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The Rev. Fr. Anthony Ikhenoba was born on the 14th September 1969 in Zaria, Kaduna State to the family of
Mr. Edward Adamu Ikhenoba and Mrs. Regina Ukekemi Abubakar who hail from Agenebode in Etsako L. G. A Edo State.
He attended L. E. A Primary School Marmara Zaria from 1976 to 1982 and upon completion of his primary education
Fr. Anthony went to St. Joseph’s minor seminary in Zaria from 1982 to 1987. He then attended St. Thomas Aquinas major
seminary Makurdi Benue State from 1987 to 1991 where he studied Philosophy. In August 1991 Fr. Anthony went to
St. Augustine’s Major Seminary Jos where he studied Theology and graduated in May 1995.
Fr. Anthony was Ordained a Catholic Priest on 6th of July 1996 at St. Monica Malali Kaduna by His Grace Archbishop P. Y. Jatau.
As a priest his first posting was to St. Andrew’s Sabon Sarki as an associate pastor. In the year 1997 when St.
Andrew’s parish was divided into two, Fr. Anthony became the parish priest of St. Andrew’s parish where he worked for five years.
The spiritual, educational and administrative influence of Fr. Anthony as a pastor will remain forever in Sabon Sarki.
The 12th February 2001 was a happy day for the parishioners of St. Matthew’s Television and a sad day for parishioners of St. Andrew’s Sabon Sarki
with the announcement of the appointment of Fr. Anthony as the parish priest of St. Matthew’s. While in St. Matthew’s, step by step he directed and
facilitated the development of the parish on all fronts with marvellous rapidity. With his dynamism the parish church expansion, extension and
remodelling has been completed as well as a flourishing secondary school. His passion for music prompted him to establish a children's mass choir
with over 200 children making waves with their singing and dancing. He formed out of this mass choir a group of twenty young stars whom he trained
to perform in concerts in a bid to promote the future of the African child. In all these astonishing development, we could but thank God for the vision,
wisdom tenacity and leadership of Fr. Anthony when we celebrated his 10th Anniversary of Ordination.
Lastly, Fr. Anthony has also served the Archdiocese Of Kaduna tremendously well as the Archdiocesan Director/Coordinator of the
Pontifical Mission Societies ,( PMS) Missionary Childhood and the Dean of Makera Deanery from 2004 till date.
He also Served as Chaplain to many groups in the Archdiocese of Kaduna, where he endeared himself to the Diocesan Choir
because of his love for music.
In all this, we make bold to say that Fr. Anthony is a role model to many young priests and those aspiring to the priesthood.
He is a pastor to the core, a developer in all senses. His humility, administrative skill, his regard to decorum, the integrity of his ministerial character,
his professional as well as his religious witness and his love for his parishioners will never be forgotten.
His Motto is “Education is the key” he said once “I believe that educating the African Child Opens the door for future development in Africa”
We pray therefore that God may grant him many more fruitful years ahead.
Fr. Kingsley Mbamara
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