New Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Reverend, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama
The Letter from the Chancery of Abuja Archdiocese
The Pontiff of the Catholic Church, His Holiness, Pope Francis has ratified the appointment of Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama as the new Catholic Archbishop of Abuja. This follows the Pope’s acceptance of the retirement of His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan who clocked the retirement age of 75 on January 29, 2019.
Kaigama who on March 11 earlier this year was announced by the Pope, who was represented by Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the first plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Filipazzi then named Kaigama as the Coadjutor archbishop of Abuja and administrator of Jos archdiocese, where he served as its chief Shepherd in the last 19 years.
The Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese, Abuja, Rev. Sebastian Musa, said on Saturday in a letter to the “Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful” of the Archdiocese that the Pope has approved the retirement of Onaiyekan and ratification of Kaigama with immediate effects. “The Holy Father, Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of His Eminence, John Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaiyekan as the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja and has appointed Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama as Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja with effect from this announcement,” Musa said.
BIOGRAPHY
Ignatius Ayau Kaigama (born 31 July 1958) is a Nigerian prelate of the Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of Jos from 2000 to 2019, when he became first Archbishop Coadjutor and then Archbishop of Abuja.
SPM CREW© reports that 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. Born on July 31, 1958, Kaigama studied for the priesthood at St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos, and Rome respectively. In 2000, Kaigama was appointed by Pope John Paul II to succeed the late Archbishop Gabriel Ganaka as Archbishop of Jos. The new Abuja Archbishop Kaigama was ordained on June 6, 1981 and was appointed Bishop of Jalingo by Pope John Paul II, before he was later consecrated as bishop on April 23, 1995. Some of the diocese leaders in a joint statement thanked God for the gift of John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop emeritus of Abuja, for his untiring services to the Church and especially for his inspiring leadership in Abuja province. “The Cardinal performed one of his memorable functions in Makurdi yesterday November 8th 2019. At the 25th priestly anniversary and 5th Episcopal anniversary of Bishop Wilfred Anagbe CMF of Makurdi Diocese, he announced the appointment of Monsignor Stephen Beba as a Papal Chaplain, the first indigenous priest to be appointed as a Monsignor. “And today November 9th 2019 the news of his retirement is received. This is symbolic. The Cardinal attended St Michael’s Secondary School, Aliade, Benue state, Nigeria and records show that no student has yet surpassed John Onaiyekan’s best record. Makurdi Diocese must therefore have some special influence in defining everything about Cardinal Onaiyekan from his beginning to the end,” they said in the statement.
Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama Leading a Delegate of Bishops and Archbishop's to the President of the Federal republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari GCON
Kaigama was President of the Nigerian Bishops Conference from 2012 to 2018[1] and President of the Episcopal Conference of West African Catholic Bishops. He is also chairman of the Plateau State-convened "Interreligious Committee for Peace". Together with the late Emir of Wase, Alhaji Haruna Abdullahi, he has been involved in promoting mutual understanding between Christians and Muslims.
After the riots in Jos in January 2010, he calmed the situation and clarified the conflict in the international press.
On 25 July 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named Kaigama a member of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation.
In 2014, the Catholic Bishops Conference in Nigeria supported legislation to make participation in a same-sex marriage a crime punishable by 14 years imprisonment. It noted the move as a "courageous act" and a "step in the right direction". Kaigama argued that the action was "in line with the moral and ethical values of the Nigerian and African cultures", and blessed President Goodluck Jonathan for not bowing to international pressure: "To protect you and your administration against the conspiracy of the developed world to make our country and continent, the dumping ground for the promotion of immoral practices".[4][5]
Kaigama condemned foreign aid programs for a disproportionate emphasis on contraception. In 2014, he said: “In the first place, children die in infant mortality, in inter-tribal wars and diseases, but yet you come to say 'decrease your population and we will give you economic help.' We want food, we want education, we want good roads, healthcare. We are being given the wrong things and we are being asked to accept, simply because we are poor.”[6]
Pope Francis named him Archbishop Coadjutor of Abuja on 11 March 2019[1] and he became Archbishop of Abuja when Pope Francis accepted the resignation of his predecessor, John Onaiyekan, on 9 November 2019.
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