About The Celebrant

Fr. Christian Christian Anieke (born 1 October 1965) is a Nigerian Roman Catholic priest and the Founding Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Nigeria. Ordained a Catholic priest on 22 July 2000, he is a professor of English and Literary  Studies. From 2006 to 2009, he was Provost of the Institute of Ecumenical Education. He became the Founding Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, which is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu in Nigeria, in 2009. He is also the Director of the Institute of Chinua Achebe Studies.

 

Fr. Christian Anieke's studies and research in Philosophy, Biblical Theology, English and American Studies have seen him study in Urban University, Rome;  University of Innsbruck, Austria; and Bath Language School, (visiting Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford University). He was also at the University of Muenster for his doctoral research under Prof. Herman Real. He has a bachelor‘s degree in Education and English from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. At the University of Innsbruck, he graduated with a First Class in his master’s and doctorate degrees in English and Literary Studies, as well as in his master’s degree in Theology. He specializes in postcolonial literature with a focus on Chinua Achebe‘s works and has published many books and journal articles in his field of studies. 

 

He is a recipient of the Universal Peace Foundation's Ambassador for Peace, the Rotary Club of Maryland's Vocational Gold Service Award of Excellence, the National Association of Grassroots Newspapers Publishers’ Eminence Award, the Youth Peace Conference's Peace Champion Award, and the University of Nigeria  Department of Philosophy's Special Award. 

 

A native of Ezeagu, Enugu State, Nigeria, and an honorary citizen of Mitterkirchen, Austria, he is a holder of a chieftaincy title "Ezeudo Gburu Gburu of Umumba Ndiagu". 

 

As a Catholic priest, Fr. Christian Anieke drives deep joy and strength from prayers and the celebration of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. For him, the celebration of his silver jubilee as a priest is a Triumph of Grace.