Pioneer Bishop of Nigeria’s Nsukka Catholic Diocese Dies at 88

Nsukka, 29 August, 2025 / 8:09 PM

Bishop Francis Emmanuel Ogbonna Okobo, the pioneer Local Ordinary of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, has passed on at the age of 88.

“It is with deep pain and sorrow, yet with a total submission to the will of the Almighty God and a firm hope in the resurrection of the dead that I announce the sad news of the passing into glory of our Bishop Emeritus,” the Vicar General of the Nigerian Diocese says in a statement issued on Friday, August 29.

Fr. Amuluche Greg NNAMANI adds, “He died this morning, 29th August 2025 at the Niger Foundation Hospital, Enugu.”

“Further information over this sad event will be communicated to you later,” said the Vicar General, and implored God to rest the soul of the late Pioneer Bishop of the Nsukka Diocese in peace.

Bishop Okobo was ordained to the Priesthood for the West African nation’s Catholic Diocese of Enugu in June 1966 at the age of 29 and served as a Priest for 54 years.

He served as the Local Ordinary of the Nsukka Diocese for 34 years, following his Episcopal Ordination in January 1991, which was presided over by Pope John Paul II.

The current Shepherd of the Nigerian Episcopal See is Bishop Godfrey Igwebuike Onah, who has been at the helm of the Suffragan Diocese of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Onitsha since the retirement of the late Bishop Okobo in April 2013.

According to the 2023 Vatican statistics, the Diocese of Nsukka, which began with a Catholic population of 250,000, now has 1,103,961 faithful, 320 Diocesan Priests and 300 members of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL).

Following the news of Bishop Okobo’s demise, Nigerians have taken to social media to mourn him and condole with the people of God in Nsukka Diocese.

“We thank God for the gift of his life, his wisdom, and his unwavering commitment to the Church and the people of Nsukka,” Basil A Ezeagu says in a Facebook post.

He describes the late Bishop as a “man of deep spirituality, humility, and vision.”

“He oversaw the construction of St. Theresa’s Cathedral, reformed seminary formation, and united the faithful through his leadership and example. Even in retirement, his legacy continued to inspire,” Ezeagu adds.

On his part, Okechukwu Cyracus says late Bishop Okobo has left behind “a legacy of community development and spiritual leadership.”

“May the soul of Bishop Okobo and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace,” he implores.

For Pat Mamah, late Bishop Okobo was a “man of deep faith, humility, and service. He devoted his life to building the Church and guiding souls with love and wisdom.”

“May the Lord whom he faithfully served grant him eternal rest in His kingdom, Amen,” he implores.

In another Facebook post, Ezeobollo Harrison Odinaka laments the passing of a “great Father, Shepherd, and Teacher.”

“He was more than a Bishop, he was a man of deep faith, a father to many, and the one who laid the strong foundation of Catholicism in Nsukka. His life and mission shaped countless souls, and I was privileged to be one of them,” Odinaka says.

On his part, Barr. Ugo Ferdinand Ukwueze says, “We mourn his departure, yet we also celebrate a life wholly dedicated to God and humanity; a life that will continue to inspire generations within and beyond the Catholic Church.”

“May the Almighty grant eternal rest to his soul, and may the faithful find consolation in the enduring impact of his service,” he implores.