Benin City (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Augustine Obiora Akubeze, Archbishop
Richard Anthony Burke, S.P.S., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 26 March 1994
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 10,863 (4,195 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.catholicarchdioceseofbenincity.com
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, P.O. Box 35, 30 Airport Rd., Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0808)28.23.403

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Upper Niger {Niger Superiore}
- Latin Name: Nigeriae Superioris
- Erected: 2 May 1884
- Country: Nigeria
Prefecture Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
- Latin Name: Nigeriae Occidentalis
- Name Changed: 24 August 1911
- Country: Nigeria
Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
- Latin Name: Nigeriae Occidentalis
- Elevated: 24 August 1918
- Vicariate
- Country: Nigeria
Vicariate Apostolic of Asaba-Benin
- Latin Name: Asaba-Beninensem
- Name Changed: 12 January 1943
- Vicariate
- Country: Nigeria
Diocese of Benin City
- Latin Name: Urbis Beninensis
- Elevated: 18 April 1950
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Lagos
- Country: Nigeria

Past and Present Ordinaries

Carlo Zappa, S.M.A. † (6 May 1896 Appointed - 30 Jan 1917 Died)
Thomas Broderick, S.M.A. † (24 Aug 1918 Appointed - 13 Oct 1933 Died)
Leo Hale Taylor, S.M.A. † (26 Feb 1934 Appointed - 13 Jun 1939 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Costa di Benin)
Patrick Joseph Kelly, S.M.A. † (11 Dec 1939 Appointed - 5 Jul 1973 Retired)
Patrick Ebosele Ekpu † (5 Jul 1973 Succeeded - 21 Nov 2006 Retired)
Richard Anthony Burke, S.P.S. (24 Dec 2007 Appointed - 31 May 2010 Resigned)
Augustine Obiora Akubeze (18 Mar 2011 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Upper Niger {Niger Superiore}
2 May 1884	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Two Guineas {Des Deux Guinées}	Prefecture Apostolic of Upper Niger {Niger Superiore} (erected)
24 August 1911	Territory Lost	Prefecture Apostolic of Upper Niger {Niger Superiore} (Eastern part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Nigeria {Nigeria Orientale} (erected)
Prefecture Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
24 August 1911	Name Changed	Prefecture Apostolic of Upper Niger {Niger Superiore} (Western part)	Prefecture Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
24 August 1918	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
10 March 1926	Territory Added		Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin (Boundaries adjusted) Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale} (Boundaries adjusted)
18 July 1929	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale} (Area north of the rivers Niger and Benoue) Prefecture Apostolic of Eastern Nigeria {Nigeria Orientale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Northern Nigeria {Nigeria Settentrionale}
9 July 1934	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}	Prefecture Apostolic of Benue (erected) Prefecture Apostolic of Calabar (erected)
12 January 1943	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Costa di Benin Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Ondo-Ilorin (erected) (Ondo and Llorín)
Vicariate Apostolic of Asaba-Benin
12 January 1943	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Asaba-Benin
Diocese of Benin City
18 April 1950	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Asaba-Benin	Diocese of Benin City
21 February 1955	Territory Lost	Diocese of Benin City Diocese of Kaduna Prefecture Apostolic of Oturkpo	Prefecture Apostolic of Kabba (erected) (Civil Province of Kabba)
10 March 1964	Territory Lost	Diocese of Benin City (Warri)	Diocese of Warri (erected)
5 July 1973	Territory Lost	Diocese of Benin City (Asaba and Ika)	Diocese of Issele-Uku (erected)
Archdiocese of Benin City
26 March 1994	Elevated	Diocese of Benin City	Archdiocese of Benin City
4 December 2002	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Benin City (Auchi with Akoko Edo, Etsako Central, Etsako East, Etsako West, Owan East, and Owan West)	Diocese of Auchi (erected)
14 December 2005	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Benin City (Esan West, Esan Central, Esan North-East, Esan South-East, and Igueben)	Diocese of Uromi (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Benin City

