The Nigerian Voice Congratulates Rev. Fr. Matthew Ma As He Bags Ph.D. From US University
The Editorial Board and Management of The Nigerian Voice (Online Newspaper) are delighted to congratulate Rev. Fr. Matthew Ma, our respected columnist, on his well-deserved graduation with a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Saint Louis University, Missouri, USA.
Matthew Ma was born on May 25, 1976, in Shangev-Tiev, Konshisha Local Government, Benue State. He attended RCM Primary School in Adiga, Shangev-Tiev State, and later transferred to St. Francis Primary School in Aliade, Benue State. On completion, he went to Mount Saint Michael’s Secondary School Aliade and left the school to complete his high school education at Saint Peter’s Secondary School Vandelkya. Ma graduated in 1995, and in 2001, he was admitted to the Society of Jesus to begin his novitiate in Benin City, Edo State.
Upon completing his novitiate, the Jesuits sent Ma to the Arrupe School of Philosophy, now, Arrupe Jesuit University in Zimbabwe, for his philosophy. He graduated in 2007 and returned home to do his regency (what you may call pastoral work) at Saint Francis Parish, Idimu, Lagos. In 2008, Ma was moved to Benin to continue his journey regency at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, on First East Circular Road.
After completing his regency in 2010, the Jesuits sent Ma to Kenya to conduct theological studies at Hekima University College in Nairobi. On July 20, 2013, Ma was ordained a Jesuit Catholic priest in Benin City by Archbishop Augustine Akubueze. After being ordained a priest, he worked from 2013 to 2017 as the Director of Development at the Provincial Office of the Jesuits in Surulere. Ma was sent to Seattle University, USA in 2017 to study master's in Nonprofit Leadership. Upon completing his master's in 2019, Ma was sent to Saint Louis University in Missouri, where he obtained his Ph.D. in public policy.
We are honored to offer our heartfelt congratulations and say: Well done! Hats off to the newest public policy scholar. The Nigerian Voice team celebrates you and wishes you well.
Matthew Ma, Ph.D.