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, United States, and Marquette University in Milwaukee, United States between 2001 and 2007, where he obtained a Doctorate in Philosophy. He was ordained a Priest on July 3rd, 1999, (28 years ago) and was incardinated in the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki. He has served at several Parishes in the Diocese. He was once the Vice Rector, St. Augustine Minor Seminary; President, Association of Nigerian Priests of Abakaliki Diocese; among several other positions he has held in the past.
