NIGERIA (Oyo) - Catholic faithful in Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province has began serious preparation towards the installation of the new Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Ibadan, following the retirement of Archbishop Job, having reached the canonical age of retirement which is 75, thus bringing an end to his 42 years of feeding the flock of Christ as the Chief Shepherd of the Archdiocese.

It would be recalled that Holy Father, Pope Francis, having approved the retirement of Archbishop-Emeritus Job, announced the appointment of Bishop Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin of Osogbo Diocese as his (Archbishop-Emeritus Job) successor.

According to a press release made available to CEOAFRICA online news by the Directorate of Social Communication, Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, and signed by Rev.Fr. Mark Obayi, the Priest-in-charge of the directorate, the Archbishop-Elect, Most Rev. Dr. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin was born in Iwere-Ile, Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State, on 29^th September, 1947.

He was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood on Saturday, 21^st April, 1979 at his hometown Iwere-Ile by Bishop Julius Adelakun of Oyo Diocese.

Most Rev. Dr. Abegunrin was appointed the first Catholic Bishop of Osogbo Diocese by Pope John Paul 11 of Blessed Memory in 1995, a post he retained till his recent appointment as the new Chief Shepherd of Ibadan Archdiocese.

The release stated that Most Rev.Dr. Abegunrin will be formally installed as Archbishop of Ibadan Archdiocese and the Metropolitan of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province on Friday, 24^th January, 2014 at the SS Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State by 10.00 a.m prompt.

For further updates on the installation ceremony, always keep up with CEOAFRICA the official online media partner of the Directorate of Social Communication, Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, which shall stream the ceremony live via www.ceoafrica.com.