…remembered as a Shepherd who “impacted the lives of so many people.”
The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City has announced the sudden passing of Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, which occurred on Thursday, July 9, 2026.
In a statement, “On behalf of the Consultors of the Catholic Diocese of Benin City,” the Diocesan Chancellor, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh, disclosed that “We announce with profound sorrow, yet with a firm hope in the resurrection, the passing of our dearly beloved father.”
He described Archbishop Akubeze as a shepherd who “lived a very simple and humble life in faith and obedience to the will of God.”
Fr. Oyanoafoh disclosed that “He impacted the lives of so many people. He was a complete gentleman and a father to us all.”
While commending “his soul to the infinite mercy of God,” the Archdiocese of Benin prayed God to “grant him a merciful judgment and eternal rest.”
The statement sought “the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” the saints and angels, asking for God’s comfort “for the Archdiocese, his immediate and extended family members, and all who mourn him.”
Ordained as a Catholic priest on October 3, 1987, he was appointed Bishop of Uromi on December 14, 2005, and consecrated on February 25, 2006. He was later translated as the Archbishop of Benin City on March 18, 2011, and installed on April 28, 2011.
In his eulogy, the Secretary General, Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo described Archbishop Akubeze as “a unique Shepherd who understood that the true development of the Church embraces both spiritual renewal and the holistic growth of God’s people.”
Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze.
He noted that “under his care, the Archdiocese of Benin City has witnessed significant developmental strides,” adding that “He was deeply committed to the welfare of his priests with the conviction that the future of the Church depended on well-formed Shepherds.”
Fr. Banjo extolled his leadership qualities as the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, underlining that the deceased “firmly stood as a pillar of orthodox truth,” stressing that “his voice did not tickle ears but fed souls, bringing to light his episcopal motto “Ut Testimonium perhibeam veritati” (Jn. 18:37) which means ‘that I may bear witness to the truth.’”
The scribe lauded his pastoral role, stressing that “his patient listening and selfless generosity embodied a compassionate Shepherd who knew the smell of his flock.
“He demonstrated always by his gentleness and quiet disposition that genuine authority in the Church is not measured by power but by service, and this was a result of his deep level of spirituality.”
Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of Benin City disclosed that “Funeral arrangements will be communicated later,” while urging all “to pray for the repose of his soul.”
Editor’s Note: All photos are courtesy of Fada Kay Media.
