William Avenya

William Avenya (born 21 June 1955) is a Nigerian prelate of the Catholic Church, who is the bishop of the diocese of Gboko, Nigeria.[1] Avenya is the first bishop of the diocese since its creation on 29 December 2012.[2][3] He served as secretary general of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of Anglophone West Africa (AECAWA).[3]

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

William Avenya
Bishop of the Diocese of Gboko
ChurchCatholic
DioceseGboko
Appointed29 December 2012
Orders
Ordination30 May 1981
Consecration24 January 2009
by Athanasius Atule Usuh
Personal details
Born
William Amove Avenya

21 June 1955 (1955-06-21) (age 68)
Ishangev Tiev, Konshisha, Benue State, Nigeria
OccupationClergyman
Previous post(s)
Education
Styles of
William Amove Avenya
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor

Early life and education

William Amove Avenya was born on 21 June 1955 in Ishangev Tiev, Konshisha Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria. He attended Mount Saint Gabriel's Secondary School in Makurdi and completed ecclesiastical studies at St Augustine's Major Seminary Jos (1975-1981). He studied at the University of Manchester (1989–1990), pursuing a master's degree in education and a PhD. In 2000, he earned a diploma in management and development of non-governmental organizations at Galilee International Management Institute, Israel.[3]

Religious life

Avenya was ordained a priest on 30 May 1981.[1] He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Makurdi, Nigeria, on 28 November 2008. He was appointed titular bishop of Thucca in Mauretania on 28 November 2008 and ordained a bishop on 24 January 2009[1] in Makurdi, Benue.[4] He was appointed bishop of the diocese of Gboko on 29 December 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI and installed on 24 February 2013.[4]

On 17 February 2020, after the death of Peter Iorzuul Adoboh, the bishop of the diocese of Katsina-Ala, Avenya was appointed apostolic administrator of Katsina-Ala. He served in that role until Pope Francis appointed a new bishop in July 2020.[5]

References
  1. "Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN)". cbcn-ng.org. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "Diocese of Gboko". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  3. "Erezione delle Diocesi di Gboko e Katsina-Ala (Nigeria) e Nomina Dei Primi Vescovi" [Erection of the Dioceses of Gboko and Katsina-Ala (Nigeria) and Appointment of the First Bishops] (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office]. 29 December 2012. B0757/01732-01.01. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  4. "Bishop William Amove Avenya". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  5. "Diocese of Katsina-Ala". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2023.

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