The pioneer Bishop of Catholic Diocese, Zaria, Most Reverend George Jonathan Dodo is dead.
Zaria Diocese announced the passing to Glory of the Bishop in a statement issued by Diocesan Vice Chancellor of Zaria, Rev. Fr. Abraham Bisan Make.
The statement explained that, “With gratitude to God, I have been directed to announce the passing unto glory of our Bishop, Most Rev. George Jonathan Dodo, the pioneer Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Zaria.”
The statement added that the sad event took place in the early hours of Friday, 8th July, 2022, after a brief illness.
It further explained that, “while we enjoin all to pray for his peaceful repose, information regarding his burial will be announced as soon as possible.”
Born into the family of Mr. David B. Dodo and Mrs. Paulina A. Dodo of Zuturung Mago Village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State on 17 April, 1956, late Rev. Dodo was the second child and first son of the family.
He attended St. Patrick’s Primary School (now LEA Primary School) Zuturung Mago in January 1964 for his Primary Education and finished in 1970.
In 1973, the young Dodo was enrolled in St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Zaria and graduated in 1977.
At the end of his Secondary Education, he applied for admission and was admitted into St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, under the auspices of the Archdiocese of Kaduna. There, he studied philosophy and theology.
At completion, Dodo bagged a Diploma in Religious Studies from the University of Ibadan on 11 July 1981 and a Bachelors Degree in Sacred Theology (B.Th) conferred upon by the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome on 20 September 1983.
In October 1983, he was ordained a deacon in the Archdiocese of Jos, Plateau State, and was raised to the order of the presbyterate at St. Josephs Catholic Cathedral, Kaduna by the then Metropolitan Archbishop, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Yariyok Jatau (now Emeritus).
His first place of pastoral assignment was the cathedral of St. Joseph in Kaduna, where he served as the Assistant Cathedral Administrator (July 1983-June 1984). Thereafter he became the Parish Priest of St. Dennis’ Parish, Danladi, from June 1984 – July 1985. From July 1985 to June 1987, he was the Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Parish, Dogon Kurmi.
On 22 June 1987, he left Nigeria for further studies with the Jesuits of Rosehill Campus, Fordham University, Bronx-New York, USA to study Pastoral Care/Counselling and Parish Ministration and Leadership. After a successful completion, he was conferred upon with a master’s Degree of Arts by the trustee of Fordham University. After a short break of six (6) months in the Archdiocese of Kaduna, during which he was posted to St. Thomas Parish, Kano. He later went back to the same University of Fordham and did an Advanced Professional Diploma (APD) from July 1989 to December 1990.
After completion of his studies, he came back and served in the following parishes: Parish Priest, St. Francis, Zonkwa (now in Kafanchan Diocese) February 1991-August 1991. Parish Priest, St. Matthew’s, Television, Kaduna October, 1991-December 1994 and Parish Priest, Our lady of Apostles, Independence Way, Kaduna, December 1994-March 2001.
Most Rev. Dodo was appointed Bishop of Zaria diocese in 2000 and ordained bishop in March 2001.
