He was born in Onitsha and hailed from the Royal Family of Onitsha (Umuezearoli), Ezeolisa kindred of Umuaroli. He attended C.M.S. School, Onitsha, and after passing the then Standard Five examinations with credits, proceeded to CMS College, Asaba, in 1897.
In 1908, he married Ms. Dora Nwugoye of Mobile Village, Umunachi, near Ogidi, and they had ten children: Sidney, Suzanna, Dora, Eunice, Priscilla, Alphonso, James, Benjamin, David, and Sophia.
He was made a deacon on 22 August 1909 in Oyo and was transferred to Owerri in 1912. He carried out ministerial work in Owerri for over 24 years, during which many of his children were born in that Archdeaconry. While in Owerri, he assisted Archdeacon Dennis with the translation of the English Bible into the Igbo language.
In 1914, he was ordained a priest and later became the Superintendent of the Owerri District. In 1937, he was consecrated as the first Anglican Igbo Bishop. He died on 14 February 1954.
