Our Founding Father

 THE LATE ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF BENIN CITY

 The late Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu was born on October 26, 1931, and hailed from Unuwazi in Uromi, Esan North East of Edo State, Nigeria. He started his primary school education at Government School, Uromi in 1939. By divine inspiration, he left his hometown in 1942 for Benin City, where he completed his primary education at Holy Cross Primary School and St. Thomas Catholic School. In 1950, with the encouragement and support of the saintly and grass-root evangelizer, Brother Pius Igharo, he entered St. Paul Minor Seminary, Benin City. In September 1955, he was admitted to SS Peter and Paul Major Seminary, which was then in Benin City until it relocated to Ibadan in 1957. Upon completing his philosophical and theological studies, he was ordained a Catholic priest according to the Order of Melchizedek on July 7, 1963.

​His first pastoral assignment was to Iguobazuwa as a curate, followed by service as parish administrator to St. Augustine, Ibusa (1964–1967). From 1967 to 1968, he served at Igueben before proceeding to the United States of America for further studies. While in America, on June 5, 1971, he was nominated Co-adjutor Bishop of Benin City. He was consecrated bishop on November 21, 1971, and succeeded Bishop Patrick Kelly on July 5, 1973, as Bishop of Benin City.

​Deeply moved by the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970) and a firm believer in Unity in diversity, he founded our religious institute—the Institute of the Adoration Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—on April 6, 1975. Reflecting his profound love for both the Nigerian and African culture, as well as his desire to uplift the downtrodden, the institute he established wears a traditional Aso Oke habit of buba and wrapper with traditional designs. Furthermore, it is little wonder that both his personal motto and that of our institute became UT UNUM SINT — That they may be one (John 17:21).

​He served as bishop for 23 years and archbishop for 12 years, dedicating a total of 35 years of meritorious service to the Church before retiring on November 21, 2006. Until his retirement, he served as the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for Edo State and the South-South region. His feast day was celebrated every March 17 on the Feast of St. Patrick.

​A man of great treasure and very few words with a high sense of discipline, he was a paradigm of civility, possessed inexhaustible patience, and stood as an untiring listener, an epitome of decency, a calculated speaker, and an intellectual colossus with undeterred courage and resolute faith. He possessed impeccable integrity and was a true visionary who promoted human dignity and uplifted the poor, especially women.

​Having lived a remarkable life as an apostle par excellence for Christ, the late Archbishop Patrick Ebosele Ekpu answered his heavenly call on August 6, 2024, at the age of 92. May his noble and gentle soul rest in eternal peace.