The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has announced the appointments of new officers to oversee Veritas University, Abuja following the expiration of the tenure of previous officers.

A statement by the Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication of Veritas University, Ben Agande revealed that the Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man’oso Ndagoso, who was elected as the new president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) becomes the new Visitor to Veritas University, Abuja

Bishop Ndagoso replaces Archbishop Lucious Ugorji of the Owerri Archdiocese who stepped down after serving a four-year tenure as CBCN president.

The statement added that the Bishop of Aba Diocese, Most Rev. (Prof) Augustine Echema was also appointed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council of Veritas University. He takes over from Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese who served for a period of four years.

Part of the statement reads: “the newly appointed Officers come to the job with a rich experience both at the religious and academic levels. Bishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagaso who presently serves as a Metropolitan Archbishop of the Kaduna Archdiocese had earlier served as the Bishop of Maiduguri Diocese before he was elevated to the Archbishopric of Kaduna in 2007. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas and ordained a priest on 4 October 1986.

“Bishop Augustine Echema who was appointed the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Veritas University by the CBCN is known not only for his religious fervor but also for his profound authority in the field of Liturgical Theology.

“Born on December 28, 1958, Bishop Echema earned a Doctorate of Theology Degree from the Philosophich-Theologische Hochschule Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt, Germany after which he joined the Faculty of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA) in Portharcourt, Rivers state. It was at CIWA that he rose to the rank of Professor of Liturgy. His academic work is widely cited in Journals of African Theology.

“The Vice Chancellor of Veritas University, Rev. Fr Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku thanked the CBCN for the appointments and promised the management of Veritas University’s unalloyed loyalty and cooperation to ensure that the University attains the vision and mission of its founding fathers” he said.