Pope Francis creates Aguleri Diocese, appoints  Isizoh pioneer Bishop

From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha

Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis has created a new diocese in Aguleri from the Archdiocese of Onitsha with Most. Rev. Denis Isizoh appointed as its first Bishop.

Until his appointment, Isizoh was the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha and Titular Bishop of Legia.

The creation of the new Catholic diocese in Nigeria and appointment of the pioneer bishop  was made public by the Holy See Press office, yesterday.

Secretary to the Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke on Public Affairs and Director of Social Communications, Onitsha Archdiocese, Fr. George Adimike described the creation of Aguleri Diocese and appointment of Isizoh as first Bishop as a sign that the Catholic church and faith was growing very fast in the country.

He expressed excitement that Onitsha had given birth to several dioceses in over 100 years of its existence and thanked Archbishop Val Okeke who not only initiated the process, but pushed it to reality through the graciousness of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

 Born in 1956 in Ogbunike, Anambra State, Isizoh studied Philosophy at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Ikot-Ekpene from 1976 to 1980 and Theology at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu from 1982 to 1985. 

He was ordained a priest on 28 September 1985 for the Archdiocese of Onitsha. Isizoh had his  Licentiate at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome between 1989 and 1993.