Bishop of Pankshin
Rev. Michael Gobal Gokum was born on February 18, 1964, in Kadyis, in the Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State (Archdiocese of Jos). After attending local schools, he entered St. Augustine Major Seminary in Jos in 1978, where he pursued studies in Philosophy and Theology (1984–1991). He was ordained a priest on November 16, 1991, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Fatima and is incardinated in the Archdiocese of Jos. In 1995, at the request of the Archbishop of Abuja, he was transferred to that archdiocese as a *fidei donum* priest. Following his ordination, he held the following positions and undertook further studies: 1991–1994: Parish Priest of St. Mary’s, Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi State; 1995–1996: Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s Parish, Bwari, Abuja; 1996–2002: Parish Priest of Murumba Parish, Igu, Abuja; Chairman of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Commission and Chaplain of the Catholic Women Association; 2002–2004: Studies for a Licentiate in Ecumenism at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, residing at the Pontifical Irish College; 2005–2006: Parish Priest of Immaculate Conception Parish, Abuja; 2006–2012: Parish Priest of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Nyanya, Abuja; since 2012: Administrator of the Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of Nigeria (Abuja), Dean of the Garki Deanery, Archdiocesan Director of Catechesis, and Chaplain for the youth of the archdiocese.