Catholic Bishops Elect New President In Kaduna

By Christianah Oladosu,Osogbo

Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Matthew Ndagoso, has been elected President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

The CBCN is the highest body of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, coordinating spiritual leadership and social engagement, serving as a moral voice while uniting bishops, clergy, the faithful, and the broader Nigerian society.

Ndagoso was elected alongside other executive members at the ongoing 2026 First Plenary Meeting of Catholic bishops in Abuja.

He succeeds Lucius Ugorji, Archbishop of Owerri, whose four-year tenure expires this February.

A statement on Tuesday by Secretary-General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Michael Banjo, said the newly elected officials would be formally presented at the closing ceremony of the plenary on Wednesday.

Other officials elected include Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos as Vice President; Bishop Peter Odetoyinbo of Abeokuta as Secretary; and Bishop Peter Chukwu of Abakaliki as Assistant Secretary.

The statement read, “We are pleased to announce the newly elected principal officials of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria: President: Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso (Archbishop of Kaduna); Vice President: Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins (Archbishop of Lagos).

“Others are Secretary: Most Rev. Peter Odetoyinbo (Bishop of Abeokuta); Assistant Secretary, Most Rev. Peter Chukwu (Bishop of Abakaliki).

The statement added, “There were other bishops elected to oversee the various directorates, departments and units of the Catholic Secretariat and CBCN agencies.

“Please keep them in your prayers as they take up the responsibility of leading the Conference over the next four years in faithful service to the Church and the common good.”