Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Maiduguri, Nigeria

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend John Bogna Bakeni, until now chaplain of the All Saints Catholic Chaplaincy of the University of Maiduguri, as auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Maiduguri, Nigeria, assigning him the titular see of Leptimino.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. John Bogna Bakeni was born on 5 March 1975 in Kiri, in the diocese of Maiduguri. After attending Saint Peter’s Minor Seminary in Yola (1987-1993), he completed his studies in philosophy at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Makurdi (1993-1996) and in theology at Saint Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos (1998-2002).

He was ordained a priest on 17 August 2002, and incardinated in the diocese of Maiduguri.

Since priestly ordination he has served as parish priest of Saint Joseph and director of the Catechetical Training Centre in Kaya (2007-2022). He was awarded a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome (2007-2012) and was parish priest of Saint Joseph in Gashua (2012).

Since 2013 he has been parish priest of Saint Hilary in Polo, administrator of the Saint Joseph cathedral parish and dean of Maiduguri, member of the College of Consultors, secretary and procurator of the diocese of Maiduguri and chair of the Commission for Interreligious Dialogue of the same diocese.

From 2020 to date he has served as chaplain of the All Saints Catholic Chaplaincy of the University of Maiduguri.