Most Rev. Augustine Obiora Akubeze, the metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, is dead.
Archbishop Akubeze, reportedly died on Thursday, July 9, 2026. He was 69 years old.
His death was announced in a statement by the Archdiocese and confirmed by the Secretary General of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria.
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.
The Archdiocese said Akubeze 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.
