He wasofficially named by the Holy See and confirmed locally at the St. Joseph Metropolitan Cathedral on February 13, 2026.
The appointment of the 50-year-old prelate has sent waves to catholic faithful in the North West given his recent personal ordeal. In November 2025, while serving as Rector of the Catholic University of Cameroon (CATUC), Fr. Tata was abducted by separatist fighters in Ndop. The incident drew a firm, high-profile response from Archbishop Andrew Nkea, who mobilized the faithful and temporarily closed local parishes to demand his release. This bold stance by the hierarchy underscored the Church’s refusal to be intimidated by the prevailing insecurity. Fr. Tata’s elevation is seen as a strategic endorsement of resilience, symbolizing what many congregants describe as the victory of faith over hardship.
Bishop-elect Tata brings a sophisticated intellectual and pastoral pedigree to the Bamenda Metropolitan See. A native of Mbuluf-Shisong in the Kumbo Diocese, he was ordained in 2005 and has since balanced grassroots pastoral care with high-level academic leadership. He holds a Doctorate in Theology with a specialization in Christian Anthropology from the Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum in Rome. Before his tenure as University Rector, he served as a Spiritual Director and lecturer at St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Bambui, as well as a parish priest in Bafut and Babanki-Tungo.
His appointment comes at a crucial juncture as the Archdiocese navigates complex socio-political waters. By elevating a leader who has personally experienced the brunt of the regional conflict, the Vatican has provided Archbishop Nkea with a deputy who possesses first-hand insight into the challenges of peace-building and security. While the specific date for his episcopal ordination is yet to be announced, the news has sparked widespread celebration across the North West. According analysts, the rise of Bishop-elect Tata is a shining glare that the Church is an enduring institutional integrity and its commitment to remaining a guiding force in the face of instability where a credible voice can provide a balance.
Jennyhans Nde
