News Officers On Board At CCRN

By Matthews Otalike National Communication Commission, CCRN / 24/3/25

The election of new national officers of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Nigeria has just been concluded at the national headquarters of the CCRN, Ubulu Uku, Delta State. The election is in compliance with the directive of the CBCN to the effect of one term for all elected offices. The officers are:

1. National Coordinator, Celestine Ugwu – Kaduna Province (Sokoto Diocese)
2. Vice Coordinator, John Fowode – Lagos Province (Abeokuta)
3. National Secretary, Prof. James Ojochenemi Yakubu – Jos Province (Wukari Diocese)
4. Assistant Secretary, Barr. Ben Chuks Udoh – Onitsha Prov. (Aguleri Diocese)
5. Financial Secretary, Sylvester Osigwe Calabar Province (PH Diocese)
6. Treasurer – Priscilla Uke, Calabar Province (Calabar Diocese)
7. PRO – Francis Okojie Benin Province (Uromi Diocese)

The elected national CCRN officers were committed to God in prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit by all members of the National Service of Communion at the meeting, led by the National Chaplain of the CCRN, Rev. Fr. Irenaeus Okonkwo PhD JP. The National Chaplain was assisted by two other chaplains who attended the NSC meeting including Rev. Fr. Ikenna Nnaji of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province of the CCRN.

The 2025 election of the national executive has been adjudged as the fairest, transparent and rancour free exercise in the CCRN across the country. The only influence experience in the hall was that of the Holy Spirit. The election was preceded by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during which Fr. Ikenna Nnaji admonished members of the electing body, the National Service of Communion to vote according to their conscience and guidance of the Holy Spirit. He warned that pandering to external human influence against the decision of the Holy Spirit has dire consequences on the individuals who flout God’s direction. In prayer, all the members resolved to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the exercise.

In line with the directive of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, the office of National Coordinator of the CCRN this time has to come from the old Kaduna Province which now comprises Kaduna, Abuja and Jos. At the end of the election, the current Coordinator of the CCRN in the Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province, Brother Celestine Ugwu was elected by majority votes through secret ballot.