Diocese of Awka, Nigeria

Continent: Western and Northern Africa

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Awka / Avkaën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Onitsha

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1977.11.10: Established as Diocese of Awka / Avkaën(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha and became suffragan of Onitsha)
2020.03.05: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Ekwulobia

Present Prelates

Bishop (2011.07.08 – ...):

Bishop Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor (72)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Awka (Roman Rite)

Bishop Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor (72)
(2011.07.08 – ...)

Bishop of Awka (Nigeria)

Caritas mea cum omnibus vobis in Christo Jesu

Born:	1952.09.13 (Nanka, Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1984.06.30
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.04.28

Priest of Awka (Nigeria) (1984.06.30 – 2007.01.20)

Titular Bishop of Tetci (2007.01.20 – 2011.07.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of Awka (Nigeria) (2007.01.20 – 2011.07.08)

Apostolic Administrator of Awka (Nigeria) (2010.04 – 2011.07.08)

Bishop of Awka (Nigeria) (2011.07.08 – ...)

Bishop Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor (72)
(Apostolic Administrator 2010.04 – 2011.07.08)

Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor
(1994.09.09 – 2010.04.17)

Non ministrari sed ministrare

Born:	1934.11.16 (Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1963.07.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1992.05.30
Died:	2014.08.29 († 79)

Titular Bishop of Augurus (1992.03.06 – 1994.09.09)

Auxiliary Bishop of Awka (Nigeria) (1992.03.06 – 1994.09.09)

Bishop of Awka (Nigeria) (1994.09.09 – 2010.04.17)

Bishop Albert Kanene Obiefuna (later Archbishop)
(1977.11.10 – 1994.09.09)

Born:	1930.01.30 (Oraukwu, Nigeria)
Ordained Priest:	1963.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.02.05
Died:	2011.05.11 († 81)

Bishop of Awka (Nigeria) (1977.11.10 – 1994.09.09)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (1994 – 2000)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1994.09.09 – 1995.02.25)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Onitsha (Nigeria) (1995.02.25 – 2003.09.01)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jonas Benson Okoye (62) (2014.05.30 – 2021.11.09)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor (72) (2007.01.20 – 2011.07.08)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Solomon Amanchukwu Amatu (74) (2000.12.22 – 2005.05.28)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Simon Akwali Okafor (1992.03.06 – 1994.09.09)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Awka, Anambra
Former Cathedral: Former Cathedral of St. Patrick, Awka, Anambra

Onitsha (←), Aguleri (↖), Enugu (→), Ekwulobia (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 775 km²

Population: 306,830 Catholics (70.8% of 433,300 total)

Pastoral Centres: 111 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 271 priests (diocesan), 13 religious (5 brothers, 8 sisters), 78 seminarians