Just in: Pope names Ugorji as Archbishop of Owerri

Pope Francis has appointed Most Revd (Dr) Lucius Ugorji, as the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri in Imo State.

The pope stated this on Sunday in Abuja through the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, at the opening ceremony of the first plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.

Ugorji will take over from Archbishop Anthony l Obinna who has been in that position since March 26 1994.

Until his appointment, Ugorji was the Bishop of Umuahia and former Apostolic Administrator of the Ahiara diocese.

The new Archbishop of Owerri was born in January 13, 1952. He was first ordained a priest at the age of 25 and was appointed a Bishop by Pope John Paul II when he was 38 years old.

He had about three months ago resigned his position as chairman of the governing council of Imo State University, Owerri.

He was said to have approached Governor Hope Uzodinma on a number of occasions with a request for proper funding of the state-owned tertiary institution.

He also observed that IMSU was not being run as an institution of higher learning.