The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City is in mourning following the death of its Metropolitan Archbishop and former President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Reverend Augustine Obiora Akubeze, is dead.
In a statement by the Archdiocese and confirmed by the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Archbishop Akabueze died on Thursday, July 9, 2026, aged 69.
And as part of tributes and Funeral plans, the Church has commended his soul to God and prayed for the repose of his soul.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the Archdiocese in due course.
Born in 1956, Akubeze was ordained a Catholic priest on October 3, 1987. He was appointed the pioneer Bishop of Uromi Diocese on December 14, 2005, and was consecrated on February 25, 2006.
Five years later, he was named Archbishop of Benin City on March 18, 2011, and installed on April 28, 2011 — a position he held for 15 years.
Archbishop Akubeze also served as President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria [CBCN], where he was a leading voice on faith, governance, and social justice in the country.
“That I May Bear Witness to the Truth”
Guided by his episcopal motto “Ut Testimonium perhibeam veritati” – “That I may bear witness to the Truth” — the late Archbishop was widely described as a humble, compassionate, and dedicated shepherd.
The Archdiocese said he championed spiritual renewal, infrastructure development in parishes, and the welfare of priests and parishioners across the Archdiocese.
“He was a gentle and compassionate shepherd whose impact will be felt for generations,” the statement read.
Tributes have begun pouring in from clergy, lay faithful, and Nigerians across denominations, remembering Archbishop Akubeze for his pastoral warmth, intellectual depth, and commitment to truth.
