Ghanaian priest appointed bishop of Niger’s Maradi Diocese

The Vatican has announced the appointment of Reverend Father Ignatius Anipu, M.Afr., as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Maradi in Niger, following the resignation of Bishop Ambroise Ouédraogo.

The announcement was published by the Vatican on February 22.

Now Monsignor Anipu, born on 7 November 1959 in the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, Ghana, brings a wealth of experience to his new role.

He has spent much of his priestly life serving in various capacities across West Africa, particularly in Niger, Mali, and beyond. His previous roles have included parish vicar, national youth chaplain, provincial counsellor, and even lecturer in missiology and Islamology.

Monsignor Anipu’s commitment to interfaith dialogue has been evident through his leadership as the Director of the Institut de Formation Islamo-Chrétienne in Bamako, Mali. His academic credentials are equally impressive, holding a licentiate from the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome, and a solid foundation in philosophy and theology from institutions in Ghana and France.

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Profile of Msgr. Ignatius Anipu, M.Afr

Msgr. Ignatius Anipu, M.Afr., was born on 7 November 1959 in the diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, Ghana. He studied philosophy at Saint Victor’s Major Seminary in Tamale, Ghana, and theology at the Institut Catholique de Toulouse, France. He was awarded a licentiate at the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 20 July 1991.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint Teresa of Ávila in Zinder, Niger, and national chaplain for the country’s youth (1991-1995), parish priest of Saint Vincent de Paul in Birni N’Konni, Niger (1998-2001), provincial counsellor (1999-2001) and head of the Community of the White Fathers of Birni N’Konni (2000-2002), lecturer in missiology, traditional African religions and Islamology at the Missionary Institute of London (2002-2008), in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and in Bamako, provincial of the White Fathers for West Africa (2011-2016), and general assistant and general counsellor of the White Fathers in Rome (2016-2022).

Since 2023 he has been the delegate of the provincial of West Africa and director of the Institut de Formation Islamo-Chrétienne in Bamako.