Pope Appoints Ugorji As Archbishop Of Owerri

Most Revd (Dr.) Lucius Ugorji has been anointed to become the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri in Imo State.

Naija News understands that the spiritual position was bestowed on the 72 year old by his Holiness, Pope Francis.

The development was announced on Sunday by by Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, His Grace, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, who represented Pope at the ongoing opening ceremony of the first plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in 2022 in Abuja.

Ugorji will take over from His Grace, 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.

Naija News understands that Ugorji 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 recently resigned from his position as chairman, Governing Council of Imo State University, Owerri, a development that came as a surprise to many stakeholders.

Ugorji is said to have approached Governor Hope Uzodinma on several occasions on the proper funding of the University with the request that the State-owned tertiary institution cannot run or fund itself.

It was reported on his record that he said he could not understand how Uzodinma expected him to preside over an underfunded and stagnant University as a cleric.

The man of God also observed that IMSU was not being run as an institution of higher learning deserving of Imo University status and that to avoid dabbling into any mess, he opted to resign.