William Avenya (born 21 June 1955) is a Nigerian prelate of the Catholic Church, who is the bishop of the Latin Church diocese of Gboko in 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]


William Avenya
Bishop of the Diocese of Gboko
Church
DioceseGboko
Appointed29 December 2012
Installed24 February 2013
Previous post(s)
Personal details
Born
William Amove Avenya

21 June 1955 (1955-06-21) (age 69)
Ishangev Tiev, Konshisha, Benue State, Nigeria
OccupationClergyman
Education
Ordination history
History
Priestly ordination
Date30 May 1981
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorAthanasius Atule Usuh
Co-consecrators
Date24 January 2009
PlaceAper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, Diocese of Makurdi
Styles of
William Amove Avenya
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor

Early life and education

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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

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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.[5] He served in that role until a new bishop, appointed by Pope Francis,[6] was installed in July 2022.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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.
  6. ^ "Nomina del Vescovo di Katsina-ala (Nigeria)" [Appointment of the Bishop of Katsina-ala (Nigeria)] (Press release) (in Italian). 9 April 2022. B0255/00541-IT.01. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Bishop Isaac Bundepuun Dugu". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
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