http://www.cnsng.org/viewnews.php?tabnews=179


VATICAN CITY -

Rev. Msgr Matthew Hassan Kukah Appointed Bishop of Sokoto
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has today, Friday 10trh June, 2011, appointed as bishop of Sokoto diocese Msgr Matthew Hassan Kukah. He replaces Bishop Kevin Aje who retired having attained the canonical age of 75. Until his appointment, Msgr Kukah was the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Kaduna.
PERSONAL DATA
Date of birth: 31th August 1952 in Kulu Zango (Kaduna Archdiocese)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
St Joseph’s Minor Seminary - 1970
St Augustine’s Seminary, Jos - 1976
University of Bradford, UK - 1981
London University - 1990
Oxford University (St Anthony’s College) 2001 - 2003
JF Kennedy School of Government 2003 - 2004
Priestly Ordination: December 19th 1976
He holds: Diploma in Religious Studies (Ibadan)
MA Peace Studies (University of Bradford, UK)
Ph.D (London University)
MA (Public Policy) (JF Kennedy School of Government).
APPOINMENTS
Associate Parish Priest (Kaduna) 1977 – 1978
Lecturer, Dean of Students (St Augustine’s Seminary, Jos) 1978 – 1979
Rector Junior Seminary (Zaria) 1981 – 1982
Cardinal Ekandem’s Special Assistant (Abuja) 1982 – 1986
Deputy Secretary General (Catholic Bishops Conference) 1990 – 1993
Secretary General (Catholic Bishops Conference) 1994 – 2000
Consultant (Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue) 1999 – 2006
Vicar General (Archdiocese of Kaduna) 2004 – to date
Parish Priest, St Andrew’ Catholic Church, Kakuri, Kaduna 2004 – to date
Rev. Mgr. Matthew Hassan Kukah worked also for the Federal Government of Nigeria as Secretary of the National Political Reform Conference (February-July 2005) and Member of the Electoral Reform Committee (2007-2009); He is Chairman of Ogoni-Shell Reconciliation Commission (2005- to date).
The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto is under Kaduna Province, and was Erected on the 16th of June , 1964.
The ecclesiastical territory today known as Sokoto dioceses covers four geo-political states of Sokoto , Zamfara , Kebbi and Katsina- all located in the northern west and Muslim dominated area of Nigeria.
The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto Diocese has 17 parishes. On 6th of January, 1983, Bishop Kevin J Aje was consecrated bishop of Sokoto in Rome, thus making him the first African bishop of the diocese. The diocese has 27 diocesan priests, 4 Religious Priests and many religious sisters today.

The date for the ordination of the Bishop-elect is yet to be announced.

Good news for the Catholic Church in Nigeria!

Congratulations Bishop Kukah for a well deserved and due position. However, i must say that i received the news with mixed feelings, having known the retiring Bishop Kelvin Aje and how he has effectively stirred the boat even in turbulent times in the famed seat of the caliphate. We sure are going too miss Bishop Aje. Welcome home Bishop Kukah.