Ihedioha Says New Catholic  Archbishop, Ugorji Is Prayers Answered

By Charles Igbo

A former Governor of Imo State, The Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has described the emergence, and installation of Archbishop Lucious Ugorji, as the new Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, as prayers answered.

Ihedioha spoke while addressing the congregation at the installation of Ugorji, on 23rd June 2022, at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri.

Archbishop Ugoji was installed by the Papal Nuncio, Antonio Guido Filipazzi (representative of the Pope), before an array of eminent Nigerian citizens, including two Catholic Cardinals, 48 Bishops, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, former Governor of Anambra State and the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Ihedioha expressed his unbounded delight at the emergence of Archbishop Ugorji as the new Shepherd of the Archdiocese. “Your emergence is a prayer answered”, he told Ugorji.

Ihedioha, also, pledged to support, at all times,  the Archbishop in discharging his apostolic mandate, and to continue his usual support for the Archdiocese. 

Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji succeeds Archbishop Emeritus, Anthony John Valentine Obinna.

 Appointed on 26th March 1994 as the first Archbishop of Owerri, Obinna, a native of Emekuku, Owerri North, Imo State, recently retired after serving for 50 years in the Lord’s Vineyard.

Ugorji, a native of Naze, also in Owerri North, was the Archbishop of Umuahia Archdiocese until his Owerri appointment.