1958 99,253 1,392,116 7.1% 7 46 53 1,872 18 17 ap1960

1970 140,954 1,450,000 9.7% 20 38 58 2,430 42 33 8 ap1971

1980 110,101 1,100,000 10.0% 21 12 33 3,336 16 52 18 ap1981

1990 198,017 1,853,000 10.7% 38 20 58 3,414 36 76 34 ap1991

Archdiocese of Benin City

1999 389,509 2,521,291 15.4% 84 26 110 3,540 41 96 40 ap2000

2000 391,009 2,708,980 14.4% 86 22 108 3,620 37 96 43 ap2001

2001 392,540 2,710,511 14.5% 90 24 114 3,443 57 96 43 ap2002

2002 934,071 2,712,042 34.4% 98 23 121 7,719 34 98 50 ap2003

2003 330,591 2,340,401 14.1% 83 21 104 3,178 28 55 31 ap2004

2004 343,800 2,882,410 11.9% 84 24 108 3,183 36 58 33 ap2005

2005 241,755 2,094,526 11.5% 35 15 50 4,835 44 21 bul14Dec2005

2006 363,000 3,043,000 11.9% 62 28 90 4,033 77 77 54 ap2007

2012 128,750 1,856,761 6.9% 81 23 104 1,237 55 73 62 ap2013

2015 138,900 1,888,973 7.4% 96 34 130 1,068 66 86 73 ap2016

2018 148,900 1,930,473 7.7% 103 36 139 1,071 68 100 78 ap2019

2020 151,950 1,954,470 7.8% 118 38 156 974 70 122 84 ap2021

2022 153,900 1,974,470 7.8% 113 42 155 992 74 117 92 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Benin City
1958	99,253	1,392,116	7.1%	7	46	53	1,872		18	17	ap1960
1970	140,954	1,450,000	9.7%	20	38	58	2,430	42	33	8	ap1971
1980	110,101	1,100,000	10.0%	21	12	33	3,336	16	52	18	ap1981
1990	198,017	1,853,000	10.7%	38	20	58	3,414	36	76	34	ap1991
Archdiocese of Benin City
1999	389,509	2,521,291	15.4%	84	26	110	3,540	41	96	40	ap2000
2000	391,009	2,708,980	14.4%	86	22	108	3,620	37	96	43	ap2001
2001	392,540	2,710,511	14.5%	90	24	114	3,443	57	96	43	ap2002
2002	934,071	2,712,042	34.4%	98	23	121	7,719	34	98	50	ap2003
2003	330,591	2,340,401	14.1%	83	21	104	3,178	28	55	31	ap2004
2004	343,800	2,882,410	11.9%	84	24	108	3,183	36	58	33	ap2005
2005	241,755	2,094,526	11.5%	35	15	50	4,835		44	21	bul14Dec2005
2006	363,000	3,043,000	11.9%	62	28	90	4,033	77	77	54	ap2007
2012	128,750	1,856,761	6.9%	81	23	104	1,237	55	73	62	ap2013
2015	138,900	1,888,973	7.4%	96	34	130	1,068	66	86	73	ap2016
2018	148,900	1,930,473	7.7%	103	36	139	1,071	68	100	78	ap2019
2020	151,950	1,954,470	7.8%	118	38	156	974	70	122	84	ap2021
2022	153,900	1,974,470	7.8%	113	42	155	992	74	117	92	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Thomas Broderick, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Aug 1918 to 13 Oct 1933)
Dominic Ignatius Ekandem †
Patrick Ebosele Ekpu † (Priest: 7 Jul 1963; Coadjutor Bishop: 5 Jun 1971; Bishop: 5 Jul 1973; Archbishop: 26 Mar 1994 to 21 Nov 2006)
Patrick Joseph Kelly, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Dec 1939; Bishop: 18 Apr 1950 to 5 Jul 1973)
Lucas Olu Chukwuka Nwaezeapu †
Leo Hale Taylor, S.M.A. † (Vicar Apostolic: 26 Feb 1934 to 13 Jun 1939)
Carlo Zappa, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 6 May 1896 to 30 Jan 1917)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 3, Page 481
Vicariate Apostolic of Western Nigeria {Nigeria Occidentale}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 10, Page 434
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 369, and Page 370
Vicariate Apostolic of Asaba-Benin
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 35, Page 150, and Page 151
Diocese of Benin City
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 42, Page 615, to Page 619
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 149, and Page 150
Archdiocese of Benin City
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 86, Page 560

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Archdiocese of Benin City

Archidioecesis Urbis Beninensis