John Onaiyekan
Encyclopedia
John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan (born January 29, 1944) is the Roman Catholic
Archbishop
of Abuja
and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria
. He was previously President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria and Bishop of Ilorin
.
, in what is now Kogi State
, to Bartholomew and Joann Onaiyekan. He attended St. Mary's Catholic School in Kabba from 1949 until 1956, Mount St. Michael's Secondary School in Aliade, Benue State
from 1957 until 1962, and Ss. Peter & Paul Major Seminary in Bodija
, Ibadan
from 1963 until 1965. He completed his religious studies in Rome
in 1969, and was ordained as a priest on August 3 of that year. Ahmadu Bello
, Premier of Nigeria's Northern Region
, had offered him a scholarship to study abroad.
Onaiyekan taught at St. Kizito's College, Isanlu in 1969. He became rector of St. Clement Junior Seminary in Lokoja
in 1971. He finished his Licentiate of Sacred Scripture in 1973 and earned his doctorate in 1976. He became Vice Rector of Ss. Peter & Paul in 1977.
gave Onaiyekan a five-year appointment to the Pontifical International Theological Commission. In November, he joined the International Catholic/ Methodist Dialogue Commission.
Onaiyekan was ordained as bishop on January 6, 1983, and became the Bishop of Ilorin
, Kwara State
. In 1990 he became Co-Adjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Abuja
, and when the diocese became a Metropolitan See in 1994, John Onaiyekan became the Metropolitan of Abuja.
Onaiyekan was elected to the position of Vice President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in 1994, and President of that organization in 2000.
for the position of Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN) President on June 19, 2007 with 72 votes to Akinola's 33. His Vice President is Daniel Okoh
, President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches.
Roman Catholicism in Nigeria
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....
Archbishop
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja is the Metropolitan See for the Ecclesiastical province of Abuja in Nigeria.-History:* 6 November 1981: Established as Mission sui iuris of Abuja from the Diocese of Minna...
of Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria
Christian Association of Nigeria
The Christian Association of Nigeria is an umbrella organization containing numerous Christian denominations in Nigeria.-Leadership:Ayo Oritsejafor, Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church,is the President and Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches,...
. He was previously President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria and Bishop of Ilorin
Ilorin
Ilorin is one of the largest cities in Nigeria and is the capital of Kwara State. As of 2007 it had a population of 847,582.-History:Ilorin was founded by the Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, in 1450...
.
Education and teaching career
Onaiyekan was born in the town of KabbaKabba
Kabba is a town in Kogi State in northern Nigeria. It lies near the Osse River, at the intersection of roads from Lokoja, Okene, Ogidi, Ado-Ekiti, and Egbe. The town is near Abuja.-Description:...
, in what is now Kogi State
Kogi State
Kogi state is found in the central region of Nigeria. It is popularly called the Confluence State because the confluence of River Niger and River Benue is at its capital, Lokoja, which is the first administrative capital of modern-day Nigeria....
, to Bartholomew and Joann Onaiyekan. He attended St. Mary's Catholic School in Kabba from 1949 until 1956, Mount St. Michael's Secondary School in Aliade, Benue State
Benue State
Benue is a state in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria with a population of about 2.8 million in 1991. Tiv, Idoma, and Igede are spoken predominantly. There are other ethnic groups as well. These include Etulo and Abakwa...
from 1957 until 1962, and Ss. Peter & Paul Major Seminary in Bodija
Bodija
Bodija is a district in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The region gained prominence with the development of like named high brow estate shortly after the Independence of Nigeria. There are two of such estates within the region. Old Bodija and New Bodija. The estate is home to many popular schools...
, Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
from 1963 until 1965. He completed his religious studies in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1969, and was ordained as a priest on August 3 of that year. Ahmadu Bello
Ahmadu Bello
Sir Ahmadu Bello was a Nigerian politician, and was the first premier of the Northern Nigeria region from 1954-1966. He was one of the prominent leaders in Northern Nigeria alongside Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, both of whom were prominent in negotiations about the region's place in an independent...
, Premier of Nigeria's Northern Region
Northern Region, Nigeria
The Northern Region was one of Nigeria's federal divisions. It was created before independence in 1960, with its capital at Kaduna. In 1962 it acquired the territory of the British Northern Cameroons, who had voted to become part of Nigeria....
, had offered him a scholarship to study abroad.
Onaiyekan taught at St. Kizito's College, Isanlu in 1969. He became rector of St. Clement Junior Seminary in Lokoja
Lokoja
Lokoja is the capital city of Kogi State, in central Nigeria, and is a port on Niger River.-History:Founded by William Balfour Baikie according to European historical records, although there have been indigenous people living in the area for thousands of years...
in 1971. He finished his Licentiate of Sacred Scripture in 1973 and earned his doctorate in 1976. He became Vice Rector of Ss. Peter & Paul in 1977.
Catholic Church appointments
In October 1980, Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
gave Onaiyekan a five-year appointment to the Pontifical International Theological Commission. In November, he joined the International Catholic/ Methodist Dialogue Commission.
Onaiyekan was ordained as bishop on January 6, 1983, and became the Bishop of Ilorin
Ilorin
Ilorin is one of the largest cities in Nigeria and is the capital of Kwara State. As of 2007 it had a population of 847,582.-History:Ilorin was founded by the Yoruba, one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, in 1450...
, Kwara State
Kwara State
Kwara State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. The primary ethnic group of Kwara State is Yoruba, with significant Nupe, Bariba and Fulani minorities.- History :...
. In 1990 he became Co-Adjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
, and when the diocese became a Metropolitan See in 1994, John Onaiyekan became the Metropolitan of Abuja.
Onaiyekan was elected to the position of Vice President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in 1994, and President of that organization in 2000.
CAN Presidency
He defeated Anglican Primate Peter AkinolaPeter Akinola
Peter Jasper Akinola is the former Anglican Primate of the Church of Nigeria. He is also the former Bishop of Abuja and Archbishop of Province III, which covers the northern and central parts of the country....
for the position of Christian Association of Nigeria
Christian Association of Nigeria
The Christian Association of Nigeria is an umbrella organization containing numerous Christian denominations in Nigeria.-Leadership:Ayo Oritsejafor, Senior Pastor of Word of Life Bible Church,is the President and Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches,...
(CAN) President on June 19, 2007 with 72 votes to Akinola's 33. His Vice President is Daniel Okoh
Daniel Okoh
Most Rev. Daniel C. Okoh is General Overseer of the Christ Holy Church International, Vice President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches.-References:...
, President of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches.
Works
- "The Priesthood in Pre-monarchial Ancient Israel and among the Owe-Yoruba of Kabba: A Comparative Study", unpublished dissertation (1976)
- "The shariah in Nigeria: a Christian view", Bulletin on Islam & Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (1987)