History
- October 24, 1997: Established as Diocese of Abeokuta from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Lagos. The area in question covers the Abeokuta Province of the British colonial era, which now comprises the Ẹ̀gbá, Yewa (Ẹ̀gbádò), Àwórì, Ègùn and Ànàgó divisions of Ogun State, the other division in the state being Ijebu which is co-terminus with the Diocese of Ijebu-Ode. Thus there are presently two dioceses in Ogun State: Ijebu-Ode and Abeokuta. The total landmass of the state (16,369.40 km2.) is shared by the two dioceses thus: Abeokuta (10,679.38 km2.) and Ijebu-Ode (5,690.02 km2.)
Christianity was introduced into the diocese in the early part of the 19th century and the seat of the diocese, Abeokuta, currently houses the first Bible that was brought into the country by the early Missionaries. Catholicism came to Abeokuta in 1880 from where it spread to the other parts of what is now Abeokuta Diocese. The history of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Abeokuta is intertwined with the wider history of the missionary works of the Fathers of the Society of African Missions (SMA) and Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA). While the SMA Fathers arrived in 1880, the OLA Sisters followed in 1886. Since then, the Church has continued to grow.
There are in the diocese approximately 68,000 adherents of the Catholic faith, presently distributed into 28 parishes and 7 quasi parishes, administered by a total number of 63 priests with His Lordship, Most. Rev. Dr. Peter Kayode Odetoyinbo. To the present The Diocese has witnessed a rapid growth from 9 parishes and 11 priests in 1998 to what we have now. Its pastoral strategy includes the formation and maintenance of Small Christian Communities and particular attention to the youth and young adults, the future of the Church.
The Diocese of Abeokuta, like Ogun State in which it is situated, is typically a 'Gateway' diocese. Not only does it connect the Archdiocese of Lagos with the closely situated Diocese of Ijebu Ode and the Archdiocese of Ibadan in Nigeria, it is also strategically interconnected with the Church in the wider area of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), especially the adjacent Diocese of Porto-Novo in the Republic of Benin.
There is visible peaceful co-existence among the religious groups in the diocese as we have close ecumenical relationship as well as cordial relationship with the other religious bodies. There are a lot of joint religious programmes between the various Christian denominations.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope, the curia in Rome, and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).
Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. As a Nigerian state, Ogun is the second most industrialised state after Lagos, with a focus on metal processing. It has good road and rail connections to the harbours in Lagos and Lekki. Wole Soyinka, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature 1986, lives in Ogun.
The Archdiocese of Ibadan is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Ibadan, Nigeria.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos {Lagosen(sis) in Latin} is the Metropolitan See for the ecclesiastical province of Lagos in Nigeria.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching is a Metropolitan Latin archbishopric of the Roman Catholic Church in Sarawak, Malaysia. It is however remains dependent on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Auchi is a diocese located in the city of Auchi, Edo State in the ecclesiastical province of Benin City in Nigeria.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku is a diocese located in the city of Issele-Uku, Delta State in the ecclesiastical province of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. It lies on the west bank of the Niger River between Benin City to the west and Onitsha to the east. The diocese comprises six local government areas in the northern portion of Delta State. The Archdiocese of Onitsha borders it on the east and the Archdiocese of Benin City borders it on the west. The Diocese of Uromi is to its north and the Diocese of Warri borders it on the south.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo is a diocese located in the Ondo State in the ecclesiastical province of Ibadan in Nigeria. The cathedral and diocesan secretariat are located in Akure.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Osogbo is a diocese located in the city of Osogbo, Osun State in the ecclesiastical province of Ibadan in Nigeria.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oyo is a Latin suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of Ibadan, Nigeria. It still depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The Diocese of Bauchi is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Northern Nigeria. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Jos in, yet depends on the missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode is a diocese located in the city of Ijebu-Ode in the ecclesiastical province of Lagos in Nigeria.
Abeokuta is the capital city of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria. It is situated on the east bank of the Ogun River, near a group of rocky outcrops in a wooded savanna; 77 kilometres (48 mi) north of Lagos by railway, or 130 kilometres (81 mi) by water. As of 2006, Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of 449,088.
Christianity is a major religion in Ogun State and it constitutes 70% of its population. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta are present in the state. Ijebu-Ode has a St. Clare's Monastery. The international headquarters of the Church of the Lord (Aladura) are in Ogere-Remo, Ogun State. The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God is present in the state. In Ogun State, the Celestial Church of Christ has Alafia, Emi, Ibukun, Itunu, Itunu Iyanu, Iyanu, Oba Nla, Ogo Oluwa, and Oluwaseun Parishes. Christ Apostolic Church has churches in the state. Jubilee Christian Church International has its headquarters in Abeokuta. The Anglican church is present in Ogun State. The town of Ota has a tract of land known as Canaanland, which includes the church of the name Faith Tabernacle and Covenant University. Crawford University and Seventh-day Adventist Babcock University are present in the state. Western Diocese of Salem International Christian Centre has its seat in the state. The Redeemed Christian Church of God owns Redeemer's University. Christ International Divinity College (CINDICO) has its seat in the state.
The Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos is one of the 14 ecclesiastical provinces of the Church of Nigeria. It comprises 13 dioceses:
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is a cathedral of the Catholic Church, located in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, Nigeria. It is the seat of the Diocese of Abeokuta.
Thomas P. Hughes, S.M.A. was an Irish born Catholic prelate and member of the Society of African Missions who served as the Bishop of Ondo in Nigeria.
Leo Hale Taylor CBE, SMA was an American-born priest of the Catholic Church and member of the Society of African Missions. He was Archbishop of Lagos from 1939 to 1965. Taylor was the first principal of St Gregory's College, Lagos and as bishop, he was considered a pillar of support for the school.
Egba Diocese, Church of Nigeria is one of 13 within the Anglican Province of Lagos, itself one of 14 provinces within the Church of Nigeria. The current bishop is Emmanuel Adekunle. Jonathan S. Adeniyi was the pioneer Bishop of Egba Diocese when it was created in 1976. On his retirement aged 70 in 1979, he was succeeded by Titus Ilori Akintayo, who served from 1980 until 1994. On his retirement, he was in turn succeeded by Matthew Oluremi Owadayo. Adekunle has been the Bishop since 2009.
Peter Rotimi Oludipe is a Nigerian church leader of the Anglican Communion. He serves as the current and fifth Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ijebu since 2020.
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