The late Fr Timothy Njoku, M was born on the 24th of June, 1945.
He attended St Charles Catholic School in Avuvu until 1961. He wrote the entrance Examinations to St Peter Claver’s Junior Seminary, Okpala in Owerri Archdiocese. He began the preliminary formation at St Mary Minor Seminary, Umuowa, after which he proceeded to read classes 2-5 at St Peter Claver Junior Seminary, Okpala.
Fr. Timothy Njoku. wrote his London GCE in 1967 at the beginning of the Nigerian-Biafran crisis. Fr. Timothy Njoku was part of the Bigard in exile at Afaha Obong, Akwa Ibom State as a result of the Nigerian- Biarian war. lt was during this crisis, that Fr.Timothy met with the early Vincentian missionaries who sent him to lreland to continue his Major Seminary formation. Fr. Timothy was ordained a priest on the 23rd of June, 1973 at St. Vincent De Paul Parish Ikot Obong Edong, Ikot Ekpene by Dominic Cardinal Ekandem of blessed memory. In 1973, he was appointed to continue with his ministry of teaching at Emmanuel College, Ugbokolo, Benue State where he had worked as a Deacon before his Priestly Ordination.This service lasted till 1975. He also taught for a short period at Mount St. Gabriel in Makurdi Diocese. In 1975 he was transferred to St. Francis College, Otukpo. In 1976, he left for Studies in Louvain, Belgium and returned in 1978.That same year, Fr.Timothy became the Parish Priest of St. George Catholic Church, Oraifite, a position he occupied till 1989. In 1989, he became the Director of Theology Students in Enugu till 1993. He also lectured at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu from 1992 to 1995. Fr.Timothy Njoku, CM became the first Nigerian Regional Superior, an office he occupied from 1993 to 1997. In 1998, Fr.Timothy returned to Louvain for his Doctoral Studies which he completed in 2002. He became the Director of Students in Ikot Ekpene and one of the Formation Team of St. Joseph Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene from 2002 to 2005. Within these period of service in Ikot Ekpene, he was appointed the Spiritual Director of the Society of St.Vincent De Paul in Nigeria in 2003. In 2005, he was appointed the Parish Priest of St. Kizito’s Catholic Church, Kuje, Abuja. In 2007, he left Abuja for his sabbatical. Fr.Timothy returned as the Parish Priest of St. George’s Parish Oraifite from 2009 to 2013. After this, he was appointed to be the Chaplain of St. Joseph’s Chaplaincy Crutech, Calabar. He worked here from 2013 to 2017. In 2017, he was transferred to St. James
Catholic Church, Akpulu where he worked till 2022. In September 2022, he left St. James Akpulu for his sabbatical. It was in April during the sabbatical that he took ill and was returned to the community for care and treatment. He was presented with his Golden Jubilee Certificate of Priestly ordination by the Superior General, Fr. Tomaz Mavric, CM on the 28th of April, 2023 at the Provincial House, Maryland Enugu. Sadly, on the 7th of May, 2023, he left this world to return to his maker. May his soul rest in peace. Amen. Fr.Timothy was to celebrate his Golden Jubilee of Priestly ordination in September this year but God chose to celebrate these fifty years of service in his vineyard with him in His heavenly Kingdom.

He will be remembered for his great pastoral work of evangelization, a pathfinder which earned him the name, “Oku na-agba ozara” meaning” “the fire that devours the forest”
He will be greatly missed as a father, leader, teacher, pastor and servant of the poor. We pray God to grant him a place of peace, light and ioy in his kingdom.