In accordance with the universal law of nature of times and seasons, His Grace, Most Dr. Matthew Ishaya Audu was born on the 7th of June, 1949 in Rafin-pa, Keffi LGA of the then Plateau State. He is an indigene Of Tudu-Uku, Gitata District, Karu LGA of Nasarawa State.
Early Life
Audu began his educational journey at the Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) School, Tudu-Uku, as one of the pioneer students. Through 19671o 1971, he underwent his primary education at St. William's Roman Catholic Mission (RCM) Primary School Keffi, and obtained his First School Leaving Certificate. The quest for more knowledge compelled the young Audu to proceed to the famous Technical School, Kaduna, with the core ambition to become an Engineer.
Due to financial challenges however, this ambition of his was cut short as he could not continue. Since he was an ambitious young man, he did not resign to his fate of financial incapacity but went on to identify other areas to achieve his destiny.
While working as a teacher in the school he heard God's call and heeded like the biblical account of Samuel. He sought the counsel of friends and relatives, and most importantly his parish priest, who all encouraged him to respond in the affirmative.
In line with Henry Ford's thoughts that "the whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one's destiny to do, and then do it he discovered his destiny and his desire for a successful life propelled him forward. As a result, in the fall of 1973, Most Rev Dr. Audu enrolled into St. James' Minor Seminary, Makurdi, now in Yandev, Gboko LGA Benue State.
Going into the seminary in those days was not something common. So much was involved, especially as Christianity was not yet rooted in our typical traditional African society. His descent from an intensely protestant background further complicated the issue.
He was however resolute on his decision to become a priest, and even though the financial incapacity which initially stalled his ambition of becoming an engineer resurfaced, God intervened God's intervention came through His Rector, Rev Fr. J. V. Taylor CSSP, who found a sponsor for him, in the person of a charitable British woman, Mrs. Nelson. Mrs. Nelson took over the responsibility of paying his school fees for the rest of his years in the minor seminary.
At graduation from the minor seminary, Archbishop Matthew was admitted into St. Augustine's Major Seminary, Jos, amidst protests from relatives. The protests against his continual to St. Augustine were countered by the kind intervention of his parish priest, Rev. Fr. Anthony CSSP, and his Bishop, Donald Murray CSSP.
For Matthew Audu, precisely his studies drew him closer to God, and given that his situation required total dependence on God's mercy and kindness, the Lord himself will strengthen him through philosophy and theology in which he eventually accepted to become a Catholic Priesthood.
Few months after his diaconate ordination. precisely on 23rd June, 12 he was ordained priest at St Michael's Catholic Church, Tudu-Uk by the then bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Makurdi, Most Rev Donald Murray of blessed memory.
Following his priestly ordination, he commenced his priestly work as assistant parish priest in St Peter's Parish Kefi from 1984 to 1986 and thereafter, moved on to St Willian's Parish, Lafia, to continue with the administration of grace. 1988 saw him in St Kizito's Parish, Nassarawa, where he left for further studies to Rome in pursuit of more knowledge.
He attended the institute of Alphonsiana under the Lateran University, where he obtained a Licentiate in Moral Theology in 1991. He reported back to his bishop who then sent .him to teach at the St Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Makurdi, Benue State.
As an ardent lover of education, Matthew Audu left teaching after six years back to the institute of Alphonsiana under the Lateran University, Rome for his doctorate degree. Again, he returned to the seminary in Makurdi to continue with his apostolate after obtaining his doctorate degree.
Archbishop Matthew lshaya Audu is evidently hardworking and this is expressly seeing his work in different capacities, namely: member of Vocations Committee in Makurdi Diocese, Diocesan (Makurdi) and National Chaplain of Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria (CYON), He also served as a member of the Peace Committee of Nasarawa Local Government while working there.
In 2004, he was appointed one of the pioneer members of the governing council of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, until the pioneer Council was dissolved. While in the seminary, he held various offices: Dean of Students Affairs, Vice Rector and Acting Rector, a position he held until he was pronounced Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lafia in 2000.
He was consecrated and installed as the first Bishop of Lafia on 31st March 2001. His zeal for mission is demonstrated in the way he administered the diocese since his installation. His motto: IKON ALLAH, literally put, GOD'S POWER, depicts events in his life which preceded his priesthood even his episcopate which have no doubt become a prism through which he envisions a new world, a world in which children of God gather round His table to share from His goodness and a world in which everyone can find and have a sense of belonging.
There's a saying that, the reward for hard work is more work. While serving as the Bishop of Lafia Diocese, he was elected Nasarawa State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Though he only served for a single tenure, testimonies have it that the CAN administration witnessed progress in the association more than ever before: the CAN Secteteriat was built under his leadership.
On 6th January, 2020, he was appointed Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jos, and the Metropolitan of the See, succeeding Grace, Most Rev Dr. Ignatius Kaigama, who is now the Metropolitan of Abuja.