The Emeritus Archbishop of the Benin City Archdiocese, Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu, has passed away.
Archbishop Augustine Obiora Akubeze of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City shared the news in a statement, which was signed by Very Rev Fr Michael Oyanoafoh, Chancellor of the archdiocese.
According to Akubeze, Archbishop Ekpu died at the age of 92 on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at 7:09 pm following a brief illness.
He added that funeral arrangements would be announced at a later date and encouraged priests, religious, and lay faithful of the archdiocese to keep him in their prayers.
Born in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State in 1931, the late Archbishop Ekpu was ordained a priest on July 7, 1963.
He became bishop of Benin City on July 5, 1973, and was appointed Archbishop of Benin City on March 26, 1994. He retired on November 21, 2006.
