Diocese of Ilorin

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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

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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 - )

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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)

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Statistics

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

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

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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)

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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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