SW News:

As many as 16 men have been ordained to the priesthood for the Onitsha archdiocese in Nigeria. The ordination ceremony that took place at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity on Saturday, July 8, was presided over by Archbishop Valerian Maduka Okeke. The church was filled with family members, friends, and relatives of the ordinands.

The newly ordained priests are Sylvester Chisom Afudoh, Peter Ifeanyichukwu Areh, Jude Ugochukwu Ezeji, Arinzechukwu Valentine Ezumezu, Anthony Ikegbunam, Kingsley Chukwuebuka Jibuaku, Joseph Okechukwu Nnanyelugo, Remigius Nwangwu, Emmanuel Ifeanyichukwu Nwankwo, Aloysius Okeke, Chukwubuikem Okongwuigwe, Charles Chibueze Okonkwo, Michael Chukwuemeka Okosa, Henry Onyebuchi Osakwe, Emmanuel Tobechukwu Oyi, and Francis Mary Chinechelum Udeaja.

Onitsha archdiocese is one of the largest archdioceses in the West African nation. Out of a total population of more than 3,200,000 in the region, around 2,000,000 are Catholic. Nearly 190 parishes are part of the archdiocese. Last year the archdiocese ordained nine men to the priesthood.