Matthew Hassan Kukah

Matthew Hassan Kukah (born 31 August 1952 in Anchuna, Nigeria) is the current bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.[1]

The Right Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah
Bishop, Roman Catholic Diocese of Sokoto
Church	Roman Catholic
Archdiocese	Kaduna
Metropolis	Kaduna
Diocese	Sokoto
Appointed	10 June 2011
Predecessor	Bishop Kevin Joseph Aje
Personal details
Birth name	Matthew Hassan Kukah
Born	August 31, 1952 Anchuna, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Nationality	Nigerian
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Education	SOAS University of London, 1990 (PhD.) University of Bradford, 1980 (MD) Pontifical Urban University Rome, 1976 (BD)

In December, 2020, Pope Francis appointed him as a member of the Dicastery on Intergral Human Development.

Early life and education

Bishop Kukah was born on efdom in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State.[2] Kukah received his primary education at St. Fidelis Primary School, Zagom, then St. Joseph Minor Seminary, Zaria, before proceeding to St. Augustine Major Seminary Jos, Plateau State, where he studied Philosophy and Theology. Kukah was ordained a Catholic Priest on December 19, 1976. Kukah also attended the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma in Religious Studies. Kukah also received the Bachelor of Divinity at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome in 1976, followed by a master's degree in Peace Studies, at the University of Bradford, United Kingdom in 1980. Kukah's academic pursuits culminated with a PhD from University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in 1990.[2] At some unspecified point, he studied at the University of Oxford, in Oxford, in Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom, and also at Harvard University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in Greater Boston, in the United States.[3]

Between 1999 and 2001 he served as a member of the Nigerian Investigation Commission of Human Rights Violations. In addition to his work as a parish priest of Saint Andrews's parish in Kakuri, Kaduna from 2004 until his nomination as bishop, he was secretary of the National Political Reform Conference (2005) and from 2005 onwards he has been serving as the chairman of the Ogoni-Shell Reconciliation. Additionally, between 2007 and 2009 he worked also in the committee for electoral reform set up by the Nigerian government.[1]

This Day News reported the passing away and burial of Mama Janet Hauwa Kukah, the bishop's mother, born in June, 1934 who was buried in Anchuna, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, with many dignitaries at attendance and others sending their condolences.[4]

References

1. "Rinuncia del Vescovo di Sokoto (Nigeria) e Nomina del Successore". Holy See Press Office. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
2. "Celebrating Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah At 59". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
3. Mares, Courtney. "Nigerian bishop condemns "cries of shrill Islamization"". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
4. Damina, Francis (17 July 2020). "Nigeria: 'Mediatrix' - a Tribute to Maman Fr. Kukah". All Africa. This Day. Retrieved 8 August 2020.

External links

• Bishop Matthew Kukah on CIID