Ekuwem Appointed Archbishop

By Okwong Otioro

The Catholic pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, has appointed the Catholic bishop of Uyo, Dr. Joseph Ekuwem as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Calabar Ecclesiastical Province. 

According to an announcement in Catholic parishes and stations at masses last Sunday, the appointment was announced at Vatican City at the weekend.

The Most Rev Ekuwem takes over from the Most Rev Joseph Edra Ukpo who has proceeded on retirement on attainment of 75 years set by the church as the retirement age of its pastors, except the pope.

Ekuwem is the third metropolitan archbishop of Calabar Catholic Ecclesiastical Province, the first being the Most Rev Brian Davis Usanga of blessed memory who retired from the stool about eight years ago on attainment of the mandatory retirement age.

A native of Affi Uda in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Ekuwem was ordained a Catholic priest in 1979 by late Archbishop Usanga and appointed the pioneer bishop of Catholic Diocese of Uyo in August, 1988.

Culled from The Pioneer newspaper