Ilorin (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Anselm Pendo Lawani, Bishop
Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, O.P., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 29 May 1969
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Ibadan
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Nigeria
Square Kilometers: 32,500 (12,553 Square Miles)
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 686, 16 Umar Audi Rd., Tanke Junction, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Telephone: (0816)33.11.160

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Ilorin
- Latin Name: Ilorinensis
- Erected: 20 January 1960
- Country: Nigeria

Past and Present Ordinaries

William Mahony, S.M.A. † (6 Dec 1960 Appointed - 20 Oct 1984 Resigned)
John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan (20 Oct 1984 Appointed - 7 Jul 1990 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Abuja)
Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, O.P. (6 Mar 1992 Appointed - 11 Jun 2019 Resigned)
Paul Adegboyega Olawoore † (11 Jun 2019 Succeeded - 1 Jan 2022 Died)
Anselm Pendo Lawani (8 Dec 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Ilorin
20 January 1960	Erected	Diocese of Ondo (Ilorin)	Prefecture Apostolic of Ilorin (erected)
Diocese of Ilorin
29 May 1969	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Ilorin	Diocese of Ilorin
15 December 1995	Territory Lost	Diocese of Ilorin (New Bussa, Agwara, Shagunu, and Babana) Diocese of Minna (Rijau, Magama, Mariga, Zuru, Sakaba, Danko Wasugu, and part of Wushishi) Diocese of Sokoto (Yauri, Ngaski, and part of Bagudo)	Prefecture Apostolic of Kontagora (erected)
2009	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Ilorin (from Kaduna)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Diocese of Ilorin

1970 12,100 1,200,000 1.0% 15 15 806 16 6 ap1971

1980 23,300 1,529,000 1.5% 1 17 18 1,294 19 13 ap1981

1990 44,350 1,372,000 3.2% 7 17 24 1,847 17 38 17 ap1991

1999 56,772 1,887,828 3.0% 23 7 30 1,892 7 53 18 ap2000

2000 58,803 1,396,515 4.2% 24 7 31 1,896 7 53 18 ap2001

2001 58,803 1,396,515 4.2% 33 7 40 1,470 7 62 17 ap2002

2002 22,650 250,000 9.1% 34 7 41 552 9 32 17 ap2003

2003 26,642 280,000 9.5% 33 9 42 634 17 63 18 ap2004

2004 25,500 1,260,000 2.0% 33 7 40 637 16 72 18 ap2005

2006 28,000 1,330,000 2.1% 36 3 39 717 5 64 18 ap2007

2013 22,420 2,762,000 .8% 44 5 49 457 7 173 21 ap2014

2016 23,885 2,719,000 .9% 42 3 45 530 17 218 30 ap2017

2019 28,100 2,905,500 1.0% 44 11 55 510 97 139 30 ap2020

2021 25,950 3,055,525 .8% 42 11 53 489 97 63 39 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Diocese of Ilorin
1970	12,100	1,200,000	1.0%		15	15	806	16	6		ap1971
1980	23,300	1,529,000	1.5%	1	17	18	1,294	19	13		ap1981
1990	44,350	1,372,000	3.2%	7	17	24	1,847	17	38	17	ap1991
1999	56,772	1,887,828	3.0%	23	7	30	1,892	7	53	18	ap2000
2000	58,803	1,396,515	4.2%	24	7	31	1,896	7	53	18	ap2001
2001	58,803	1,396,515	4.2%	33	7	40	1,470	7	62	17	ap2002
2002	22,650	250,000	9.1%	34	7	41	552	9	32	17	ap2003
2003	26,642	280,000	9.5%	33	9	42	634	17	63	18	ap2004
2004	25,500	1,260,000	2.0%	33	7	40	637	16	72	18	ap2005
2006	28,000	1,330,000	2.1%	36	3	39	717	5	64	18	ap2007
2013	22,420	2,762,000	.8%	44	5	49	457	7	173	21	ap2014
2016	23,885	2,719,000	.9%	42	3	45	530	17	218	30	ap2017
2019	28,100	2,905,500	1.0%	44	11	55	510	97	139	30	ap2020
2021	25,950	3,055,525	.8%	42	11	53	489	97	63	39	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Ayo-Maria Atoyebi, O.P. (Bishop: 6 Mar 1992 to 11 Jun 2019)
Anselm Pendo Lawani (Priest: 15 Aug 2000; Administrator: 6 Jan 2022; Bishop: 8 Dec 2023 - )
John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan (Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Sep 1982; Bishop: 20 Oct 1984 to 7 Jul 1990)
Martin Igwemezie Uzoukwu (Deacon: 14 Dec 1980; Priest: 27 Sep 1981 to 5 Jul 1996)
Bulus Dauwa Yohanna (Priest: 10 Jan 1998 to 21 May 2002)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Paul Adegboyega Olawoore † (Coadjutor Bishop: 4 Apr 2018; Bishop: 11 Jun 2019 to 1 Jan 2022)
William Mahony, S.M.A. † (Prefect: 6 Dec 1960; Bishop: 29 May 1969 to 20 Oct 1984)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Ilorin
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 52, Page 752, and Page 753
Diocese of Ilorin
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 61, Page 768, and Page 769

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Diocese of Ilorin

Dioecesis Ilorinensis