Diocese of Okigwe

Dioecesis Okigvensis

Bishop(s)

Solomon Amanchukwu Amatu, Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 24 January 1981
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Owerri
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 1,386 (535 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Catholic Secretariat, P.O. Box 99, Villa Lourdes, Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0803)47.23.212

Past and Present Ordinaries

Anthony Ekezia Ilonu † (24 Jan 1981 Appointed - 22 Apr 2006 Resigned)
Solomon Amanchukwu Amatu (22 Apr 2006 Succeeded - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
24 January 1981	Erected	Diocese of Umuahia (Ekiti, Mbano, Okigwe, and Isuikwuato)	Diocese of Okigwe (erected)
26 March 1994	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Okigwe (from Onitsha)

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

1990 363,778 1,330,721 27.3% 94 94 3,869 32 48 37 ap1991

1999 562,996 1,500,984 37.5% 151 15 166 3,391 52 68 50 ap2000

2000 712,945 1,589,291 44.9% 186 15 201 3,546 37 70 83 ap2001

2001 722,955 1,590,103 45.5% 224 23 247 2,926 60 80 84 ap2002

2002 742,370 1,617,720 45.9% 168 23 191 3,886 61 90 86 ap2003

2003 748,731 1,625,868 46.1% 197 23 220 3,403 60 99 87 ap2004

2004 823,483 2,001,838 41.1% 179 23 202 4,076 60 79 87 ap2005

2013 826,000 2,408,000 34.3% 225 7 232 3,560 31 152 91 ap2014

2016 951,402 2,567,000 37.1% 261 7 268 3,550 39 178 103 ap2017

2019 1,020,000 2,771,300 36.8% 315 8 323 3,157 33 183 109 ap2020

2021 937,157 1,779,636 52.7% 319 12 331 2,831 39 160 119 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1990	363,778	1,330,721	27.3%	94		94	3,869	32	48	37	ap1991
1999	562,996	1,500,984	37.5%	151	15	166	3,391	52	68	50	ap2000
2000	712,945	1,589,291	44.9%	186	15	201	3,546	37	70	83	ap2001
2001	722,955	1,590,103	45.5%	224	23	247	2,926	60	80	84	ap2002
2002	742,370	1,617,720	45.9%	168	23	191	3,886	61	90	86	ap2003
2003	748,731	1,625,868	46.1%	197	23	220	3,403	60	99	87	ap2004
2004	823,483	2,001,838	41.1%	179	23	202	4,076	60	79	87	ap2005
2013	826,000	2,408,000	34.3%	225	7	232	3,560	31	152	91	ap2014
2016	951,402	2,567,000	37.1%	261	7	268	3,550	39	178	103	ap2017
2019	1,020,000	2,771,300	36.8%	315	8	323	3,157	33	183	109	ap2020
2021	937,157	1,779,636	52.7%	319	12	331	2,831	39	160	119	ap2022