Diocese of Abakaliki, Nigeria 🇳🇬

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Abakaliki / Abakalikien(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Onitsha

Neighbouring Dioceses: Awgu (↙), Enugu (←), Nsukka (↖), Gboko (↑), Ogoja (→)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1973.03.01: Established as Diocese of Abakaliki / Abakalikien(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Ogoja and became suffragan of Onitsha)

Present Prelates

Bishop:

vacant

Apostolic Administrator (2026.04.12 – ...):

Bishop Ernest Anaezichukwu Obodo (59)

Titular Bishop of Mediana

Auxiliary Bishop of Enugu (Nigeria)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Abakaliki (Roman Rite)

Bishop Ernest Anaezichukwu Obodo (59)
(Apostolic Administrator 2026.04.12 – ...)

Bishop Peter Nworie Chukwu
(2021.07.06 – 2026.04.10)

Totus tuus ego sum

Born:	1965.11.05 (Ededeagu Umuezekohohu, Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1993.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2021.08.19
Died:	2026.04.10 (Nigeria † 60)

Priest of Abakaliki (Nigeria) (1993.07.03 – 2021.07.06)

Bishop of Abakaliki (Nigeria) (2021.07.06 – 2026.04.10)

Bishop Michael Nnachi Okoro (85)
(1983.02.19 – 2021.07.06)

Bishop emeritus of Abakaliki (Nigeria)

Sanctificetur nomen tuum

Born:	1940.11.01 (Adiabo, Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1965.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.11.27

Priest of Ogoja (Nigeria) (1965.12.19 – 1977.06.27)

Titular Bishop of Catabum castra (1977.06.27 – 1983.02.19)

Auxiliary Bishop of Abakaliki (Nigeria) (1977.06.27 – 1983.02.19)

Bishop of Abakaliki (Nigeria) (1983.02.19 – 2021.07.06)

Bishop Thomas McGettrick, S.P.S.
(1973.03.01 – 1983.02.19)

Born:	1905.12.22 (Emlegh, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1930.06.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1955.05.22
Died:	1988.12.17 († 82)

Prefect Apostolic of Ogoja (Nigeria) (1939.11.10 – 1955.01.01)

Bishop of Ogoja (Nigeria) (1955.01.01 – 1973.03.01)

Bishop of Abakaliki (Nigeria) (1973.03.01 – 1983.02.19)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Michael Nnachi Okoro (85) (1977.06.27 – 1983.02.19)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Abakaliki, Ebonyi

Awgu (↙), Enugu (←), Nsukka (↖), Gboko (↑), Ogoja (→)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 6,342 km²

Population: 664,200 Catholics (26.9% of 2,470,250 total)

Pastoral Centres: 179 parishes

Personnel: 201 priests (190 diocesan, 11 religious), 226 religious (18 brothers, 208 sisters), 170 seminarians