Pope names Archbishop Kaigama as Onaiyekan’s successor

Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja 

His Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed His Grace, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, as the co-adjutor Archbishop of Abuja.

With the appointment, Kaigama will take over from His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, who clocked the retirement age of 75 on January 29,  this year.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, His Grace, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi,  made the announcement during the opening ceremony of the first plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), in Abuja.

Kaigama, who is currently the Apostolic Administrator of  the Archdiocese of Jos and immediate past President of the CBCN, is a priest of Jukun origin, from Taraba State.

“We congratulate and pray for Archbishop Kaigama. I know it is not easy for him, but, I told him like Abraham, go out of your land in the land God will show you and God will bless you and make you father of many people,” Filipazzi said.

Born on July 31, 1958, Kaigama studied for the priesthood at St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos, and Rome, respectively. 

He was ordained on June 6, 1981, and  appointed bishop of Jalingo by Pope John Paul II, now Saint Pope John Paul.

Kaigama, who  was consecrated as bishop on April 23, 1995, was again appointed by Pople John Paul II in 2000,  to succeed the late Archbishop Gabriel  Ganaka as Archbishop of Jos.