BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ABEOKUTA

The Church in Abeokuta Diocese started around the period of the missionary activities of the Society of African Missions (SMA Fathers, 1880) and Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA Sisters,1886) in Nigeria. The effort of these early missionaries - Society of Africa Missions, (SMA), Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA), Bishops, Priests, Religious, Catechists, numerous men and women (dead and alive), laid the foundation of the catholic faith in Abeokuta and Yewa parts of Ogun state which today has become the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta. After some ex-Brazilian slaves who had a taste of the catholic faith while in captivity returned to Abeokuta, they made a passionate appeal and entreaties to the priests in the then apostolic vicariate of the Gulf of Benin to bring the faith to Abeokuta.

The Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta consists of the Egba and Yewa blocks of Ogun State and covers 11 local government areas namely: Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Odeda, Ewekoro, Ado-Odo/Ota, Yewa South, Yewa North, Obafemi-Owode, Ifo, Imeko-Afon and Ipokia Local Government areas of the state. It is at the heart of the Ogun State Capital (Gateway State) and shares boundaries with Lagos Archdiocese, Ibadan Archdiocese and Ijebu Ode Diocese in the Southwest of Nigeria. Due to its strategic location, it has a close proximity to the Church in the ECOWAS States especially the Diocese of Port-Novo in the Republic of Benin. As Ogun State stands as the headquarter of most Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria, there is a profound ecumenical relationship with various Christian denominations within the State and beyond. The Catholic population is estimated at over 100,000 across the parishes of the Diocese. The Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta was carved out of the Archdiocese of Lagos under different Local Ordinaries which also includes the early missionaries down to Archbishop Leo Taylor, Archbishop John Kwao Aggey, and the current Emeritus Archbishop of Lagos - Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie. It was Anthony Cardinal Okogie that began the process of the creating the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta and was pronounced a Diocese on November 21st, 1997 by the late Pope St. John Paul II. The erection of the Diocese and installation of the new Bishop took place on January the 24th, 1998 as Rt. Rev. Msgr. Alfred Adewale Martins was concomitantly ordained as the First Bishop.

The Diocese started with 9 Parishes and 9 incardinated Priests. The Parishes were: Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Cathedral – Itesi, St. Anne Catholic Church - Ibara, St. Peter Catholic Church - Ota, St Mary Catholic Church – Ifo, St. Mary Catholic Church - Ayetoro, St Joseph Catholic Church - Imeko, St Joseph Catholic Church - Ilaro, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - Ado-Odo and St. Michael Catholic Church – Ajilete. The pioneering incardinated priests included - Late Rev. Msgr. Christopher Gbogboade Ajala, Late Rev. Msgr. Sylvester Uwadineke Osigwe, Very Rev. Frs: Michael Olufemi Akintolu, Joseph Yemi Akinlotan, Patrick Adeoluwa Feyisetan, Emmanuel Adebayo Lewis, Anthony Adekunle Famoroti and Late Cosmas Olufemi Famoroti. With the retirement of Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie as the Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, then Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese was elevated as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Lagos Archdiocese. He was subsequently installed on Aug. 4th 2012 at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos. The seat of Abeokuta thus became vacant, and a Diocesan Administrator - Very Rev. Msgr. Christopher Gbogboade Ajala (blessed memory), was appointed to oversee the Diocese pending the appointment of a new and substantive Bishop. He administered the Diocese for close to 2 years. During the Mass of Chrism on April 15th, 2014, at the Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral, the news of the election of a new Bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta came to the congregation. The Bishop-Elect, Rt. Rev, Msgr. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo, then Vicar-General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan was appointed by Pope Francis as the second Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese. The episcopal ordination and installation took place on June 24th, 2014. Since then, the spiritual, pastoral and physical development of the Diocese has continued to grow in leaps and bounds. Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of Parishes and incardinated Priests in the Diocese from 9 Parishes and 9 incardinated Priests at inception to 68 Parishes and 74 incardinated Priests. Similarly, from 32 Parishes and 8 Deaneries in 2014 to 69 Parishes and 10 Deaneries with the creation of St. Pio - Agbara Deanery carved out of St. Peter - Ota Deanery and Mary Queen of Nigeria - Akute Deanery carved out of St Julius - Agbado Deanery. The present 10 Deaneries include – Ss. Peter and Paul - Itesi Deanery, St. Joachim and Anne - Ibara Deanery, St. Joseph - Imeko Deanery, St. Pio - Agbara Deanery, St. Julius - Agbado Deanery, St. Mary - Ifo Deanery, St. Peter - Ota Deanery, St. Paul - Ibafo Deanery, Immaculate Conception - Ado-Odo Deanery and Mary Queen of Nigeria - Akute Deanery.

The Presbyterium continues to be enriched with the ordination of new Priests for the Diocese. Indeed, vocation to the priesthood and religious life has experienced a significant boost. The Diocese has a host of religious Priests and Sisters of diverse religious congregations working in the Diocese. It has not relented in the training and retraining of its Priests to enhance their capacities. Some are currently on further studies and quite a number have also completed their studies. We remember our departed Priests who also laboured to ensure the growth and development of our beloved Diocese. They include Very Rev. Msgr. Christopher Gbogboade Ajala (Former Diocesan Administrator), Very Rev. Msgr. Sylvester Osigwe, Rev. Fr. Cosmas Famoroti, Rev. Fr. Alex Arowojolu (Fidei Donum Priest of Ondo Diocese) and Rev. Fr. Luke Adeleke. It is our prayer that their souls will continue to rest in peace. There are seminarians as well in formation at the various regional seminaries, catechists both part time and full time, and lay service leaders.

