Godfrey Onah

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The Most Reverend

Godfrey Onah
Bishop of Nsukka
Church Roman Catholic Church
Archdiocese Nsukka
Appointed13 April 2013
Installed4 July 2013
Predecessor Francis Okobo
Orders
Ordination28 July 1984
by  Michael Eneja
Consecration4 July 2013
by  John Onaiyekan
Personal details
BornGodfrey Igwebuike Onah
(1956-08-18) 18 August 1956 (age 69)
Imilike Ani, Enugu State, Nigeria
Nationality Nigerian
MottoVolumus Iesum videre
Coat of arms Coat of arms of Godfrey Igwebuike Onah.svg

Godfrey Igwebuike Onah is a Nigerian Catholic prelate who has served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Nsukka since 4 July 2013. He was appointed by Pope Francis and took office after the resignation of Bishop Francis Okobo. [1]

Contents

Biography

Onah was born on 18 August 1956 in Imilike-Ani, Udenu, Enugu State, Nigeria. [2] He enrolled into St. John Cross Seminary, Nsukka on 14 January 1971, where he graduated in 1975 and had his junior apostolic work there. He studied philosophy at St. Joseph's Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene from 1976 to 1980, and his theological studies at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu until 1983. While a student, he served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Fountain Magazine and The Torch Magazine from 1982 to 1983. He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood on 28 July 1984 by Bishop Michael Eneja at the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Enugu. [3]

From 1984 to 1987, Onah served as the Vicar of St. Mary parish in Opanda Nimbo, Enugu. From 1987 to 1988, he taught at the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri. From 1988 to 1992, he had his further philosophical studies and obtained his Licentiate and doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. He became a professor of philosophy in 1992. From 1993 to 1994, he was an assistant pastor of St. Pius X parish, Rome. From 1994 to 1997, he was the diocesan administrator of St. Anthony of Padua parish of the Diocese of Albano, Rome and from 1997 to 2000, the Center for the Missionary Apostolate, Diocese of Albano. From 2000 to 2005, he was the Chaplain of the Ecclesial Movement of Cultural Engagement (MEIC) in the Diocese of Albano. From 2001 to 2007, he was the director of the Institute for Research on Non-Faith and Culture at the Pontifical Urban University. From 2003 to 2009, he became the Prefect of Studies of the Pontifical Urban College, Rome. He has served as the peritus in the 11th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist in 2003, 12th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in 2004. Since 2008, he has been Vice Rector of the Pontifical Urban University, Rome until his appointment as a bishop by Pope Francis. [4]

Episcopacy

Onah was installed as bishop of Nsukka diocese on 4 July 2013. He took the motto, Volumus iesum viderelit. 'We want to see Jesus', the request made by some Greeks to Philip in John 12:21. [5]

Public speaking

On 25 July 2025, Onah spoke on "Moral Integrity: Fortress Of A Healthy Nation" in the annual lecture of the Catholic Brothers United at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Maryland, US. [6] On 26 September 2025, he delivered the Ahiajoku annual lecture at Ahiajoku Convention Centre in Owerri, Imo State on the title "The Future of Igbo Economy Amidst the Challenges of Insecurity in the Southeast: A Call for Paradigm Shift". [7]

Views

Onah has advocated that priest give the congregation chance to carry out the Sacrament of Penance. On 4 July 2024 during the homily for his 11th episcopal anniversary, he told priests that, "not availing the Sacrament of Penance to the people of God regularly can cause them to lose the 'sense of guilt'...If you allow the people to lose the sense of guilt, it will not be long before they lose the sense of the sacred, because it is standing before the sacred that you feel your worthiness and the need to ask for forgiveness". [8]

Personal life

Onah is fluent in Igbo, English, French, Italian and German languages. [1] He was the first bishop to be appointed during the pontificate of Pope Francis. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 Ugwueze, Emmanuel (2013-05-06). "60 bishops to attend installation of new Nsukka Catholic bishop". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  2. ↑ "Bishop Godfrey Igwebuike Onah". Catholic Diocese of Nsukka. 2025-09-22. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  3. ↑ "Quintessential Bishop Godfrey Igwebuike Onah: The Shepherd's edifying story". Vanguard News. 2024-11-29. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  4. ↑ "Rinunce e Nomine". press.vatican.va (in Italian). 2013-04-13. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  5. ↑ "Catholic Bishop of Nsukka diocese Father Godfrey Onah clocks five". Vanguard News. 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  6. ↑ Sokoya, Seyi (2025-07-13). "Bishop Godfrey Onah to speak at Catholic Brothers United's 21st annual lecture". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  7. ↑ "Bishop Onah to deliver Ahiajoku lecture Sept 26 In Owerri". The Guardian Nigeria. 2025-07-05. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  8. ↑ Isenjia, Silas (2024-07-07). "Have the Sacrament of Penance among "your primary responsibilities": Catholic Bishop in Nigeria to Priests". ACI Africa. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
  9. ↑ Waigwa, Nicholas (2025-05-02). ""A Personal loss": First Bishop Late Pope Francis Appointed in Africa Eulogizes, Recalls Encounters with Late Pontiff". ACI Africa. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
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