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A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF MOST REV. DR. MARTIN IGWE UZOUKWU

Most Rev. Dr. Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu who was born on Nkwo day, 9th September 1950, hails from Ozubulu, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. His parents: Chief Ezeakabudu Uzoukwu and Mrs. Grace Onyemachi Uzoukwu (both of evergreen memory). Schools attended: He began his primary School career at St. John's Catholic School , Uruezi, Egbema, Ozubulu, Anambra State , Nigeria at the age of five. He later moved on to the Senior class in St. Joseph 's Catholic School , Egbema, Ozubulu. In 1959 he moved to Jebba, Kwara State , where he lived and continued his primary education. He successfully completed his primary education in St. Theresa's Catholic School , Jebba, Kwara State , in 1961.

He took up an appointment with the Nigeria Sugar Company, Bacita, Kwara State . He started his working career as an Office Boy. He later became Telephone Operator, Time Keeper, Stores Accounts Clerk, finally, he was promoted and transferred to the Wages Section (Accounts Department) of the same Company.

In 1966, he was compelled to leave Bacita due to the nation-wide crisis which resulted into the Nigerian-Biafran Civil War. He joined the Biafran Army fighting for survival. He served in many units such as Signal, Infantry, Orderly, finally he rose to the rank of A Sergeant and served in the Army Chaplaincy (Roman Catholic), AHQ ‘ Main ” as the Senior Catechist.

In 1969 his wish to answer the Divine Call was answered, Sgt. Martin was officially received into the Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala.

In 1971, he changed Schools and went into the Sacred Heart Seminary, Akure, Ondo State, where in 1973, he successfully completed his minor Seminary training and obtained his West African School Certificate and the General Certificate of Education, London. He was sent to the Seminary of SS Peter & Paul, Ibadan , in the 1974/75 Academic Year to start the courses in Philosophy and Theology. He successfully completed the Seminary courses on the 30th June 1981.

He was ordained a Deacon on the 14th December 1980 , by now His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, the then Archbishop of Onitsha, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha , Anambra State. With his ordination to the Catholic Priesthood on Sunday, 27th September, 1981 , by His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. William Mahony, SMA.

In October 1981, he was appointed an Associate parish priest to Rev. Fr. Kevin Carroll, SMA, in Guffanti, Borgu Local Government Area now in Niger State . He was appointed the Diocesan Secretary in December 1982 a post he held until September 1987, when he left Nigeria for the Pontifical Urban University in Rome for a four-year doctorate degree programme in Canon Law which he successfully completed with high honours: “Magna Cum Laude”. He also holds a Bachelors Degree in Theology (BD) Urban University, Rome; Diploma in Religious Studies ( University of Ibadan ); Diploma in Community Development from St. Thomas Aquinas Pontifical University (Angelicum), Rome.

He was appointed the Diocesan Chancellor in August 1991. In November 1992, Propaganda Fide, Rome appointed him the first Rector of St. Peter the Apostle Seminary, Eruku, Kwara State . The Seminary of St. Peter the Apostle, Eruku, has been established to provide solid spiritual formation to candidates going into the Catholic Major Seminaries in the Kaduna , Abuja and Jos Ecclesiastical Provinces . On 5th July 1996 , he was appointed Bishop of Minna by the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. The Episcopal Ordination and Installation took place in St. Michael's Catholic Cathedral, Minna, on November 30th, 1996 . The day marking the 16 th Anniversary of the “Dives in Misericordia – Rich in Mercy, 1980” an Encyclical Letter of Pope John Paul II.

Bishop Martin Uzoukwu had held many extra ministerial appointments in the Church including: Judicial Vicar, Financial Administrator, Spiritual Director to Marian Movements, Chairman, Hospital Board Bacita and Chaplain of Laity Council, Ilorin Diocese. Others are: Chaplain NFCS, YCS, Youth Apostolate, Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement, Director PMS, Pioneer Total Abstinence Association, etc. He is a member of the Canon Law Society of Nigeria, Canon Law Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria, Canon Law Society of America, Canon Law Society of Great Britain & Australia . A member of the Marriage Tribunal of the Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province, Catholic Theologians Association of Nigeria and National Promoter of Divine Mercy Devotion in Nigeria. The founder of the following: Divine Mercy Academy, Minna, Nigeria (1998); Missionaries of Divine Mercy Congregation (2002); Family Apostles of the Divine Mercy (2002); Association of Priests & Religious of the Divine Mercy (2002); Association of Seminarians of the Divine Mercy (2005); Association of Volunteers of the Divine Mercy (2005); Divine Mercy Youth Apostolate (2006); Proprietor of Divine Mercy Reporter (2006). He is an Ambassador for Divine Mercy. A member and champion for Mercy & Human Life Movements.

Episcopal Assignments:

An active Member of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria [CBCN]. Chairman, Papal Visit 1998 Souvenir Sub-Committee [CBCN]. The Chairman, Marriage & Human Life Issues Committee, [CBCN] 2000 – 2006. A member of the Standing Committee on AECAWA. A member of the Standing Committee on SECAM, a representative of AECAWA. A member of the Implementation Committee and Finance Committee of Catholic University of Nigeria, Abuja [CUNA].

His interest includes : Scouting, Social interactions, Traveling, Football, Photography, Farming.

His motto is: JESU, MARIA VOBIS CONFIDO – Jesus, Mary I Trust In You.

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