Pastorally, more members are added to the flock via the administration of sacraments as thousands of Catechumens continue to receive various Sacraments and more today receive the Sacrament of Confirmation due to availability and exemplary pastoral zeal of the Bishop. In 2016, a befitting and magnificent Cathedral (Ss. Peter & Paul Cathedral) was completed and dedicated with the relics of Pope St. Paul II by Most Rev. Dr. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo to serve the pastoral needs of the Diocese. Since then, some of the Church buildings of the Parishes in the Diocese have also been dedicated such as St. Anne – Ibara with the relics of St. John XXIII, St. John Bosco - Alagbole with the relics of St. Theresa of Calcutta, Church of Transfiguration – Arepo with the relics of St. Maria Faustina, St. Ignatius - Magboro with the relics of St. Joseph Marello, St. Alphonsus – Akute with the relics of St. Maria Faustina, Christ the King - Agbara with the relics of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Peter – Ota with the relics of St. Luigi Guanella and quite a few are also getting ready for dedication. St Albert the Great Seminary is also cited within the jurisdiction of the Diocese at Idowu Offonran, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun state. Giant Strides are recorded by the Diocese with the successfully hosting of the Second Plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria between 11th – 20th September, 2019. This remains indelible in the hearts of the Bishop, Clergy, Religious and Laity of the Diocese. The event took place at the newly constructed Divine Mercy Pastoral Centre located at Agbamaya, Obada Oko, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The facility has about 110 rooms (en-suite), conference rooms, a Chapel, Marian Grotto and other amenities). This facility added to the to the 40-room accommodation at the Fatima House located within the premises of the Pilgrimage Ground, Onikoko, Abeokuta.

In the area of health, the Diocese has the oldest Hospital in Nigeria - The Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro Abeokuta which was founded in 1895, and still continues to offer medical services even till date despite prevailing challenges. This a great legacy of the early SMA priests specifically Rev. Fr. John Marie Coquard who established the Hospital. The Nursing School at the Hospital has trained countless number of qualified nurses and still operates till date. Over time, others clinics have been created and commissioned as annexes of the Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro, such as Msgr. Adewuyi Memorial Clinic Annex - Ado Odo (Oke Odan), Sacred Heart Hospital Annex - Ajebo, Sacred Heart Hospital Annex - Imeko, St. Mary Hospital - Ajilete and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Hospital - Akute. Similarly, the School of Nursing, Lantoro has received a national recognition and was recently upgraded to the full-fledged College of Nursing. Furthermore, an Orphanage for the Diocese named ‘Sacred Heart Orphanage’ was built and donated by the family of Awotuga in 2020. Thanks to the inspiration and effort of Sr. Roseline Dasilver OLA and other Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro together with other donors to ensure the smooth running of the Orphanage, first of its kind in the Diocese.  

In the area of Education, the Diocese has one of the oldest primary schools in Ogun state – St. Bernadette Nursery & Primary School – Onikolobo, Abeokuta which has continued to be amongst the best in Ogun State till date. Over time, some other schools have also been established which include St. Bernadette of Lourdes Nursery and Primary School – Ake Abeokuta, St. Peter Nursery and Primary School – Olomore Abeokuta, St. Patrick Nursery and Primary School – Imeko, St. Luke Nursery and Primary School – Iwoye-Ketu, Presentation Nursery and Primary School – Ilaro, Sacred Heart Catholic College - Oke-Ilewo Abeokuta, St. Patrick Catholic College - Idofa Imeko, St. Peter Catholic College, Olomore, Catholic Comprehensive High School (Private) Onikolobo Abeokuta., St. Michael Catholic Nursery and Primary School, Ajilete. Through these institutions, the Diocese continues to prepare young people to proclaim the Goodnews and to translate this proclamation to actions that will positively impact the society.

The Lay Apostolate Organizations and pious Societies of the Diocese - Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria, Catholic Men Organization of Nigeria, Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, Holy Childhood Association, Knights and Ladies of St. Mulumba and John, Serra Club, Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria and many others, have done so well in contributing their quota to the overall development of the Diocese particularly with two ongoing projects by the Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria of the Diocese and Province: Ave Maria Diocesan Catholic Women Organization Centre at Ayetoro and Salve Regina Provincial Catholic Women Organization Centre, Lala. The Diocese also engages in few commercial ventures such as filling stations, block industry and carpentry and others to further serve the people in its area of jurisdiction. It has a vibrant Justice, Development and Peace Commission, Social Communications Directorate, Diocesan Press and Pastoral Institute located within the Msgr. Somide Pastoral Complex. The Diocesan Justice, Development and Peace Commission has a palm kernel and cassava processing factory at Obada Oko, Abeokuta. The venture helps to create jobs and youth empowerment through the production of garri for retail/wholesale and palm kernel oil and cake in small and large quantities.

The Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta has indeed grown over the years in terms of spiritual, physical and pastoral development. New apostolates are established such as apostolate for widows/widowers, altar servers, family and human life, religious education programmes for the training and ongoing formation of catechists, church wardens, choristers, lectors etc. It has indeed come a long way in its evangelization drive using the limited resources at its disposal to ensure the further spread of the Gospel of Christ within its area of jurisdiction. This a product of hard work, dedication and determination by the Bishops, Priests, Religious and Laity of the Diocese. As the Diocese marks the 25th anniversary of its erection (1998-2023), we look forward with hope for a renewed commitment to the work of the evangelization in the Diocese.