Christian activities in Nigeria began in the first place around 1472 through the Portuguese Catholic traders around the Niger Delta area – Calabar, Bonny, and Warri kingdoms. A church was built in Benin and the son of Oba of Benin was baptized in 1574. In spite of their efforts, their mission failed because the traders were more interested in commerce than evangelization. These early Roman Catholic missionaries and traders were reported to get as far as Ile-Ife during the 15th century first attempt at evangelization of Nigeria. According to Fabunmi,it wasn’t until 1843 about three hundred years after Christianity had become extinct in Ile- Ife that the faith resurfaced in Nigeria again. Modupe Oduyoye,traced the evangelisation of Yoruba land to Father Francisco Borghero,S.M.A, who landed in Lagos on 17 February 1862 from Quidah in Dahomey. It was reported that he met Brazilian Catholics on ground about 1,200 baptized Catholics in Lagos. They were emigrants from Brazil and Cuba after the emancipation of slaves in those areas, they were under the pastoralcare of priests from San Thome Island. While the presence of Catholicism in Nigeria predates Fr Borghero he nevertheless was the one who undertook the active evangelization of the hinterland. From Oyo Diocese 1884 to 1995 Osogbo diocese. Patrick’O Neil, claimed that ‘In the year 1884 two priests of the Society of African Missions,Fathers Jean- Baptiste Chausse and Theodore Holley travelled from Oyo to Ibadan with a view to opening a mission in the town".In 1942 Rome instructed the white fathers to take over part of SMA territory in Lagos which was then the Oyo prefecture excluding Ibadan. Rev. Fr Capt. Owen MCcoy then an army chaplain in Accra Ghana was appointed the superior of the white fathers to take over the new jurisdiction.He was joined on 8 December 1942 By Frs J. Byrne, J. Williams, T. Kane, and D. Smith who arrived from England.Fr Byrne was appointed to Osogbo under Father Mc McCarthy,S.M.A and Father Coffey to Murumba in Ife. At this stage- early 1945 only four places had resident priests: Osogbo, Oyo, Ife, and Ilesha. The main outstations to which they tried to give a minimum of attention were: for Osogbo area - Otan, Inisha and Ede. For area Oyo- Fiditi, Awe, and Ogbomosho; for Ife area Modakeke, Ipetumodu and Ifetedo, for Ilesha area–Ipetu-Ijesa,Ibokun and Ifewara. There were other outstations. The far west of the jurisdiction namely,Iseyin,Iganna,Ijio etc. were much neglected because of non existent roads and poor means of transportation. In 1947 Father John Murphy and Thomas Kingseler joined the pastoral team in the mission field. New Fathers arrived from time to time.Fr Bordeleau, from Navrongo, Frs Beauchamp, Gigras from Canada. Frs Roy and Belanger, Fr Laflame also from Canada. After five years of working hand in hand with SMA fathers, there was discussion between Bishop Durrieu–the superior of the white fathers,Fr Harrington,SMA General superior and Archbishop Matthew, the Apostolic Delegate to Nigeria then, Oyo prefecture was carved out and Fr.Owen McCoy was appointed Prefect Apostolic on 1 April 1949. On 1 March 1963 the prefecture of Oyo was raised to a diocese with the apostolic prefect,Msgr Owen McCoy becoming the first bishop until his retirement in 1971. McCoy ordained the first generation of priests in Oyo diocese namely: Bishop J.B. Adelakun, late Msgr Joseph Taiwo,Msgri John Adeniyi,Lawrence Adesina,Rev.Frs Thomas Ilesanmi and Anthony Olawumi etc. Msgr Anthony Okogie was consecrated the auxiliary Bishop of Oyo in 1971 until he was moved to Lagos as Archbishop.Rev.Fr.Julius Adelakun was consecrated the auxiliary Bishop of the diocese on 11 February 1973. On 14 March 1995,the Diocese of Osogbo was carved out of Oyo diocese, with Bishop Gabriel Abegunrin appointed as the first Bishop. Bishop Adelakun formally moved his seat to Oyo and was canonically installed there on 30 April 1995.
Bishops
Bishops of Osogbo
* Bishop Gabriel ’Leke Abegunrin, appointed Archbishop of Ibadan
